The Gem Zodiac

Based on Atomic Numbers

By Rab Wilkie (AstroCyclics.com)

Almost a century ago (1912) the Jewellers Of America re-invented 'birthstones'. Their new list was influenced by ancient tradition and custom but based mainly on supply and demand to improve business. So the notion that amethyst is February's stone and diamond is 'lucky' for people born in April is a commercial gimmick. One that is now so widespread that it has marginalised traditions, among which may be found some intuitive knowledge that tends to benefit the wearer of gems more than the seller. Yet traditions, whether Biblical, Roman, or Eastern, are confusingly varied and largely outdated, so here is a truly modern and universal list based on resonance between atoms and numbers.

Gems are composed of minerals, atoms make up each mineral, and each atom has a specific number of electrons that is the same as the number of protons in its nucleus, from the lightest atom, hydrogen (1) upward to lead (82) - once the heaviest metal known - to uranium (93) and beyond. This number, called the 'atomic number', is a distinguishing trait that allows us to identify each type of atom in the universe.

The correlation of atoms with zodiacal signs can therefore be assigned straighforwardly: hydrogen (1) resonates with the first sign Aries, helium (2) with the second sign Taurus, and so forth to magnesium (12) and the 12th sign Pisces. After which a new circuit begins with aluminum (13) begins with Aries (13-12=1).

Gems are comprised of at least two different kinds of atoms or 'chemical elements', so the number of a gem is the sum of their atomic numbers. For example, quartz is a compound of silicon (14) and oxygen (8) so the number of quartz is 22 (14+8) which resonates with Capricorn, the 10th sign of the zodiac, (22-12=10). The notable exception to the multiple-element rule is diamond because it is not a compound but made entirely of a single type of atom: carbon, with 6 electrons. Therefore diamond resonates with the sixth sign, Virgo.

Diamond crystals are similar to pure metals insofar as these are also composed of a single element. Gold, silver, and copper, for example, each consist only of gold (79), silver (47), and copper (29) atoms.

The following list matches gems with the signs of the zodiac according to number. Also included are semi-precious and 'ornamental stones' along with certain organic materials and metals, most of which are also used in jewelry.

The ASTROCYCLIC ZODIAC

Of Gems, Crystals, Stones, & Metals

Sign	Top Gem	Standard	Other	Stone/Organic	Metal	Alloy
Aries	Alexandrite	Garnet:	Taafeite*	-	Aluminum	Solder
	Chrysoberyl	almandine	Scapolite:		Manganese	(lead)
		rhodolite	marialite
		pyrope
Taurus	Sinhalite*	Zircon	Spodumene	-	IRON	-
					Tungsten
Gemini	Emerald	Beryl	Rhodocrosite	Obsidian	TIN	-
				Variscite
				Sodalite
Cancer	Benitoite*	Sphene	Apatite*	Chrysocolla	Nickel	Silver
			Euclase	Ivory!	Zirconium	(sterling)
Leo	Aquamarine	Fluorite:	-	Lapis	COPPER
		basic
Virgo	Diamond	Moonstone:	Garnet:	Turquoise	Platinum	Steel
		orthoclase	uvarovite	Tourmaline:	Zinc	(stainless)
		Tourmaline:	Fluorite	schorl	Molybdenum	Electrum
		elbaite	Diopside	Pectolite
				Pyrite
				Pearl!
Libra	Garnet:	Tektite	Kornerupine	Amber!	GOLD	Bronze
	grossular
Scorpio	Tanzanite	Periclase	Prehnite	Malachite	MERCURY	Steel
				Azurite	Barium
Sagittarius	Ruby &	Spinel:	Idocrase	Jade:	Scandium	Iron
	Sapphire	ruby		nephrite	Rhodium	(cast)
		Topaz				Cupro-
		Garnet:				nickel
		andradite
Capricorn	Quartz	Quartz	Moonstone:	Jade:	LEAD	Pewter
	amethyst	chalcedony	oligoclase	jadeite	Titanium
	rock cryst	al	Scapolite:	Serpentine	Palladium
			meionite	Lazurite
				Jet!
Aquarius	Opal	Andalusite	Sillimanite*	Rhodonite	SILVER	Brass
					Bismuth
					Vanadium
Pisces	Peridot	Garnet:	Brazilianite	Coral!	Chromium	Pewter
		spessartine				(basic)

[*] Rare [!] Organic [GOLD] (capitalised) The seven ancient metals

NOTE: Each zodiacal sign 'begins' when the Sun passes into it, the date of entry varying by as much as one day. To ascertain whether your Sun is in one sign or the other, you would first need to know the time of your birth, and then to calculate your birth horoscope. But since three days either way may be regarded as a transitional or 'cuspal' period - influenced by both signs - calculation may be deemed unnecessary. Your 'birthstones' can be those of either or both signs, although the progressive or future-oriented choice would relate to the sign ahead.

Categories

Top Gem: usually a precious gem of the finest quality. Quartz for Capricorn may be considered an exception, although the best semi-precious amethyst and clearest rock crystal (e/g ball) can be highly valued.

Standard: gems of good quality that are often more available or affordable than a Top Gem.

Other: semi-precious gems or crystals.

Stone: ornamental stone sometimes used as jewelry.

Organic: mineral compounds derived from once living organisms.

Metal: mainly common metals which are pure elements and can used in jewelry. Capitalised names are the seven ancient planetary metals. From alchemical lore: Lead ~ Saturn, Tin ~ Jupiter, Iron ~ Mars, Copper ~ Venus, Mercury ~ Mercury, Silver ~ Moon, Gold ~ Sun.

Alloy: common mixtures of metal manufactured from two or more different metals.

NOTE: Not included in this tabulation are the many types of mineral crystals unsuitable for jewelry and of interest only to collectors.

Simplified List

Aries	Alexandrite, Garnet (Almandine), Aluminum.
Taurus	Zircon, Iron.
Gemini	Emerald, Obsidian, Tin.
Cancer	Sphene, Ivory, Nickel, (Sterling Silver).
Leo	Aquamarine, Fluorite, Lapis Lazuli, Copper.
Virgo	Diamond, Moonstone, Tourmaline, Turquoise, Pearl, Platinum, Zinc.
Libra	Garnet (Grossular), Tektite, Amber, Gold.
Scorpio	Tanzanite, Malachite, Mercury, (Steel).
Sagittarius	Ruby & Sapphire, Topaz, Spinel, Garnet (Andradite), Scandium.
Capricorn	Quartz, Jade, Jet, Lead, Titanium.
Aquarius	Opal, Silver, (Brass).
Pisces	Peridot, Coral, Chromium.

Gemstone Varieties

adventurine	Quartz
agate	Quartz
alexandrite	Chrysoberyl
almandine	Garnet
amazonite	Feldspar (orthoclase)
amethyst	Quartz
andradite	Garnet
aquamarine	Beryl
bloodstone	Quartz
carnelian	Quartz
chalcedony	Quartz
chryspoprase	Quartz
citrine	Quartz
cympophane	Chrysoberyl
emerald	Beryl
galaxite	Spinel
gahnite	Spinel
goshenite	Beryl
grossulite	Garnet
heliodor	Beryl
hercynite	Spinel
hessonite	Garnet - grossular
hiddenite	Spodumene
jasper	Quartz
kunzite	Quartz
lapis	Felspathoid
lazurite	Felspathoid
marcasite	Pyrite
marionite	Scapolite
meionite	Scapolite
microcline	Feldspar - orthoclase
moldavite	Tektite
moonstone	Feldspar - orthoclase, oligoclase
morganite	Beryl
olivine	Peridot
onyx	Quartz
peristerite	Feldspar - oligoclase
pyrope	Garnet
rhodolite	Garnet
rock crystal	Quartz
ruby	Corundum
sapphire	Corundum
sard	Quartz
sardonyx	Quartz
sodalite	Felspathoid
spessartine	Garnet
sunstone	Feldspar
tanzanite	Zoisite
tiger's eye	Quartz
tsavorite	Garnet� - grossular
uvarovite	Garnet

 

Crystal Family	Crystal	Chemical Formula	Values	Number	Z#
	Diamond	C	6	6	1-6
	Sinhalite	Mg Al B O4	12 13 5 8	38	3-2
Corundum
	ruby	Al2 O3	13 8	21	1-9
	sapphire	Al2 O3	13 8	21	1-9
Spinel
	ruby	Mg Al2 O4	12 13 8	33	2-9
	gahnite	Zn Al O4	30 21	51	4-3
	hercynite	Fe Al O4	26 21	47	3-11
	galaxite	Mn Al O4	25 21	46	3-10
	Chrysoberyl	Be Al2 O4	4 21	25	2-1
	Turquoise	Cu Al6 (PO4)4 (OH)8.4H2O	29 13 15 8 1	66	5-6
	faustite	Zn Al6/.. +5H20	30	67	5-8
	Variscite	(Al,Fe) PO4.2H20	13,26 15 8 1	63	5-3
	Tektite	(SiO)(AlO)(FeO)Mg,Na,KO	14 8 13 26 12 11 19	103	8-7
Tourmaline
	schorl	NaFe3 B3 Al3(Al3Si6O27)(OH)4	11 26 5 (35) 1	78	6-6
	dravite	NaMg3/B3..	11 12 5 (35) 1	64	5-4
	uvite	CaMg3/B3..+(O,OH)4	20 12 5 (35)1	73	6-1
	elbaite	Na(Al,Fe,Li,Mg)3 B3/..+(O,OH,F)4	11 26 3 12 5 (35) 1 9	102	8-6
	Topaz	(Al2Si)4 (F,OH)2	13 14 9 8 1	45	6-9
	Quartz	Si O2	#22	22	1-10
	Opal	Si O2.nH2O	#22 1	23	1-11
	Zircon	Zr Si O4	40 14 8	62	5-2
	Chrysocolla	Cu2 H2 Si2 O5 (OH)4	29 1 #22	52	4-4
	Benitoite	Ba Ti Si3 O9	56 22 #22	100	8-4
	Rhodonite	Mn Si O3	25 #22	47	3-11
	Peridot	(Mg,Fe)2 Si O4	12 26 #22	60	4-12
	Sphene	Ca Ti Si O5	20 22 #22	64	5-4
	Serpentine	Mg3 Si2 O5 (OH)4	12 #22	34	2-10
	Nephrite	Ca2 (Mg,Fe)5 Si8� O22(OH)2	20 12 26 #22 1	81	6-9
	Obsidian	Al(Fe,K,Na,Ca,Mg) Si O10	13 26 19 11 20 12 #22	123	10-3
	Andalusite	Al2 Si O4	#35	35	2-11
	Spodumene	Li Al Si2 O6	3� #35	38	3-2
Zoisite
	�tanzanite	Ca2 Al3 Si3 O12 (OH)	20� #35 1	56	4-8
	Beryl	Be3 Al2 Si6 O18	4� #35	39	3-3
	�emerald	Be3 (Al,Cr) Si6 O18	4� 24 #35	63	5-3
	�aquamarine	Be3 (Al,Fe) Si6 O18	4� 26 #35	65	5-5
Garnet
	�pyrope	Mg3 Al2 Si3 O12	12 #35	37	3-1
	�rhodolite	(Mg,Fe)3 Al2 Si3 O12	12,26 #35	73	6-1
	�almandine	Fe3 Al2 Si3 O12	26 #35	61	5-1
	�spessartine	Mn3 Al2 Si3 O12	25 #35	60	4-12
	�andradite	Ca3 Fe2 Al2 Si3 O12	20 26 #35	81	6-9
	�grossular	Ca3 Al2 Si3 O12	20 #35	55	4-7
	�uvarovite	Ca3 Cr2 Si3 O12	20 24 #22	66	5-6
Feldspar
	�moons orth	K Al Si3 O8	19 #35	54	4-6
	�moons olig	Na Al Si3 O8	11 #35	46	3-10
	Jadeite	Na Al Si2 O6	11 #35	46	3-10
	Iolite	(Mg,Fe)2 Mg2 Al4 Si5 O18	12 26 #35	73	6-1
Scapolite
	�meionite	Ca4Al3 (Al,Si)3 Si6 O24(Cl,CO3,SO4)	20 #35 17 6 16	94	7-10
	�marionite	Na4/Al3..	11 #35 17 6 16	85	7-1
Felspathoid
	�sodalite	Na4 Al3 (SiO4)3 Cl	11 #35 17	63	5-3
	�lazurite	(Na,Ca)8 (Al,Si)12 O24 (S,SO)4	11,20 #35 16	82	6-10
	�lapis laz	sodalite + lazurite + pyrite	#63 20 16 26	125	10-5
	Azurite	Cu3(CO3)2 (OH)2	29 6 8 1	44	3-8
	Malachite	Cu2 CO3 (OH)2	29 6 8 1	44	3-8
	Fluorite	Ca F2 [+Y,Ce]	20 9 [39 58]	126	10-6
	Hematite	Fe2 O3	26 8	34	2-10
	Magnetite	Fe3 O4	26 8	34	2-10
	Pyrite	Fe S2	26 16	42	3-6
	Rhodocrosite	Mn C O3	25 6 8	39	3-3