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Mr Wood’s Fossils
Tucked away at the bottom of Grassmarket in Edinburgh, dwarfed by tall Georgian houses and overlooked by the Castle on the western skyline, is one of my favourite shops in the world. Perhaps I should...
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Amethyst: a purple passion
I’ve never made any secret of the fact that I love collecting rocks and minerals. I thought I’d start a new series, taking an in-depth look at some of my favourites. I’m beginning with amethyst,...
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Labradorite: a flash of inspiration
I’ve raided my crystal cabinet again! Labradorite is a stone that needs to be held in the hand, and it will enchant you with its spectacular flashes of colour… At first glance, Labradorite appears...
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Lapis lazuli: a piece of heaven on earth
If the ancient gods had a favourite gemstone, it’s likely to have been lapis lazuli. Few precious stones have a history that goes back so far, with so many exquisite carvings and artefacts to show for...
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Mystery object – the answer!
A few days ago I asked you what this was…. …and I have had some very interesting and entertaining suggestions. Thank you all very much! I must admit that, if I didn’t know better and someone showed...
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Fluorite – a frozen rainbow
I’m looking at a piece of fluorite on my desk. It measures about five inches by three, and it is basically a chunk of grey-coloured stone, quite heavy, its top surface slightly rough and bubbled in...
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Enhydro agate – a secret water chamber
This little lump of greyish stone has something very unusual and interesting in its core: a bubble containing water that has been trapped within the rock, maybe for as long as 200 million years. The...
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