Minerals A - B

Adamite

Location: Mexico
Chemical Composition: Zn2AsO4(OH), Zinc Arsenate Hydroxide
Hardness is 3.5

Agate 

Alternate birthstone for May
Location: Mexico, Brazil, USA, & more
Variety of: Chalcedony
Chemical Composition: SiO2 silicon dioxide 
Hardness: 6.5 to 7
 

Ajoite in Quartz

Location: Arizona, South Africa
Quartz with turquoise colored inclusions.
Chemical Composition: (K, Na)Cu7Al(Si3O8) 3(OH)6 - 3H2O, Hydrated Potassium Sodium Copper Aluminum Silicate Hydroxide
Hardness is 3.5

Alexandrite

Location: Russia
Variety of: Chrysoberyl
Chemical Composition: BeAl2O4 + Fe,Ti beryllium aluminum oxide
Hardness: 8.5

Amazonite 

Location: Brazil, Peru, USA
Chemical Composition: KAlSi3O8
Hardness: 6 to 6.5

Amber

Location: Mexico, Poland, Dominican Republic & more
Organic Gemstone
Amber comes translucent or opaque, with colors ranging from milky to red, brown, gold or even black, blue, or green
Chemical Composition: Approximately C10H16O; Succinic acid
Hardness: 2 - 4 Very soft, easy to carve or melt
 

Amethyst

Birthstone for February
Location: Brazil, Uruguay, Mexico, USA & more
Light to medium delicate purple to lavender.
Variety of: Quartz
Chemical Composition: SiO2 silicon dioxide
Hardness: 7

Ametrine

Location: Bolivia
Combination of Amethyst and Citrine
Variety of: Quartz
Chemical Composition: SiO2 silicon dioxide
Hardness: 7

Apache Tears

Location: Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada
Chemical Composition: Volcanic, amorphous, siliceous glassy rock
Hardness: 5 - 5.5

Apatite

Location: Brazil, Myanmar, Mexico, Canada, Czech Republic, Germany, India, Madagascar, Mozambique, Norway, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, and the United States
Chemical Composition: Ca 5 ( PO 4 ) 3 ( F , Cl , OH )
Hardness: 5

Apophyllite

Location: India, Germany, Canada, Norway, Scotland, Ireland, Brazil, Japan, and throughout the United States
Chemical Composition: KCa₄Si₈O₂₀(F,OH)·8(H₂O)
Hardness: 4.5 - 5

Aquamarine

Birthstone for March 
Location: Brazil, Nigeria, Madagascar, Zambia, Pakistan, and Mozambique
Variety of: Beryl
Chemical Composition: Be3 Al2 Si6 O18
Hardness: 7.5 - 8

Aragonite

Location: Worldwide, Germany, Austria, Czechoslovakia, Sicily, Greece, Spain, and Japan
Chemical Composition: CaCO₃
Hardness: 3.5-4

Atacamite

Location: Chile, China, Russia, Czech Republic, Arizona, and Australia
Chemical Composition: Cu2Cl(OH)3, Copper Chloride Hydroxide
Hardness is 3 - 3.5

Azurite

Location: Russia, Australia, Chile, Africa, and China & more
Chemical Composition: Cu3(CO3)2(OH)2, Copper Carbonate Hydroxide
Hardness is 3.5-4

Barite

Location: USA, Canada, Mexico & more
Vitreous resinous colorless, blue, white, yellow, brown, gray. etc.
Chemical Composition: BaSO4, Barium Sulfate
Hardness is 3 - 3.5

Bismuth

Location: Lab grown in Germany
Chemical Composition: Bi
Hardness: 2-2.5

Bloodstone
Alternate March birthstone
Location: India & more
Variety of: Chalcedony
Chemical Composition: SiO2 with impurities
Hardness: 7