Gemstone Vs Minerals & Crystals | The Difference

Gemstones, minerals and crystals are terms that are all used interrelatedly. But all these terms are very different. Today, we will discuss what these terms actually mean and how they are different from each other.   

When you enter into a jewellery shop or visit a crystal shop, you are bound to see an eye-boggling sight of various stones labelled as gemstones, minerals, or crystals. The terms are used interchangeably, yet they are different in geology and gemology. Knowing the distinction between them also makes them appreciate their inherent beauty even more, and also makes you make knowledgeable decisions, whether you are a collector, a jewelry lover, or a spiritual person.  

We should dig into the science and the sheen behind these intriguing materials.

What Are Minerals?

The crust of the Earth is built on minerals. A mineral is scientifically described as an inorganic solid of definite chemical composition that is naturally occurring and has an ordered atomic structure. It implies that minerals do not arise through life, and they are crystallised at the atomic level.  

Examples of some of the most common minerals are:  

Quartz - it comes in amethyst stone and citrine.  

Diamond - pure carbon that is in the form of a crystal lattice.  

Corundum - the family of the mineral that encompasses ruby stone and sapphires.  

Beryl - the mineral family of emerald stone and aquamarine.  

All minerals have different physical characteristics like hardness, color and cleavage, which assist in identifying the mineral. These are also properties which determine the way the mineral can be utilised, either in construction, technologies or jewellery.

What Are Crystals?

Crystals are a certain type of mineral with a highly ordered repeating structure of atoms. The internal symmetry can frequently lead to external forms of geometry, such as cubes, hexagons, or pyramids.   

Not every crystal is a mineral, although all minerals are crystalline.   

As an example, sugar, snowflakes are not minerals but crystals, as they are organic or they are made under conditions that do not necessarily satisfy the rigid mineral criteria.

In gemology, a crystal is occasionally colloquially used for any transparent or translucent stone, particularly in spiritual or esoteric contexts. But on the scientific level, the crystals are characterised by the arrangement of atoms.  

Some examples of Crystals are:  

Quartz crystals- commonly used in healing.  

The crystals of salt - formed through evaporation.  

Snowflakes - crystals of ice that occur in nature.  

Under the best conditions, crystals can grow to enormous sizes or can be microscopic. They are very clear and symmetrical, and therefore are useful in science and decoration.  

Check this out - Healing Crystals: Everything You Need to Know

What Are Gemstones?

Gemstones are minerals or crystals, or organic substances that have been cut and polished to be used in jewellery or ornamentation. The uniqueness of gemstones is their beauty; they are colourful and brilliant, rare, and durable. Although the majority of the gemstones are minerals, not all minerals are cut into gemstones. Only those that have the right mix of beauty and toughness pass the cut.  

Remarkably enough, not all gemstones are minerals. Some examples of Organic materials that are gemstones are:  

Amber – fossilised tree resin.  

Pearl - grown in molluscs.  

Jet - obtained by crushing decayed wood.  

Even though they fail to satisfy the mineral classification, they are regarded as gemstones because of their popularity and application in ornaments.  

These gemstones are normally categorised as:  

Precious– diamonds, rubies, Blue sapphire , emeralds  

Semi-precious- amethyst, garnet, peridot stone , topaz.  

This categorisation is less about actual value or rarity and relies mostly on past history.  

Read in detail here - What is the Difference Between Precious and Semi-Precious Stones?

What About Rocks?

Rocks are collections of a single or more mineral types and can also include organic or volcanic glass. Rocks are not homogeneous in terms of chemical composition or crystal structure, as is the case with minerals and crystals. They are grouped by the way of their formation:  

Igneous – formed from cooled magma (e.g., granite)  

Sedimentary – formed from compressed sediments (e.g., limestone)  

Metamorphic – formed from existing rocks altered by heat and pressure (e.g., marble)  

The word stone is less definite. In geology, it is frequently used interchangeably with rock. Stone in jewelry is often taken to be the equivalent of a gemstone, of any geologic origin.  

Major difference b/w Minerals, Crystals and Gemstones

Term	Definition	Examples
Mineral	Naturally occurring inorganic solid with a definite chemical composition	Quartz, Diamond, Beryl
Crystal	Solid with a highly ordered atomic structure, often forming geometric shapes	Salt, Snowflake, Quartz
Gemstone	Mineral, crystal, or organic material - cut and polished for adornment	Ruby, Emerald, Pearl stone
Rock	An aggregate of minerals may include organic matter or volcanic glass	Granite, Marble, Obsidian

Why the Confusion?

The clash in nomenclature has to be explained by the fact that in various disciplines, the same words are used in different situations. The same object can be called by geologists, jewellers, gemologists and spiritual practitioners as follows:  

• A geologist may refer to it as quartz.

• One of the jewellers may name it amethyst.
  

• While a crystal healer may call it just a healing crystal.

  It is important to know the differences so that you can understand discussions and appreciate these natural wonders.  

More to read - Are Recycled Gemstones The Future Of Sustainable Jewelry?

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