Axinite

Axinite

So named because natural crystals of this mineral are a sharp edged axe shape. Hard but brittle. Rarely used in jewellery, faceted stones are mostly only found in collector's cabinets.

Baryte 'Rose'

Baryte

Really too soft for jewelry and it is also very brittle, but it is a mineral widespread in the UK and available from some gemstone suppliers, it is often used as a pigment in paper manufacture and for use in X rays.

Benitoite

Benitoite / Neptunite

Benitoite aka Neptunite

When it was first discovered in 1906 in San Benito, California, this gem was mistaken for sapphire.

Deep blue in colour, this stone is often faceted to bring out it's dichroism. (Shows blue from some angles, colourless from others.)

Also known as Neptunite.