In one paragraphBE. works with 17 stones. Most are quartz (SiO2, Mohs 7) wearing different conditions — amethyst, citrine, smoky, rose, clear, rutilated, hematoid, blue needle, the phantoms and Super Seven. The rest are distinct minerals: obsidian (volcanic glass), moonstone (feldspar), prehnite, kyanite, garnet and aquamarine (beryl). This one table sets them side by side — mineral, formula, hardness and what gives each its look — so you can compare on material, not marketing.
Crystal names are a tangle of trade terms, colours and overlapping varieties. The fastest way to cut through it is to line everything up by what it actually is. Read down this table and a pattern appears: a large family of quartz, separated only by the trace element, inclusion or radiation that coloured it — and a handful of genuine outsiders with their own chemistry.
FIGURE: be-stone-library-comparison-table-fig.png — grid of all 17 stones with mineral labels, comparison-grid style (image to be added)
The BE. stone library, compared
| Stone | Mineral (formula) | Mohs | What gives the look |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amethyst | Quartz (SiO2) | 7 | Iron + radiation colour centre → violet. |
| Citrine | Quartz (SiO2) | 7 | Iron, heat-shifted → yellow-gold. |
| Smoky Quartz | Quartz (SiO2) | 7 | Aluminium + radiation → grey to brown. |
| Rose Quartz | Quartz (SiO2) | 7 | Microscopic fibres → soft pink. |
| Clear Quartz | Quartz (SiO2) | 7 | Pure silica → colourless clarity. |
| Rutilated Quartz | Quartz + rutile (TiO2) | 7 | Titanium-dioxide needles → gold threads. |
| Hematoid Quartz | Quartz + hematite | 7 | Iron-oxide inclusions → red veils. |
| Blue Needle Quartz | Quartz + dumortierite | 7 | Dumortierite inclusions → blue threads. |
| Emerald Phantom | Quartz + chlorite | 7 | Chlorite phantom layers → green ghost. |
| Green Phantom | Quartz + chlorite | 7 | Chlorite landscapes → layered green. |
| Super Seven | Quartz mix | 7 | Several minerals in one quartz body. |
| Aquamarine | Beryl (Be3Al2Si6O18) | 7.5–8 | Iron → sea-blue; hardest here. |
| Garnet | Garnet group | 6.5–7.5 | Iron-rich almandine → deep red. |
| Moonstone | Feldspar | 6–6.5 | Layered feldspar → adularescent glow. |
| Prehnite | Ca-Al silicate | 6–6.5 | Iron traces → translucent green. |
| Kyanite | Al2SiO5 | 4.5–7 | Titanium/iron → blue; two hardnesses. |
| Obsidian | Volcanic glass | 5–5.5 | Amorphous glass; sheen from inclusions. |
How to read the library
- Family first. Eleven of the seventeen are quartz — same hardness, same care, different colour mechanism.
- Colour is a cause, not a label. Each look traces to a trace element, an inclusion, or radiation — never to a claim.
- Hardness sets the care. The 7+ stones are forgiving; obsidian, moonstone, prehnite and kyanite want gentler handling.
- Outsiders earn attention. Aquamarine, garnet, moonstone, kyanite and obsidian each bring chemistry the quartz family can’t.
- Start where the look pulls you. Then confirm hardness and care suit your wear.
The four BE. collections
Beyond mineralogy, BE. groups stones into four philosophical lines — Anchor (grounding, dark stones like obsidian and garnet), Flow (soft, moving stones like moonstone and rose quartz), Prism (light-splitting, included stones like rutilated and hematoid quartz) and Void (deep, contemplative stones like amethyst and kyanite). The collection is a way to choose by feeling once the material facts are clear.
How BE. grades every stone
Whatever the mineral, BE. reads each strand against the Crystal 4T framework — Transparency, Tone, Texture, Treasure — and ships it with a Stone Origin Card recording mineral, hardness and source. The library above is the short version of that record, gathered in one place.
Frequently asked questions
Q1.How many of these stones are quartz?
Eleven of the seventeen. Amethyst, citrine, clear, rose, smoky, rutilated, hematoid, blue needle, the phantoms and Super Seven are all quartz or quartz-based at SiO2, Mohs 7. Obsidian, moonstone, prehnite, kyanite, garnet and aquamarine are different minerals.
Q2.Which stone is the hardest?
Aquamarine, a beryl at Mohs 7.5–8. The quartz family follows at 7, garnet at roughly 6.5–7.5, and obsidian is softest at 5–5.5.
Q3.What makes each crystal a different colour?
Trace elements, inclusions or radiation. Iron and radiation make amethyst violet; rutile needles make rutilated quartz golden; iron oxide makes hematoid red; feldspar structure makes moonstone glow.
Q4.Is obsidian a crystal?
No — it is a natural volcanic glass, amorphous with no lattice, which is why it breaks with a conchoidal fracture. It is included because it is widely worn as a bracelet stone.
Q5.Which stone should a beginner choose?
A Mohs 7 quartz such as clear quartz, amethyst or smoky quartz is the most forgiving. Choose by the colour and material story you connect with, then check hardness and care.
Q6.Why list the chemical formula?
The formula shows what a stone actually is. Knowing amethyst, citrine and smoky quartz are all SiO2 explains why they share hardness and care, and why heat can turn one into another.
References
- Mineral data — Mindat.org
- Gem Encyclopedia — GIA
- Quartz — Wikipedia
- Deer, Howie & Zussman (2013). An Introduction to the Rock-Forming Minerals, 3rd ed.
- Hurlbut & Klein (1993). Manual of Mineralogy, 21st ed. Wiley.
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Crystal Care Chart: Water, Sun & Cleaning by Stone