Mystery grey and red stone

Jewelry Discussion
1

I bought some semi-precious cabochons recently. I thought I wrote
down all the names, but I missed one. It is a dark grey, marbled in
rounded patterns, with wine red crystalline inclusions that could be
garnet or ruby. It looks a lot like Ruby in Zoisite, except the
matrix stone is not green, but this grey.

I don’t know where else to ask?! Thanks for your help.

Linnea

2

It’s difficult to tell without seeing a photo of the stone. My
suggestion would be to check out a gem/crystal book and find
something that looks really similar, or better yet take it to a
reputable jewellery store–chances are they’ll have a good idea or
have a gemologist on staff who can take a look and/or test it.
Usually these store do this kind of thing as a courtesy to their
customers so it should be free of charge.

Hope this is helpful!
Kind wishes,
Caroline

3

If you are in USA, try this:

The American Federation of Mineralogical Societies, then look up
your region/state to find a gem and mineral society that is local to
you. The local society probably has someone who can identify your
stone for you. As an alternative, I would be happy to provide that
service. Contact me off

John

4

Dear Linnea, it could be a low grade Zoisite, I remember when the
main focus on Agates were Red agate, and during that time much of
the now popular carnilian was thrown away, and then sorters started
throwing away the chalcedony, and now all of it is popular.

Have fun, blessings pat

5

It could be thullite which is a pinkish-reddish grayish whitish
zoisite we have from Norway.

6

I remember seeing a stone in a store in Franklin, NC that might fit
this description, over 20 yrs. ago, but do not remember the nameof
it. Also NC, if memory serves me right has more variety of minerals
than any other state in U. S.

Sharon Perdasofpy

7

There is a great mineralogical resource on the internet called
"Mindat" . It lists i believe all known minerals, and theri variants
and has hundreds (and in some cases more) of photographs that depict
the forms as are found in different global locations of the same
minerals in the same as well as on different matrix substrates. You
may look there, however it sounds like- and that’s a sweeping
speculation without a photograph of the stone- like a low grade
bloodstone (wine red opaque crystals), or more likely garnet
material, ruby in matrix as is found in extreme Northern locales is
also a common mineral, however the crystals are coloured in a range
from translucent blood red, to clear bright red-violet, or violet
-red (yes, there is a difference based on the amount of iron in the
mineral material).I personally wouldn’t call ruby in zoisite “wine
red”, so that just goes to show each person’s description varies
widely when talking about colour. I use colour atlases when sourcing
stones for clients- its a great way to communicate the same colour
betwen people when you are charged with finding a stone that will
help fulfill their design neeeds. Do peruse Mindat, it’s your best
bet for the widest range of minerals with photos in one place. wish
I could be of more help. rer

8 
it could be a low grade Zoisite, I remember when the main focus on
Agates were Red agate, and during that time much of the now popular
carnilian was thrown away, and then sorters started throwing away
the chalcedony, and now all of it is popular.

Yes, a good time to be alive if you love the stones!

It could be eudialyte, but I doubt it. It could be any one of a
number of ruby-in-matrix mixes.

  • Lorraine
9

Hi everyone! Here in Brazil we have natural alexandrite which has a
gray, olive green and red, this depending on the light source.
Regards. CarlosPeixoto