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We reach the end of April - and of this month-long focus on the collection of stones in a bowl on my sideboard... We leave softly, with Rose Quartz and rainbows in the Calcite cube...

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Agate is such a varied stone!

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Three dark ones as we lean toward the end of the month and this focus on my rock collection.

On the left, two more little meteorite pieces picked at random in the Sturt Desert of Australia. For scale, the one sitting on top is about 1cm square.

Below, first, Obsidian and second, natural Garnets. If you look closely, you can see the redness in them.

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Selenite.

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As today is my birthday, I will indulge with photos of my favourite colour in mineral form!

Like a candle flame... A sliver of Orange Agate. I bought it three decades back with thoughts of having it made into a pendant. It remains in the bowl.

Below, the two stones on the left are Red Jasper. On the right are Carnelians - posh relatives of the agate!

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Two closely related minerals; on the left is Rhodochrosite and on the right in slab and polished forms, is Rhodonite.

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It's MOONday... so here are two wee bits of Moonstone for you!

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Chiastolite - sometimes known as the fairy-cross stone. It is a variation of Andalusite.

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Another free selection of some of my smaller Clear Quartz points and clusters.

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My photographic technique let me down on this one - these are actually very purple! Yes, they are Amethyst points.

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Two tiny pieces of natural Citrine.

Citrine is amethyst which has been exposed to intense heat. Natural citrine is rare and thus to be treasured. Most of that on the market has been artificially heated. One can tell the difference by the spread of colour; uneven as here is natural. 'Forced' citrine displays even colour throughout.

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Sodalite; natural and polished.

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Fluorite; a pyramid cut and a simple tumbled piece.

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The remaining two of my larger Clear Quartz points.  I love these for meditation...

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An Apophylite and Stilbite cluster.

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Smokey Quartz.

The little one at the top in the first image I actually found when walking in the Highlands four decades back. The larger node and the 'sceptre' were purchased.

A close up image of the sceptre form.

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Iron Pyrite, a.k.a. Fool's Gold.

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Rutilated Quartz; two with gold threads, and two with black tourmaline threads.

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Calcite in three forms. Small clear crystals, a large cuboid piece which is actually pink, but lost in this photo - and a green opaque piece.

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A variety of green stones...

In this image, three smallish pieces of Malachite, in natural form.

In this image,

at top are two Amazonite; at lower left is a piece of Aventurine and on the right, two bits of NZ Nephrite Jade.

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Tiger-eye is one of the more recognised minerals, as it makes very fine jewellery.

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A slender, Clear Quartz point. This one is about four inches.

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Haematite, in rough and polished forms.

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Jasper with fossils; worm-like wrigglers!

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More Aussie finds; I actually dug in Queensland for the Thunderegg (top left). One never knows until the egg is split what the content will be. The two in the centre found out walking, not sure what rock; and the one on the right is a small piece of rough cinnabar on a quartz base.

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Continuing with the rock collection items that I found in Australia. These two have significance beyond their geological interest. I was walking with my father on a line inspection in South Australia... these stood out from all the other very smooth and rounded pebbles. Can you guess???

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Two more central Australian items; the one beneath was a find when out walking... and the one above was found in the gift shop at Uluru. 

They are Brecciated Jasper. 

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Now, this one is extra special to me. I found it when visiting Uluru, the red centre of Australia. It is a meteorite! It is only two inches at longest... but it weighs at least twice what you would expect with all its iron content.

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One of a few larger Clear Quartz points in the collection.

This one is about three inches.

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All my smaller and more fragile Clear Quartz points are kept in the little fabric purse.

The longest is little more than an inch in length.

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For the month of April, a change. Each day you will see photos of some of my collection of crystals and minerals. My father was a keen amateur geologist (and lapidarist) and I inherited that interest. The geology bit, lapidary not so much. There can be no denying the beauty of the very building blocks of our planet, and to handle them brings a sense of calm. Let us begin with a shot of the central bowl which holds the majority of my 'gems'...