Agate
Pattern, banding and translucency are usually more important than a single “grade”. Learn its mineral identity, hardness, care, common treatments, authenticity notes and traditional associations.
Read the mineral guide →
Mineralogy, identification, care & craft
Know the mineral, not just the meaning.
Explore how crystals form, how to identify them, what treatments to look for, how to care for a collection, and how minerals are cut, polished and displayed. Folklore and spiritual traditions are kept clearly separate from geological facts.
Geology firstIdentification over hypeCare that prevents damageFolklore clearly labelled
Coming soon
The shop
The Fans of Crystals shop is coming soon.
We are building a small, carefully chosen shop of beautiful minerals, desk rocks, display pieces and gifts. Each piece will be described clearly, with treatments and practical care information disclosed where relevant.
Desk rocksTiny museumsRaw mineralsCrystal objectsGifts
Explore the Crystal Library while you wait →
Small drops. Exact-piece photography. Mineral information first.
Editorial pillars
Browse all articles →Learn crystals from more than one angle.
Fans of Crystals is built as a reference publication rather than a list of healing claims. These are the subjects we prioritise.
Mineralogy & Geology
How minerals form, crystal systems, physical properties and why specimens look the way they do.
Explore →Identification & Authenticity
Natural, treated, synthetic, imitation or composite—and what you can realistically identify at home.
Explore →Care & Ownership
Water, sunlight, storage, scratching, fragility and sensible collection care.
Explore →Lapidary & Craft
Tumbling, cutting, polishing, carving, cabochons and the material properties that affect the work.
Explore →Interiors & Display
How to display minerals safely and beautifully on desks, shelves, cabinets and around the home.
Explore →History & Culture
Naming, decorative use, trade history, jewellery traditions and documented cultural context.
Explore →The reference library
See all crystals →Meet the minerals
Reference pages bring together mineral identity, physical properties, formation, care, treatments and common identification problems.
Amazonite
Its blue-green colour can resemble tropical water, often crossed by white feldspar streaking. Learn its mineral…
Read the mineral guide →Amethyst
Known for purple colour zoning that can range from pale lilac to deep violet. Learn its…
Read the mineral guide →Ametrine
Distinct purple and yellow zones make each piece visually individual. Learn its mineral identity, hardness, care,…
Read the mineral guide →Angelite
Its soft powder-blue colour and matte appearance are more subdued than most blue gemstones. Learn its…
Read the mineral guide →Apatite
Bright neon blue-green material is visually striking but relatively soft for a gemstone. Learn its mineral…
Read the mineral guide →From the shop
Shop all →Very nice rocks, properly described.
One-off pieces can be sold as the exact crystal photographed, with practical details such as weight, dimensions, treatment disclosure and a link back to the relevant Crystal Library entry.
Practical tools
Use the database, don’t just read it.
These tools pull from the same structured mineral data as the library and improve as reviewed records are added.
Discovery
Crystal Finder
Browse by colour, mineral family, form and display placement.
Find a mineral → CareCare Checker
Check water, sunlight and Mohs hardness before cleaning or displaying a piece.
Check care → CompareCompare Crystals
Compare physical properties, care, treatments and authenticity notes side by side.
Compare → LearnCrystal Glossary
Understand druzy, cleavage, synthetic, stabilised, matrix, lustre and provenance.
Open glossary →How the site works
Imported is not the same as published.
Bulk data is treated as a draft. Published pages should be checked by a human editor, supported with appropriate sources and improved with original explanation, comparisons or photography.
Latest editorial work
All articles →Go deeper than “what does this crystal mean?”
Crystal Care by Mohs Hardness: Useful, but Not the Whole Story
Mohs hardness helps predict scratches, but it does not tell you whether a mineral dissolves, cleaves, fades or reacts with acid.
Read the article →Natural, Synthetic, Imitation or Composite? Crystal Terms Explained
“Real” and “fake” collapse too many different materials into one argument. These terms are much more useful.
Read the article →Crystal Provenance: What “Ethically Sourced” Can and Cannot Tell You
“Ethically sourced” is not a magic phrase. Better sourcing information shows what is known, what is documented and…
Read the article →Why You Should Not Put Random Crystals in Drinking Water
“Crystal-infused water” sounds harmless, but mineral composition, treatments and contamination make direct-contact recipes a poor default.
Read the article →Crystal Safety Around Children and Pets
Heavy spheres, sharp points, small tumbles and mineral dust all deserve more thought in homes with children or…
Read the article →How to Start a Crystal Collection Without Buying Everything
A first collection should teach you how minerals differ, not just give you fifteen colours of the same…
Read the article →Folklore & spiritual traditions
Documented, but kept in its lane.
Crystal symbolism and contemporary spiritual practices can be interesting cultural subjects. When we cover them, we label them as traditions rather than medical, psychological or financial effects.
Browse traditional beliefs