Trade Name Index
As mentioned in our previous post about trade names, trade names are designed to make a material more marketable and do not often truly represent what the mineral actually is. It can be hard to keep up with the sheer number of trade names these days, but we are here to help! We have researched every trade name we could find currently that is either confusing, known to be fraudulent, or just inaccurately describe the mineral it claims to be.
Here is a list of some of the resources we used in the compilation of this index (please check them out!):
Crystal Trade Names, Synonyms and Misomers by Solstice Stones
Gemstone Varieties and Trade Names by Minerals.net
The Book of Stones by Robert Simmons
Mineral Fakes, Frauds and Scams by Zbyněk Buřival, Mineral Expert.com
The Trademarking of Crystals - Crystal Information.com
DISCLAIMER
Some of these trade names were also supplied by fellow members of the minerals industry, and may not be present in the sources listed. Some of these trade names also come from my own experience in this industry both as a geologist and as a seller. There is always going to be more trade names created, and more we haven't come across yet, so this list will be updated on a monthly basis. If you have a trade name please submit it to us at waikatocrystals@gmail.com and we will research it and add it to this index!
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A
Achroite: Colourless Tourmaline
Adelaide Ruby: An Almandine Garnet found in Australia
Adularia: Alternative name for Moonstone (Orthoclase Feldspar)
African Emerald: Green Fluorite
African Jade: Also known as Transvaal Jade, it can either be a variety of green Grossular Garnet, or Verdite, a Fuchsite rich metamorphic rock (the difference is dependant on the source location).
African Turquoise: A variety of teal/green spotted Jasper from Africa
Agape Crystal: A trademarked name for an Amethyst variety with potential Cacoxenite, Goethite, Lepidocrocite and Rutile inclusions. It is thought to also have Clear and Smoky Quartz present as well (despite these all being varieties of the same mineral). (Also sold under the trademark 'Super Seven').
Agni Mani: Also known as Agni Manitite, it is actually a volcanic glass, known as a pseudo-tektite, from Indonesia.
Agnitite: A clear quartz with red Hematite inclusions (also sold as Agni Fire Quartz, Hematoid Quartz, Fire Quartz).
Alaskan Black Diamond: Hematite found in Alaska
Albatine Aragonite: A trade marked name for Aragonite
Alligator Quartz: A trade name for a quartz growth form of multiple small terminations with parallel rhombohedral faces, resulting in a pseudo double termination appearance (often seen in Smoky Quartz). Considered to be similar to Elestial or Jacare Quartz.
Almandine Spar: An old name for Eudialyte
Alum: A lab made mineral (Potassium Aluminium Sulphate)
Amaranthine: A trademark for Brecciated Fluorite in Quartz with Calcite. Also sold as Sphalerite, although both are considered to be misleading names.
Amatrix: A variety of Variscite found in Nevada, USA (also sold as Utahlite)
Amazez: Also spelled Amezez, it is a trademarked name for Chevron (banded) Amethyst.
Amazon Jade: Amazonite (A green/blue Microline Feldspar)
Amber Onyx: Trade name for orange Calcite with pale Calcite banding
Amegreen: A variety of Amethyst with Praisolite (Green Amethyst/Quartz).
American Ruby: Trade name given to both Rose Quartz and Garnet varieties found in the USA.
Amethyst Zebra Stone: Name given to Banded or Chevron Amethyst
Ambrite: A variety of fossil tree resin that occurs in coal seams in New Zealand
Ammolite: A variety of Ammonite fossil found in Alberta, Canada, which is renowned for its iridescent finish (considered to be an organic gemstone).
Amulet Stone: A trademark for Rhyolite, also a term given to any stone used in healing/protection.
Anandalite: A trademarked name for a variety of Quartz containing Brazil-Law Twinning (also sold as Aurora or Iris Quartz).
Ancestralite: A trade name for pseudomorphic Hematite after Marcasite
Anchi Crystal: A trade name for a variety of Lithium bearing pegmatite rock.
Ancona Ruby: Rose Quartz
Andara Crystal: A misleading name for Slag/Cullet Glass (waste product from heavy industry, man made). Often sold as natural.
Angel Hair Quartz: Trade name for Rutile in Quartz (also sold as Rutilated Quartz)
Angel Phantom Quartz: Trade name for Amphibole in Quartz, depending on colour and dispersal through the quartz, can be called Papaya Quartz or Rabbit Ear Quartz.
Angel Wing Quartz: Another trade name for Amphibole in Quartz.
Angelite: A blue Anhydrite mineral formed from evaporated Gypsum.
Angelinite: Trademarked name for Quartz with Calcite
Anyolite: A trade name for a rock consisting of Ruby, Zoisite and Pargasite, more well known under the name Ruby in Zoisite.
Apache Gold: Trade name for Pyrite and Marcasite, also sold as Healer's Gold.
Apache Tear: Trade name for brown/black translucent round pebbles of Obsidian, often found in a Perlite Matrix.
Aphrodite Stone: A trade name given to Cobaltoan Calcite, also known as Cobaltocalcite
Apricot/Orange Botswana Agate: Misleading trade name for banded Carnelian
Aqua Lemuria: Trademarked name for a pale translucent glass from Sumatra, debated to be of volcanic origins, potentially fake.
Aqualite: Apatite in Quartz
Aquaprase: A variety of green-blue chalcedony (Chrysoprase) from Africa
Aquatine Lemurian Calcite: A trademarked name for a distinctive blue Calcite from Argentina
Arizonaite: A pseudo-tektite that is actually Obsidian, also called Saffordite, Colombianite or Cintanami Stone
Arizona Ruby: Pyrope Garnet
Arkansas Diamond: Clear Rock Quartz from Arkansas
Arkansas Stone: A variety of Chert (Novaculite) found in Arkansas
Armenian Stone: A historic trade name for Azurite
Aroha Stone: A trademarked name for Piemontite Schist found in New Zealand, also called Vitalite.
Ascensionite: A trade name for a rock comprised of Pyrite and Marcasite
Astaraline: Low grade Quartz with Muscovite and Cronstedtite inclusions
Asteria: Ancient name given to any stone that has a type of chatoyancy that produces a six sided 'star', or asterism, such as Ruby, Garnet, Quartz and Sapphire
Atlantis Stone: Trade name for Larimar (Blue Pectolite)
Atlantisite: A trade name for a rock comprised of Stitchite and Serpentine
Aura Quartz: Trade name given to usually low grade Quartz that has been treated with elemental vapour (usually Gold, Platinum, Iridium or Titanium) to produce an iridescent effect. Different elemental vapour can be added to provide different colouration.
Auralite 23: A trademarked name for low grade Amethyst from Canada, said to contain 23 minerals, but realistically contains between 2 to 7 different mineral inclusions.
Australian Amazonite: While Amazonite can be found in Australia, the name has been used misleadingly for both green-blue Calcite and Chalcedony of a similar colour.
Australian Jade: Any green Quartz variety found in Australia, such as Green Aventurine
Avalon Stone: Trade name for Jurassic-Triassic mud-stone/limestone
Aventurine Feldspar: Older name for Sunstone
Azeztulite: Also spelled Azezulite, this is a trademarked name for extremely low grade Quartz Rock found in the Coromandel, New Zealand.
Azotic Topaz: Name given to a Topaz coloured synthetically by the Azotic Company.
Azozeo Phenacite: Trade marked name for Phenacite (also spelled Phenakite), a variety of Beryllium Silicate
Azul: Old name for Lapis Lazuli
Azumar: Trademarked name for Kaolinite in Quartz, from Arizona
B
Baffa Diamond: Trade name for clear Rock Quartz
Bahia Blue Quartz: Dumortierite in Quartz
Bahia Topaz: A misleading name for Bahia Citrine
Balas Ruby: A misleading name for Pink to Red Spinel
Balinyouqi Stone: Trade name for Cinnabar, Dickite and Quartz. Can also be known as Chicken Blood Stone or Changhua Stone
Bello Opal: Trade name given to a man made synthetic Opal, similar to Opalite
Benegal Amethyst: Purple Sapphire
Biggs Jasper: Name given to a distinct brown Jasper found near Biggs Junction, Oregon USA.
Binghamite: Chalcedony variety with Goethite banding.
Biron Emerald: Lab grown Emerald.
Bisbee Blue: Turquoise found in Bisbee, Arizona, USA
Bixbite: Outdated term to describe gem quality Red Beryl
Black Amber: Historical name for Jet
Black Azeztulite: A trade mark name for black Quartz with white Calcite from the USA. Also trademarked under the name Illuminite. Often dark Basalt rocks are sold under this label.
Black Galaxy Granite: Trade name for a dark Gabbro rock, with Enstatite (Bronzite) inclusions
Black Jack: Historical name for Sphalerite, which is commonly dark brown/black in appearance
Black Labradorite: Actually Larvikite, a mineral within the Augite-Syenite series containing chatoyant Feldspar
Black Strongstone: A black variety of Quartz (likely Galena in Quartz) from Mexico.
Black Tourmaline Azeztulite: A fairly common mix of Black Tourmaline in low grade White Quartz
Bleu Jaune: A rare variety of Blue and Yellow Fluorite from Darbyshire, UK. Also known as Blue John and Darbyshire Spar
Bliss Quartz: Green Quartz (most likely Green Aventurine) from Africa
Blizzard Stone: Trade name given to Gabbro rock.
Blood Jasper: Another name for Bloodstone, a green and red speckled Chalcedony Variety, typically from Africa
Blue Alexandrite: Trade name for Bi-Colour Sapphire
Blue Denim Stone: Trade name for blue Dumortierite in Quartz
Blue Goldstone: A man made silica glass with added cobalt to provide colour and aventurescent effect.
Blue-Green Azeztulite: A trademarked name for green Aventurine.
Blue Iron Earth: Trade name for Vivianite
Blue John: Trade name for purple and white or purple and yellow Fluorite.
Blue Liberite: Trade name given to a variety of Brazilian Rhyolite (comprised of Calcite, Clinozoisite, Kaolinite, Feldspar, Leucoxene, Magnetite, Quartz, and some Iron Oxides), identifiable by the blue coloured Quartz phenocrysts, also sold as Que Sera Stone.
Blue Malachite: Formerly used as a trade name for Azurite, nowadays used as a trade name for Chrysocolla.
Blue Moon Quartz: Another term for Dumortierite in Quartz
Blue Obsidian: Trade name for a pale translucent man made glass sold as genuine Obsidian.
Blue Quartz: Commonly associated with Dumortierite in Quartz, can also be associated with Crocidolite in quartz
Blue Smoke Quartz: Trade name for Clear Quartz with Cookeite inclusions
Blue Tara Quartz: A common trade name for Riebeckite (a variety of Amphibole) in Quartz, sometimes possibly with Olenite Tourmaline inclusions
Blueberry Quartz: Smelting Glass (man made Glass), with blue colouration added, similar to Cherry 'Quartz'.
Bluestone: Name given to over 20 different rock varieties, most well known in the metaphysical industry as spotted Dolerite from the Preseli area in South Wales.
Bodeachat: Name given to a variety of Slag Glass that was formed in Bad Lauterberg, Germany during the 18th Century, and is characterised by a deep blue colour.
Bohemian Emerald: Trade name for Green Fluorite
Bohemian Garnet: Trade name given to Pyrope Garnet
Bohemian Ruby: Trade name for Pyrope Garnet
Boji Stones: A name given to a Pyrite Marcasite concretion found in Kansas USA, also known as Kansas Pop Rocks
Bolivianite: Name that can be used for two different stones; Ametrine is the common mineral under this name, but it can also refer to a stone comprised of purple Fluorite and green Serpentine.
Bone Turquoise: Name given to Odontolite (a variety of fossil bone or ivory), often dyed to resemble Turquoise
Bony Amber: Amber with a cloudy appearance and with air bubble inclusions throughout its interior.
Bort: Odd name for a dark, imperfectly crystallised opaque Diamond
Brazilian Aquamarine: Can sometimes refer to Aquamarine found in Brazil, but can also be a false name for Brazilian Topaz
Brazilian Emerald: Can refer to Emerald from Brazil, but can be a false name for Green Tourmaline.
Brazilian Ruby: False name for Pink Topaz
Brazilian Sapphire: False name for Blue Tourmaline or Topaz
Brazilian Topaz: May refer to Topaz from Brazil, but may also refer to Citrine
Brandenberg Quartz: A misspelling of Brandberg Quartz, from Namibia
Bristol Diamond: Rock Quartz from the limestone hills near Bristol UK.
Broghton Emerald: Green glass used as artificial Emerald
Buddstone: Trade name for Verdite (Fuchsite rich metamorphic rock)
Buddhalite Calcite: Trade name for a white-grey Calcite from China.
Bulgarian Power Crystal: Trademarked name for Quartz containing Pyrite, Sphalerite and/or Galena
Bull's Eye: Trade name for Red (typically dyed) Tiger's Eye
Bumblebee Jasper: A fibrous Calcite, with inclusions of Realgar and Pyrite
Burma Sapphire: May be used to describe Sapphire from Myanmar, can be used to describe artificial or lab grown Sapphire
Burmite: Amber from Myanmar
C
Cairngorm: Trade name given to Smoky Quartz from the Cairngorm mountains in Scotland
Calamine: Historic trade name given to Smithsonite and Hemimorphite (once thought to be the same mineral)
Calligraphy Stone: A sedimentary stone (likely a marl or limestone) with fossiliferous remains (primarily bivalve or mollusc), often mistaken for a Jasper. Also called Mariam (Miriam) Stone, or Script Stone
California Ruby: A trade name for Pyrope Garnet
Canary Tourmaline: A trade name given to Malawi Yellow Tourmaline
Candy Spinel: A misleading name for Almandine Garnet
Cape Emerald: Misleading name for Green Phrenite
Cape May Diamond: A trade name for water worn, Clear Quartz pebbles found near Cape May, NJ, USA
Cape Ruby: Trade name for Pyrope Garnet
Carborundum: A common name for Silicon Carbide, a man made material formed primarily for industrial abrasives
Carbuncle: Historic name for any Red Garnet (or Spinel) that has been cut into a cabochon
Castellite: Trade name given to Titanite, also known as Sphene
Cat's Eye: Name given to any stone with chatoyant optical properties, used to be commonly used for chatoyant Chrysoberyl and Tiger's Eye, but now is often used for chatoyant mad made materials called Fibre Optic Glass. The chatoyant effect can occur due to the occurrence of fibrous minerals within the main crystal, these result in the reflecting of light into a single beam, giving the effect.
Cat's Eye Aquamarine: Trade name given to any Aquamarine pieces displaying chatoyant properties
Cat's Eye Emerald: Trade name given to any Emerald pieces displaying chatoyant properties
Cat's Eye Moonstone: Trade name given to any Moonstone pieces displaying chatoyant properties
Cat's Eye Quartz: Trade name given to Quartz with densely included Rutile crystals, producing a chatoyant effect.
Cat's Eye Tourmaline: Trade name given to any Tourmaline that displays a chatoyant effect.
Cermikite: Another trade name for the artificial/lab grown mineral Alum
Cesium Beryl: Another name for Morganite
Ceylon Diamond: A misleading name for colourless Zircon crystals
Ceylon Opal: A misleading trade name for Sri Lankan Moonstone
Chalybite: Another name for the mineral Siderite
Changhua Stone: Trade name for Cinnabar, Dickite and Quartz. Can also be known as Chicken Blood Stone or Balinyouqi Stone
Chathan Emerald: Synthetic/Lab Grown Emerald
Cherry Quartz: A smelting glass (man made glass), with red colouration added, similar to Blueberry 'Quartz'.
Cherry Creek Smoothstone: River tumbled green to brown Jasper
Chessylite: Trade name for Azurite
Chevron Amethyst: A banded Amethyst variety, formed by the gradual layering of different Quartz's on top of each other, some rich in trivalent iron (Amethyst), and others not (White Quartz).
Chicken Blood Stone: Trade name for Cinnabar, Dickite and Quartz. Can also be known as Balinyouqi Stone or Changhua Stone
Chicken Bone Jade: A brown/beige variety of Nephrite Jade
Chinese Charoite: A misleading trade name for a deep Purple Fluorite, can also be used for the mineral Sugulite (although this is rare).
Chinese Larimar: A misleading name for Blue Aragonite
Chinese Writing Stone: A trade name for a Felsic igneous rock, often mislabelled as a Jasper
Chrysanthemum Stone: A trade name given to a black igneous rock with significant crystalline Celestine, Feldspar, Aragonite or Calcite 'flower' phenocrysts.
Chrysolite: A trade name commonly associated with Peridot, but can also be used for Phrenite, Chrysoberyl, as well as Yellow and Green Topaz varieties.
Cinn: Another name for Cinnabar
Cinnabrite: A trade name for Cinnabar in Quartz
Cinnamon Stone: a trade name for Hessonite Garnet
Cinnazez: A trademarked name which can be used to describe Cinnabar, Cinnabar in Quartz, or Cinnabar with quartz with Zinc inclusions.
Cintanami Stone: One of several trade names for a pseudo-tektite variety of Obsidian, also called Saffordite and Arizonaite
Circle stone: A trade name for Flint from South West England
Citrine Topaz: A trade name used for both Yellow Topaz or Citrine from Brazil
Collamacalcite: Trade name for Malachite with Chrysocolla
Colombianite: A common trade name for a a pseudo-tektite variety of Obsidian, also called Cintanami Stone, Saffordite and Arizonaite
Colorado Jade: A trade name for Amazonite
Colorado Ruby: A trade name for Pyrope Garnet
Common Citrine: A trade name used for heat treated Amethyst Citrine, used to differentiate it from natural Citrine
Copper Ruby: A trade name for Cuprite
Coppernite: A trade name for an Amphibole rich metamorphic rock, containing in particular Gerdite and Anthophyllite. Can also be used to describe Black Galaxy Granite, which is actually a Gabbro.
Coromandel Stonewood: Petrified Wood from the Coromandel Peninsula, New Zealand.
Cornelian: Historic name for Carnelian
Cornish Diamond: Trade name for Quartz Rock crystal from Cornwall, England
Crackle Quartz: Clear Quartz that has been artificially heated and then rapidly cooled, through a process known as quench crackling, resulting in a large network of fractures within the stone. This allows for dye to hold better, and is also known as Fire and Ice Quartz.
Cradle of Humankind: A less common name now, but used for grey Chalcedony from Africa.
Cranberry Quartz: A trade name for Hematite rich Quartz, also sold as Pink Amethyst
Creation Stone: A trademarked name for Agate from Queensland, Australia
Crimson Cuprite: A trademarked name for Cuprite, often with Chrysocolla
Crocodile Jasper: More commonly known as Kambaba Jasper, Nebula Stone or Eldarite, it is often mislabelled. Not actually a Jasper, or a genuine Stromatolite, it is a variety of Rhyolite coloured green by the mineral Aegirine, found mainly in the Bongolava Region of Madagascar
Cross Stone: Trade name for Chiastolite (a variety of Andalusite)
Crow's Coal: Trade name for Anthracite Coal
Csarite: A trade name for the gemstone Diaspore, also known as Kayserite, Empholite, Tantarite and Zultanite
Cubic Zirconia: A synthetic/lab grown mineral, not to be confused with genuine Zircon. Often used in place of Diamonds in jewellery
Cyanite: Another name for Kyanite
Cymophane: A polished Chrysoberyl that displays the Cymophane effect
Czochralski Alexandrite: Synthetic/Lab grown Alexandrite
D
Dallasite: Trade name for a Breccia that has undergone partial alteration to Epidote, Calcite, Chlorite and Quartz
Dalmatian Jasper: A misleading name for a cream coloured Feldspar containing inclusions of Arfvedsonite
Darwin Glass: A trade name for a variety of Impactite/Tektite Glass found in Darwin, Australia
Darwinite: Another trade name for Tektite glass from Darwin, Australia
Dauphine Diamond: Quartz Rock crystal from Dauphine, France.
Desert Glass: A trade name for a gold colour Tektite glass from Libya, also known as Libyan Desert Glass
Desert Rose: A name given to evaporate minerals (either Gypsum varieties, Barite or Celestite) that form in a distinctive flower shape. Also known as a Sand Rose.
Detroit Agate: A name given to an artificial enamel material made from layers of brightly coloured automotive paint, found in old car factories in Detroit, USA. When cut, the banding is similar to that of an Agate. Also called Fordite and Rainbow Calsilica.
Devalite: A trademarked name for Serpentine and Grey Quartz
DevaQuartz: A trademarked name for Quartz containing Celadonite
Dianite: Another name for Columbite, not to be confused with Dianite Jade
Dianite Jade: A misleading trade name for a stone that is not actually Jade, but blue Amphibole rich rock. Also sold as Siberian Blue Jade.
Dichroite: Another name given to the mineral Cordierite, also known as Iolite.
Disthene: Another trade name for Kyanite
Dolphin Stone: Trade name for Larimar, a rare blue variety of Pectolite, found only in the Dominican Republic
Dragon Egg: Trade name for a Septarian (Calcite, Aragonite and Brecciated Limestone nodule) nodule
Dragon Stone: A trade name for either Septarian Nodules, or for Epidote with red Piemontite
Dragon's Blood: Trade name for Epidote with red Piemontite
Dream Amethyst: A trade name either for low grade pale Amethyst, or for Amethyst with white Quartz banding
Dream Quartz: A name given to either Actinolite with Quartz, Epidote in Quartz, or Lodolite
Durr Al Najaf: A trade name for high clarity Quartz variety found in Iran
E
Eclipse Stone: Another name for Bumblebee Jasper, a fibrous Calcite, with inclusions of Realgar and Pyrite
Egyptian Alabaster: A trade name for pale banded Calcite
Eisenkiesel: Another name for a red variety of iron stained Quartz, known as Hematoid Quartz
Eilat Stone: A name given to a rock bearing Malachite, Chrysocolla, Turquoise and Azurite from Israel, also sold as King Solomon stone, or in its misspelled version Eliat stone.
Eldarite: Another trade name for Kambaba Jasper, a variety of Rhyolite coloured green by the mineral Aegirine, found mainly in the Bongolava Region of Madagascar
Elestial Angel Calcite: Trademarked name for Calcite from the desert regions of South West USA
Elestial Quartz: A trade name for a type of Quartz growth form composed of multiple small terminations with parallel rhombohedral faces, often creating an overall double terminated effect. Also known as Jacare Quartz and Alligator Quartz
Elie Ruby: A trade name for Pyrope Garnet
Ema Egg: A name given to a tumbled stone, typically a variety of quartz, with only one polished face. It is not naturally tumbled despite what has been claimed. Also called Seer stones or Ovo de Ema.
Emeraldine: A misleading name for dyed green Chalcedony
Emeraldite: A misleading name for Green Tourmaline
Empholite: Trade name for the gemstone Diaspore also known as Kayserite and Tanatarite.
Empowerite: A trade mark for a brown chert variety.
Endura Emerald: Name given to green glass used as simulated Emerald
Endurite: Trademarked name for a Banded Red Jasper with Hematite from India
Erzurum Stone: Trade name for Jet from Turkey, also known as Oltu Stone
Euphoralite: Trade marked name for a Lithium rich pegmatite rock from South Daktoa, USA largely comprised of Black Tourmaline, Lithium, Mica, Quartz, and Feldspar
Evening Emerald: A misleading trade name for Green Peridot