Discovered in 1839, Danburite was named after the location it was first found in - Danbury, Connecticut. An excellent alternative for Diamond, Danburite is relatively unknown in the market but is growing in popularity as it is found to be quite similar to White Topaz and just as expensive.

These crystals of Calcium Boron Silicate (CaB2Si2O8) are mostly grayish and opaque, while some are clear and colorless or light pink. These rare gems are usually found in Mexico and the clear, colorless ones make the most attractive gemstones.

As they have a hardness of 7 on Moh’s Scale, they make quite beautiful jewellery and an excellent alternative to Diamonds and harmonize with nearly everything. Found in locations such as Myanmar (Burma), Japan, Mexico, Switzerland, Germany and Danbury (Connecticut, USA), this mineral corresponds to the sun sign of Leo. It is believed to be an excellent healing tool, a powerful activator of the intellect and a mineral that helps remove toxins from the body.

Though fine quality Danburites are clear or white, shades of pink, brown and yellow have been found with a clarity ranging from transparent to translucent.

Dolomite a common sedimentary mineral is named after a French mineralogist and geologist Deodat de Dolomieu (1750 -1801). Well known for its beautiful pink color, Dolomite is also found in other color shades such as white, yellow, gray, brown and black. The darker shades generally occur due to the presence of iron in the crystals.

The Dolomite group of minerals include: Ankerite, Bensonite, Huntite, Kutnohorite, Minrecordite and Norsethite besides Dolomite, which is the most common mineral of the group. Formed from Calcium Magnesium Carbonate (CaMg (CO3) 2) Dolomite occurs in massive beds several hundred feet thick. Used as a source of magnesium in some cements, the hardness of Dolomite is 3.5 - 4 on Moh’s Scale and its Specific Gravity around 2.86.

The crystals of Dolomite are transparent to translucent and pearly to vitreous in luster. This pearl like effect is best seen on the curved crystals. And it is the beautiful pink color and unique luster that makes Dolomite a very attractive mineral specimen among collectors. Though it is reported to be found from many places around the world, the well known sites where Dolomite is mined are the Midwestern quarries of the US, Ontario (Canada), Pamplona (Spain), Switzerland and Mexico.

A popular mineral among collectors, it occurs in white, brown, green and (rarely) orange, or gray. The name is derived from the Greek ‘Dateisthai’, which means “To Divide” referring to the fact that the mineral crumbles quite easily.

Datolite takes form from Calcium Boron Silicate Hydroxide [CaBSiO4 (OH)]. It ranks 5 to 5.5 on the Moh’s Scale of Hardness with a Specific Gravity of 2.8 to 3.0. Datolite belongs to the Datolite/Gadolinite minerals group. Members of the group include: Datolite, Bakerite, Gadolinite, Hingganite, and a few other rare minerals. The minerals contain alternating borate and silicate that are connected to each other in a sheet like structure.

Datolite occurs in two distinct forms: as discrete crystals and as massive nodules. The massive variety actually has a cauliflower-like surface; collectors for its beauty as a lapidary material value it. Massive Datolite, colored by copper and other minerals, is found in size of up to 10 inches in diameter. Such nodules range from white to red, reddish-brown, and orange, which is most valuable, and are usually cut as cabochons or sliced and polished for inlay-work. Pink Datolite is also widely known as “Sugar Stone”.

First discovered in the Connecticut River valley, USA in 1806, some occurrence has been reported in Russia; the Lake Superior region of Michigan and Paterson, New Jersey, USA; Bancroft, Ontario, Canada; Charcas, Mexico; Schwarzwald, Germany, Africa and Norway.