All gemstones connect us with nature and with the past and the future. Almost all of them were formed under the earth’s crust millions of years ago. They were at one time gas and/or liquid and are now frozen in our time and space. This, along with their beauty and rarity, is part of their enduring and universal appeal.
The term metaphysics refers to subjects that are beyond the physical world. The word derives from the Greek words meta, meaning beyond, and physika, meaning physical. In other words, metaphysical refers to inquiries that are unanswerable by scientific observation, analysis or experiment.

Those who study the metaphysical attributes of gemstones talk about a gemstone’s “energy.” These energies, which are characterized as the elemental forces of nature, are divided into five categories: earth, fire, water, wind, and storm. The systems of the body, mind and spirit are also grouped into five categories: physical, energetic, emotional, mental and spiritual, and they correspond to the five elemental forces of nature.

Chakra (pronounced SHOCK-raw) is a Sanskrit term meaning circle or wheel. There is a wide range of literature on chakra models, philosophy and lore that underpins philosophical systems, spiritual energy practices, religious observances, and personal disciplines. Most chakra theories describe seven centers of energy that are located along the center of the body from bottom to top. Each chakra corresponds to different colors, sounds and characteristics. This is why certain gemstones have been assigned to particular chakras.

We have grouped gems into six classes based on there geology and application in interiors:-

Achates Collection

Achates collection – (Agates) This collection consists of Agates and it's various types. Agates are microcrystalline quartz nodules found in veins and in cavities in host rock. They occur as fillings within gas cavities and veins in certain lavas or as a replacement mineral within some sedimentary limestones and claystones. They are however most commonly found within volcanic rocks, in particular andesites, some rhyolites and tholeiilitic basalts. The commonly accepted theory is that they crystallise in the vugs found in flood basalts and usually consist of fibrous chalcedony and coarse quartz crystals surrounding a central void. They are more resistant to erosion than their surrounding altered rock and thus agates often survive long after this host rock has weathered away.

Agates present one of the more spectacular examples of autonomous pattern generation in nature. The present thinking would suggest that biology has had no part in the generation of these patterns but the dissolution of silica by fungi has been reported. In contrast to some environments where the dissolution of silica has been seen to occur in hot, mainly hydrothermal environments similar process of dissolution has been seen at low temperatures. In most conditions this dissolution is extremely slow but in the presence of a number of organic acids such as oxalic, ascorbic and citric acid the dissolution of quartz is accelerated and the rate of this is controlled by the presence of certain micro organisms.

Agates are enormously complicated. Agate fibers grow perpendicular to the normal growth direction. Another curious thing about the agate fibers is that they twist. The mystery is the crystallographic direction the fibers are growing. They grow in a helical fashion. About 90 percent of an agate is quartz and 10 percent moganite.  

A variety of chalcedony, it comes in various colours, it tones and strengthens body and mind, it is an excellent balancer of yin and yang.  It cleanses and stabilises the aura by removing and/or transforming negative energy.  This stone can strengthens the body's connection to earth. It gives courage and facilitates ability to discern truth and accept circumstances. It is a grounding yet an energetic and powerful healer, assisting the colon, the circulatory system, lymphatic system, pancreas and the pulse.  It is said to enhance creativity, strengthen the intellect, to bring courage and fortitude.  Chakras: according to colour of stone.

The stone was given its name by Theophrastus, a Greek philosopher and naturalist, who discovered the stone along the shore line of the river Achates (Greek: ???t??) sometime between the 4th and 3rd centuries BC. Colorful agates and other chalcedonies were obtained over 3,000 years ago from the Achates River, now called Dirillo, in Sicily. It has been recovered at a number of ancient sites, indicating its widespread use in the ancient world; for example, archaeological recovery at the Knossos site on Crete illustrates its role in Bronze Age Minoan culture. Agate is the Mystical birthstone for September. It is also the birth stone for the Zodiac sign of Gemini. A hard stone, usually within the range of 7-9 on the Mohs scale agates are found in all colors of the rainbow, although green and blue are quite rare.

Creation Gems offers many types of agates for use in interiors. Some of the populer ones are:-

Grey Agate - A translucent gray and white crystal, Gray Agate luxury countertops and vanities add a touch of finesse to luxurious home designs. Its distinctive, brown circular pattern of warm tones gives it a chic, refined look that is both traditional and modern all at once. The calming tones of Gray Agate crystal can be used in diverse design concepts According to conventionally accepted wisdom, agates are known to encourage positive energy and evolving stages of progress.

Carnelian - Carnelian (also spelled cornelian) is a brownish-red mineral . It is a similer to agate and is considered a different gemstones. Bue due to it’s similerities and feel in interiors with agate we have clubbed it in the Achates Collection. Carnelian is a stone of power , confidence and passion. It assists in finding and fulfilling passions and desires. It can help bring vitality and energy to any action or situation requiring action. Stimulates the energy of love & joy. Clears negative energy, allowing light to enter & transformation to occur. Has a stabilizing effect on energy in the home. Awakens inner talents & creativity. Cornelian, cognate with similar words in several Romance languages, comes from the Mediaeval Latin corneolus, itself derived from the Latin word cornum, the cornel cherry, whose translucent red fruits resemble the stone. The color can vary greatly, ranging from pale orange to an intense almost-black coloration. Carnelian was recovered from Bronze Age Minoan layers at Knossos on Crete in a form that demonstrated its use in decorative arts this use dates to approximately 1800 BC. Carnelian was used widely during Roman times to make engraved gems for signet or seal rings for imprinting a seal with wax on correspondence or other important documents.

Blue Agate - Blue Agate is immediately reminiscent of deep ocean blues and low tide turquoise giving this stunning looking stone its balancing power. A harmonious integration of logic and emotion, this agate countertop symbolizes a soothing journey that can lead to intensely original thinking. A traditional jewelry piece helping focus and enhancing communication, Blue Agate semi-precious slabs are recommended for conference rooms and meeting rooms where people gather to brainstorm new ideas and concepts.

Brown Agate - The amazing patterns of contours and striped browns give this crystal a unique and awesome quality. Another type of Brown agate is also called Brazilian agate, which is found as sizable geodes of layered nodules. These occur in brownish tones interlayered with white and gray. Quartz forms within these nodules, creating a striking specimen when cut opposite the layered growth axis. Brown Agate has traditionally been used for its protective powers due to the earthy energy radiated by this special crystal. With their wide-ranging, expansive tones, Brown Agate semi-precious slabs add a touch of coziness to kitchens, studios and bedrooms.

Blue Lace Agate - It Awakens perceptiveness & awareness, clears the mind and enhances spiritual inspiration. Calms, soothes and uplifts thoughts. Eliminates negativity and anger.

Moss Agate - Also called Dendritic agate they have fern like patterns in them formed due to the presence of manganese and iron oxides. Other types of included matter deposited during agate-building include sagenitic growths (radial mineral crystals) and chunks of entrapped detritus (such as sand, ash, or mud). Occasionally agate fills a void left by decomposed vegetative material such as a tree limb or root and is called limb cast agate due to its appearance.Has a cleansing, balancing & stabilizing effect to wellbeing. Enhances self-esteem, clarity, perceptiveness & awakens inner talents & abilities. Helps to see the world through a broader point of view. It fosters abundance, wealth, Love & connection with nature.

Yellow Agate - It has yellow concentric circles which gives interiors a vibrant feel. It is of a smooth non aggressive yellow color.

Guava Agate - Also called Greek agate is a name given to pale white to tan colored agate found in Sicily back to 400 B.C. The Greeks used it for making jewelry and beads. Even though the stone had been around centuries and was known to both the Sumerians and the Egyptians, both who used the gem for decoration and for playing important parts in their religious ceremonies, any agate of this color from Sicily, once an ancient Greek colony, is called Greek agate.

Australia - The most famous agate location in Australia is Agate Creek in Northern Queensland. The agate nodules at that location originate from various, now mostly weathered Permian volcanic rocks. The area produced many different types of agates in many colors, among them unique green-yellow specimen with a fine banding.

Botswana - Agates from Botswana are renown for showing an ecccentric and fine banding. They occur in weathered basalt rock in eastern Botswana, near the Limpopo river, and are thus also known as "Limpopo Agates".
Brazil - It is an important source of Agates. Although there is some fine banding, it is not very intense, which is typical, as Brazilian agate often shows good translucency, but weak banding, but good rings like those in blue agates from Manas Gires.
Uruguay – Agates from here have a typical horizontal banding. They are sometimes also named cloud agates. It is from the Soledade region in Rio Grande Do Sul.
Czech Republic- A typical agate from Horní Halže, Krušné Hory Mountains, Bohemia. One can see interesting patterns, like rounded triangles. They are famous for red color agates.
Germany- The classical agate location in Germany is the area around the small town of Idar-Oberstein in the Hunsrück Mountains in Rheinland-Pfalz (Rhineland-Palatinate). Most of the agates from this location are in all shades of brown and grey.

Italy – It has Irregularly shaped gray agate found near Masulas in central Sardegna. Although they are almost uniformly gray in color, they show a very fine and faint banding.
Mexico - It has many agates but most famous is the Coyamo agate from Aldama at Santa Ulalia, Chihuahua. It is in tones of brown, grey and white.
Morocco – It has the vein agate from Kerrouchen in the High Atlas mountains. The orange banding and the yellow and brown plumes are typical for that location. The orange bands and the plumes are almost opaque, while the central gray-blue portion is translucent.
Namibia - Blue lace agate is famous from Namibia. White layers alternate with translucent layers that look blue. It s found in southern Namibia, in the area south-west of Karasburg.
Poland - It is the sources of excellent agates from the Sudetes in southern Poland, bordering Czech Republic. It has circular and star shaped bands in different colors.
U.S.A. – It’s most famous locations are Caninia contorta, from Woodland, east of Salt Lake City, Utah. It has red agates. Also Palo Verde, Imperial County, California is famous for small sized agate geodes. Carnelian is mined at Cold Spring, South Dakota.

Quartzo Collection

Quartzo Collection - (Quartz) This collection consists of Quartz and it's various types. Quartz is made up of a continuous framework of SiO4 silicon–oxygen tetrahedra, with each oxygen being shared between two tetrahedra, giving an overall formula SiO2. If pure, quartz is a colorless, transparent, and very hard crystalline material of glass-like look. The well-known rock crystals - six-sided prisms with a six-sided pyramid at their ends - are simply well formed crystals of quartz.
Quartz crystals typically grow in hot watery solutions, in so-called hydrothermal environments, at temperatures between 100°C and 450°C and often at very high pressures.
The word "Quarz" (the "t" is missing on purpose) is known from European literature on mining dating back to the 14th century. It is probably of German or Slavic origin.
Quartz a wonderful stone to use for dreams and visions. They emanate a bright light, helping to purify one’s energy field. They are ideal for body layouts and healings. It can be used to create energy grids and vortexes They can purify and cleanse energy.

To most people, rock crystals look very much like cut and polished glass. However, rock crystals - and many other crystalline substances - have a number of optical properties that differ very much from those of glass. The atoms in a crystal are not just regularly stacked "billiard balls", they are electrically charged and a ray of light that enters a crystal enters a regular mesh of vibrating electric charges and complex electric fields. Its own electric and magnetic fields interact with the fields already present in the crystal.
Pure quartz is clear and colorless. It is not only transparent for visible light but also for long wave ultraviolet radiation. This is also true for fused quartz (amorphous quartz glass), which is used as a replacement for ordinary glass in ultraviolet lamps for that reason.
Colored varieties of quartz owe their color to trace elements built into the crystal lattice or to the inclusion of other, usually colored minerals.
Quartz has a vitreous, "glassy" luster. Fracture surfaces sometimes show a greasy or fatty luster. Cryptocrystalline quartz has a waxy luster, on fractures it is dull to waxy. The quality of the luster is related to the surface structure and to the refractive index. Like calcite, quartz shows a very interesting property called birefringence or double refraction. A single ray of light is split up into two rays while it passes through Quartz.
Quartz empowers & protects by amplifying & focusing energy. Stores, releases and regulates energy; Facilitates growth and awareness, alleviates anger & opens the spirit for meditation and spiritual development.
It enhances the crystalline properties of blood, body and mind, activates and enhances pineal and pituitary glands, emotional balancer, stimulates brain functions, amplifies thought forms, full spectrum energy activates all levels of consciousness. A very powerful dispeller of negativity in your own energy field and in environment, it receives, activates, stores, transmits and amplifies energy. Excellent for meditation, enhances interdimensional communication and communication with higher Self and spirit guides, used as a tool for therapy it is an excellent channeler of healing. Chakras: ALL

Creation Gems offers the following types of Quartz for use in interiors:-

White Quartz - This transparent, white crystal has barely visible delicate patterns reminiscent of glinting light reflecting off Antarctic ice glaciers. White Quartz semi-precious slabs radiate a serenity that is perfectly in harmony with any luxury home design. This surface is recommended for luxury countertop ideas and effortlessly complements both light and dark accessories.
Ice Quartz - One of the world’s ancient, most revitalizing crystals, Ice Quartz has historically been respected for its healing powers and reputed for inspiring wisdom. Its distinctive patterns of pale, translucent shades of white evoke summer moonlight shimmering on glacial, frosty mountains. With its perfect blend of color and light, Ice Quartz perfectly blends into any luxury bathroom and kitchen design while adding harmony to all surroundings.
Smoky Quartz - A good crystal that helps releasing old, calcified or fermenting negativity, like grief, anger and despair by removing depression. Smoky Quartz is mildly sedative and relaxing, dissipates subconscious blocks and negativity on all levels, grounding and centring, mildly sedative and relaxing and a good balancer of sexual energy. Smoky quartz promotes calmness, stability and practicality. Some say that it initiates movement of kundalini, enhances dream awareness and channelling abilities. Chakras: root (1), navel (2), solar plexus

Rose Quartz - Rose Quartz semi-precious slabs invoke a tender, peaceful, atmosphere like sunset summer waves on white sands; the perfect atmosphere for insight and wisdom to flourish. Traditionally recognized as the crystal of love, this graceful, translucent pink and white Rose countertop personifies warmth and harmony that is ideal for exclusive bedrooms, and luxurious bathrooms and kitchens.
Known as the "Stone of Love". Rose Quartz soothes, comforts & reassures, bringing about deep inner healing. Gently removes negativity & attracts the energy of love bringing peacefulness & calm to relationships. Also called the Love Stone, it helps clear stored anger, resentment, guilt, fear, jealousy, reduces stress and tension, cools hot temper, enhances self confidence and creativity, aids development of forgiveness, compassion, love. Aids kidneys and circulatory system, increases fertility, eases sexual and emotional imbalances. Chakra: heart (4).

Amethyst - Awash with rich purple and violet tones, the intense light and dark play off these semi-precious slabs creates a distinctively elegant quality. An intriguing, enigmatic crystal, the Amethyst stirs the imagination, rouses one’s curiosity and inspires creativity. Originally deemed as one of the top five precious stones in the world, the Amethyst delivers elegance and poise to both traditional and modern luxurious designs. A "stone of change, protection & enlightenment". Enhances spiritual awareness, meditation, visualization, serenity & composure. Attracts good luck & love, calms & transforms. Shifts energies to the higher frequencies of both the spiritual & ethereal levels. Amethyst strengthens endocrine and immune systems whilst having the good effect on the right brain activity, pineal, pituitary glands and an exceptional blood cleanser and energiser. Enhances right brain activity, aids pineal and pituitary glands. Powerful blood cleanser and energizer. Helps mental disorders. Purification and regeneration at all levels of consciousness. Very powerful aid to spiritual enhancement by bringing the lower natures to a higher consciousness. Cuts through illusion. Enhances psychic abilities. Excellent for meditation. Aids channeling abilities. Calming, strong protective qualities. Healing, divine love, inspiration, intuition Chakra: crown (1).

Yellow Quartz - This intricately patterned crystal with its natural spectrum of beige, brown and gold reflects an atmosphere of confidence and success. Yellow Quartz semi-precious slabs create instant sunlight in a room, delivering cheery warmth for luxurious home designs. This crystal is used to promote an atmosphere of harmony for work and play; to innovate, to set new milestones and to enjoy simple social activity It is also called Citrine and is known as an abundance and prosperity stone. Place one in your wallet, cash box or wherever you keep your money. Citrine stimulates our creative energy, our will and increases our ability to bring energy into form. A stone to help manifest our dreams. Its sunny energy assists in bringing clarity to any situation.
It is a warming and energising crystal, good for kidneys, colon, liver, gall bladder, digestive organs, heart, tissue regeneration, detoxifies physical, emotional, mental bodies, enhances body’s healing energies, diminishes self destructive tendencies, raises self esteem, powerful alignment with higher self, light heartedness, cheerfulness, hope. Attracts abundance. Chakras: navel (2), crown (7).

Following are the best location of Quartz from were Creation Gems sources them for use in interiors:-

USA - From Inyo Mountains, east of Aberdeen, the Owens Valley, California, the Hermanas, Luna County, New Mexico and the Turtle Mountains, southern California. Amethyst is mined at the Mazatzal Mountain region in Gila and Maricopa Counties, Arizona;
Germany - From the Hakenkrümme quarry, Aue, Sachsen, Hohenlimburg-Oege, the Hagen, Nordrhein-Westfalen, the Suttrop, Warstein, Nordrhein-Westfalen, the Lahrmann quarry at Meschede-Rösenbeck, Sauerland, and Oberwolfach, Black Forest Mountains.
Brazil - Itinga, Minas Gerais is famous for quartz and Amethyst from Rio Grande do Sul.
Norway - Langvasseid, Sør-Varanger, Finnmark, the Seljord, Telemark, and Landsverk I mine in Evje,
Uruguy – The state of Artigas produces the worlds best Amethyst.
Canada - The largest amethyst mine in North America is located in Thunder Bay, Ontario.
Switzerland - From the Turbechepf (or Turbeköpf), Binntal, Wallis.. At the Paso Novena (Nufenenpass), Val Bedretto, Ticino, and Grimsel Pass, Kanton Bern.
Romania – From Cavnik.
United Kingdom - From Wheal Jane, St. Kea, Cornwall, and the Beckermet Mine, Egremont, Cumbria.
Bolivia - From Seccion Prometedora, Kami, Ayopaya Province.
Czech Republic - Krusné Hory mountains.
Namibia - Erongo mountains, and the Goboboseb mountains, Brandberg.

Italy - Camporanda, Sillano, Garfagnano, Lucca Province, Toscana and Monte Rosso near Castelnovo ne' Monti, Emilia Romagna. Osilo, a village on the island Sardegna in Italy, is famous for its pale but evenly colored, clear and shiny amethyst.

Peru - From Huaron, Cerro de Pasco.
Spain - Chella, Valencia, and from Azaila, Teruel, Aragon Province.
France - Rémuzat, Drôme.

India - Kullu and Spitti Valley in Himchal Pradesh.
Greece - Kimmeria near Xanthi.
Russia - Quartz from Sinerenskoe, Dalnegorsk and Amethyst near Mursinka in the Ekaterinburg district.

Chatoyancy Collection

Chatoyancy collection – (Chatoyant Gems) In this category we include those gemstones which are fascinating because of their color play. In gemology, chatoyancy (shə-TOY-ən-see), or chatoyance is an optical reflectance effect seen in certain gemstones. This effect is named chatoyance because its look resembles an eye of a cat. Coined from the French "œil de chat," ("chat" is French for cat). It can also be seen in other minerals, for example in chrysoberyl, which is then named "oriental cat's eye". The chatoyance is a result of the fibrous structure of tiger's eye, hawk's eye, and cat's eye.
Another simmiler effect is called Schiller effect. Also called labradorescence, (pronounced: lab-ra-dor-ess-sence) it is a colorful play of light across the cleavage planes that is displayed in some minerals. labradorite slabThe term labradorescence is derived from the mineral Labradorite which displays this attribute. The labradorescence, or schiller effect, is the result of light refracting within lamellar intergrowths resulting from phase exsolution on cooling in the Boggild miscibility gap.

Creation Gems offers the following types of Chatoyant Gems for use in interiors:-

Labradorite - This Gem exhibits vivid colors of bright aqua, golden yellow, peacock blue, reddish orange, greens and red. It is a 6-6.5 on the Mohs scale. It occurs in large crystal masses in anorthosite. With its midnight blue hues, the mysterious Labradorite reflects both power and a sense of peace. This beautiful crystal produces semi-precious slabs with a cool, contemporary look and feel that engenders a reflective atmosphere for stimulating logic and practical thinking. Known for its energy that encourages people to meet daily challenges, this stylish, elegant stone adapts itself to any design challenge and luxury countertop ideas.
Dark and mystical, but also shining and iridescent, the labradorite gemstone is a beautiful crystal for metaphysical work. It can be a tool for those interested in connecting with universal energies. It is a protective stone. Itcan shield the wearer from external negative energy and emotions. Labradorite is connected with two of the fiery zodiac signs — Leo and Sagittarius — as well as the water sign, Scorpio. With iridescent radiance, labradorite gemstone is connected to light, to the spiritual realm and to higher consciousness. For those who practice astral projection and other metaphysical work, it can be helpful for traversing the boundaries of the physical world. It is also a good stone for communicating with or understanding knowledge from the subconscious.
This stone acts to connect the intuition with the intellect. What effect does this synergy have? It facilitates creative thought, which is ideal for innovators, therapists, writers, and any work where the combination of concrete thoughts and deeper awareness is appreciated.
It sharpens the mind and amplifies visions. This stone provides clarity and insight into your dreams. Put one under your pillow for restful sleep and to help remember dreams. It increases intuition and decreases anxiety. It aids wisdom and psychic abilities. Said to greatly help your resolve with weight loss. Spectrolite with its subtle green / blue / yellow metallic iridescent shene helps brings forth a person's strengths to share with the world and helps us relate to others. Chakras: Solar plexus (3) and third eye (6).

Tiger Eye - Nature’s cherished Tiger Eye combines earth and fire; sand and sun; a tiger’s precise vision; and a Samurai warrior’s ongoing strength and inner calm. Famous for its intense brilliance, these rich ochre and golden brown, semi-precious slabs conjure up endless open space kissed by the sun’s glowing warmth.
Ideal for luxury countertops and opulent furniture for home, work and spa, Tiger Eye improves energy levels and boosts concentration. The most obvious property and the reason for its use as a gemstone is the silky shine that can be seen in polished stones. All "eyes" show a wavy pattern of parallel lines that seem to move when the stone is turned. Smaller specimen will show only one or two long lines. The chatoyance is a result of the fibrous structure of tiger's eye. Tiger's Eye is the Planetary stone for Gemini (May 21-Jun. 20) and the accepted gem for the ninth wedding anniversary.
A member of the quartz group, it is a classic example of pseudomorphous replacement by silica of fibrous crocidolite (blue asbestos). According to the more common theory, tiger's eye would present a pseudomorph of quartz after crocidolite. In tiger's eye the crocidolite fibers appear to have been fully replaced by quartz and the hydrous iron oxide goethite, FeOOH, the latter being responsible for the yellow-brown color. Though brighter than hawk's eye, tiger's eye is still almost opaque. The former fibrous structure is preserved in the orientation of the small columnar quartz crystals that grew perpendicular to the walls of the vein. Due to its fibrous structure, tiger's eye has a somewhat splintery fracture, not unlike wood.
It is beneficial for spleen, pancreas, digestive organs, colon, emotional balancer, enhances connection with personal power and will, grounding, centring, helps soften stubbornness, enhances clear perception and insight, slightly masculine energy, it is beneficial to the entire digestive system and like sugilite inspires you to be brave, but also helps to soften the obstinate pigheadedness the over-brave can suffer. Legend also says it is a psychic protector, great for business, and an aid to achieving clarity. Very grounding and balancing, giving clearer perception and insight. Chakras: navel (2), solar plexus. Tiger eye is the anniversary gemstone for the 9th year of marriage

Iron Tiger - is an altered rock composed chiefly of tiger's eye, red jasper, and black hematite. It is formed by the alteration of crocidolite. The undulating, contrasting bands of color and luster make for an attractive motif, and it is mainly used for jewelry-making and ornamentation. Tiger iron is a popular ornamental material used in a variety of applications. The rippled wavy bands of color often resemble a scenic view.

Hawk's eye - It is a partially silicified fibrous blue-gray crocidolite asbestos, so its fibrous structure is due to embedded fibers of crocidolite in quartz. It is usually very dark and almost opaque. Occasionally hawk's eye shows areas of yellow color, corresponding to tiger's eye, and this is interpreted as an indication that hawk's eye represents an intermediate step in the alteration of crocidolite to quartz and iron oxides. This assumption is further supported by the fact that both tiger's eye and hawk's eye occur in the same veins as crocidolite
Red Tiger Eye - This red tiger eye is known as Binghamite, also called silk stone. Basically it is fibrous quartz in which the replaced fibers are a red hematite and yellow goethite iron rather than crocidolite. It is also called Cyunite by a few people.

Bill Bingham, a lapidarist from St. Paul discovered this material on the mine dumps in 1936. He found it to be an excellent lapidary material with chatoyant reds, browns, golds and blues. Much of it contains metallic hematite which adds interest to the stones. Sometimes it is also found brecciated. Silkstone is basically the same material but sometimes has fibers that are shorter, twisted and with greater color variations. It is also less likely to have white quartz inclusions. If the Goethite inclusions are not parallel, but disordered, the stone is known as Silkstone.

Following are the best location of Chatoyant Gems from were Creation Gems sources them for use in interiors:

South Africa – It is the worlds largest supplier of Tiger eye. Most of the world's tiger's eye and hawk's eye comes from the Asbestos Mountains near Griquatown, South Africa.

Australia - Marra Mamba is a form of tiger iron found in one area of Australia near Mount Brockman, In the Hamersley Ranges of the Pilbara region. It is considered the Rolls Royce of all tiger eye. This is a type of Iron Tiger that contains shades of red, green, yellow, and blue. This area has been mined out for many years so very little of the "true" marra mamba is available today. The exceptional looking piece of marra mamba tiger's iron rough from Australia looks like the evening sun setting behind a mountain range. It has a greenish cast with shades of brown, golden yellow, red and blue veining.
Namibia - The variety of Tiger eye from here is called Pietersite. It is a chatoyant, quartz and crocidolite asbestos. Its appearance is quite different because it's been broken into fragments (brecciated), stirred around if you will, and recemented by silica. The fibers are wavy unlike the gold tiger eye that normally has straight fibers. The resulting patchwork is in shades of blues, yellows, greens, brown, and reds Sometimes areas with clear quartz is also found and I like to cut stones leaving some of the water clear quartz areas when I find them. Pietersite is named for Sid Pieters, a well-known gem and mineral dealer is from Windhoek, Namibia who imported it to Idar in the 1970s. It was found as rounded cobbles in the neighbourhood of Outjo, in the Kuraman district. It has become vary scarce in Africa.

China - The other major source of Pietersite is from the Henan Province of China. It made its apperance on the open market in the late 1990's. This pietersite is very similar to that found in Nambia except that it has more red and golden-red combinations. The Chinese material contains both chrysotile and crocidolite fibers and petrification is very strong. Unfortunately, as the material gets popular, it’s source is also being exhausted.
Finland - Spectrolite, the most valued type of labradorite, comes from Finland. It is the most beautiful and vibrantly colored of all labradorites. It was found in 1940 when the Finns were building a defense line during World War II. Ylämaa, is the most importent mine.
Canada - The name of this stone is derived from Labrador Provence in Canada, which is the main and original source of the Canadian variety of this feldspar stone. Here it is found in Paul's Island near the town of Nain, Labrador. It is also found in the island of Newfoundland.
USA – Arizona and California have a greenish variety of Tiger eye. Here it is formed in serpentine deposits in chatoyant bands of chrysotile fibers are found. These have been cut and sold as "Arizona tiger-eye" and "California tiger's eye" gemstones.
Red Tiger Eye also called Bringhamite and is found in the Cayuna iron range of northern Minnesota.

Norway – Labadorite is found In Larvik
Madagascar –Labradorite is mined in Norcross is south of Madagascar
Russia -Llabradorite is found in Zhitomir oblast.

Knossos Collection

Knossos Collection - (Jasper) This collection consists of different type of Jaspers.
Jasper, a form of chalcedony, is an opaque, variety of silica, usually red, yellow, brown or green in color; and rarely blue. This mineral breaks with a smooth surface, and is used for ornamentation or as a gemstone. It can be highly polished . When the colors are in stripes or bands, it is called striped or banded jasper. Jaspilite is a banded iron formation rock that often has distinctive bands of jasper. The specific gravity of jasper is typically 2.5 to 2.9. The jasper is, along with one of the traditional birthstones for March.
The name means "spotted or speckled stone", and is derived via Old French jaspre

Jasper is the name of dense and opaque varieties of microcrystalline quartz. Jasper is not really a mineral in the strict sense, but a mixture of different types of microcrystalline quartz with impurities of other minerals, and is called a textural variety of quartz.
Jasper is one of the birth stones listed for the Sun Sign of Virgo. It is also the Mystical birthstone for the month of October. It is found in all colors including: red, brown, pink, yellow, green, grey/white and shades of blue and purple. A 6.5-7 on the Mohs scale of hardness, it often contains organic material and mineral oxides which give it interesting patterns, bands and colors. Many of these patterns resemble landscapes with mountains and valleys, thus the name "picture" is part of the name of many well know jaspers.Jasper is protective.

Jasper is known to have been a favorite gem in the ancient world; its name can be traced back in Arabic, Persian, Hebrew, Assyrian, Greek and Latin. On Minoan Crete, jasper was carved to produce seals circa 1800 BC, as evidenced by archaeological recoveries at the palace of Knossos.The Hebrew word yushphah may have designated a green jasper. The odem, the first stone on the High Priest's breastplate, was a red jasper, whilst tarshish, the tenth stone, may have been a yellow jasper.
Patterns arise during the consolidation process forming flow and depositional patterns in the original silica rich sediment or volcanic ash. Hydrothermal circulation is generally thought to be required in the formation of jasper.Jasper can be modified by the diffusion of minerals along discontinuities providing the appearance of vegetative growth, like dendritic jasper. The original materials are often fractured and/or distorted, after deposition. Jasper is considered a Power Stone and a Protection Stone. Jasper gives one the courage to speak out and have personal independence. Its a stone of the earth, and therefore a very "grounding" stone. All Jaspers have excellent protective energies, although it is not the "quick energy lift" of others.
Its a nurturing stone, a good stone for the healers to use on the behalf of others. A good stone for people in counseling or therapy, who want to overcome addictions or compulsive behavior, and gather up their strength for the battles ahead. (emotional) It improves kidneys, liver, bladder & stomach. It can help restore a lost sense of smell.Think of the term "Solid as a Rock" and Jasper comes to mind. It is a stone that works slowly, providing constant, slow, deliberate energy, especially good in time of needed change without the chaos a total upheaval would cause. A good stone for working with shy or timid people who need change. It can keep you from getting carried away, or lead astray, and being diverted from your goals.Help to give you courage in preparation for conflict, either physical or emotional. All jaspers help balance the emotional energy in the body.

There are many varieties of Jasper and each has a different name. Some important ones are Bloodstone Jasper, Dalmation Jasper, Fancy Jasper, Flower Jasper, Leopardskin Jasper, Ocean Jasper, Opalite Jasper, Picasso, Jasper, Picture Jasper, Poppy Jasper, Rainforest Jasper, Red Jasper, Silver Leaf Jasper, Tigerskin Jasper, Turitella or Fossil Jasper, Zebra Jasper etc.

Creation Gems offers the following types of Jaspers for use in interiors:-

Picture Jasper - This crystal produces semi-precious slabs that reflect natural, earthy tones reminiscent of desert landscapes. The warm dusky shades of this energizing stone are known to expand inner thinking and inspire creative reflection.
Ideal for modern, traditional and luxury home design, Picture Jasper can be used in a variety of rooms.Picture Jasper is a form of Brown Jasper. It is a grounding and harmonizing stone with a strong connection to the earth. It is said to promote feelings of responsibility towards the planet, encouraging a need to care for and protect it.
Picture Jasper’s grounding energy can give you a strong sense of who you are, where you’ve been and where you are going. It is said to encourage creative visualisation, creativity and business pursuits. It is also said to help alleviate fear. In healing Picture Jasper is believed to stimulate the immune system, to help clear pollutants and toxins from the body, and to cleanse the kidneys. It is believed to be useful when giving up smoking as it is said to strengthen the resolve. A stone of proportion & harmony, wear any time protection from negativity is desired. A stone of “Global Awareness”, it stimulates creative visualization. It promotes spiritual affinity between humanity & nature. It can be used to further both the development and continuance of business pursuits.Picture jasper is a petrified or silicated mud that dripped into gas pockets in molten lava. It became superheated and then solidified forming the unusual banded patterns which are typical of this stone.

Apple Jasper - Driven by the natural forces of the green earth that has nurtured it for millennia, Apple Jasper radiates with an inherent green energy. This vitalizing crystal enhances luxury home design with boundless energy and a gusto that inspires us to explore new challenges and rediscover our deepest, inner essence.
With its vitality and rhythm, intricate patterns and bold colors, Apple Jasper can be used to brighten up any desired space. Helps to balance & unite the energy of the physical with the spiritual toward the attainment of goals. It’s Jade Green color is soothing to the senses.

Fancy Jasper - Fancy Jasper is a stone of gentleness and relaxation. Each piece brings about tranquility and enhances ones ability to relax. Fancy Jasper aids serenity and helps eliminate stress, worry and depression. With this inward relaxation, the wearer has the chance to free their mind and think clearly. All it comes in several color combinations, it is very good for use as highlighters.
Red Jasper - It as intense hard red/maroon color which is typical to this gemstone. Helps to rectify unfair situations, helps one to remember previous leanings & to take responsibility for ones life. A stone to help you connect with earth energies, it facilitates the remembering of dreams especially those aspects important to one’s life. \
Yellow Jasper - A strong protection gemstone, jasper sustains and supports during times of stress. Yellow Jasper is one of the oldest known gemstones. It is mentioned in the Bible several times. Yellow Jasper is a strong securing gemstone. It is a stability gemstone. It is a powerful protection against things that are not good for you and it eases emotional stresses, making it a wonderful gemstone to have in your home.
Yellow Jasper offers protection during spiritual work and physical travel. It channels positive energy. It stimulates the solar plexus chakra. Yellow Jasper releases toxins and helps with digestion in the stomach.

Mookaite Jasper - It is an Australian jasper that combines the lighter colors of yellow and red jasper. It encourages the desire for new experiences and helps to keep a balance between external activities and the internal response to these. It imparts a deep calm while encouraging versatility. In Australia, mookaite was and still is considered to be a healing stone that bestows strength. It is said to shield the wearer from difficult situations and to connect us to loved ones who have passed away. It is believed to bring us into the "here and now," aiding with problem assessment and decision making.
Meditation with mookaite jasper increases your flexibility and your ability to see several solutions to any problem. Mookaite is often used to treat glandular or stomach disorders, hernias, ruptures and water retention, and yoga enthusiasts use it to balance and open the first, second and third chakras.
Heliotrope - It is a dark green, opaque jasper with small red spots rich in iron oxides. Heliotrope is also known as bloodstone. The deep green color can be caused by various embedded minerals of microscopic size, as like chlorite or actinolite. The green parts of heliotrope are practically opaque. The red spots are colored by embedded hematite. It is of intense dark green color with red spots for contrast which makes it a good choice for making striking countertop.

Banded jasper – It is formed when layers of fine volcanic tuff get silicified and the original banding of the tuff layers is preserved. Such jasper has a dull fracture, but it takes good polish. They show very uniform patterns.

Following are the best location of Jaspers from were Creation Gems sources them for use in interiors:

Australia - From Norther Australia comes the famous Mookaite jasper that combines the lighter colors of yellow and red jasper.
Canada - Alberta has many jasper varieties and also has a national park – Jasper National Park.
USA – famous mining area are the Willow Creek jasper mine Idaho. At Deming, New Mexico and Massachusetts. Jasper is the state rock of Massachusetts.

Brazil – Most jaspers are mines in Manes Giros region. Heliotrope is mined at Rio Grande do Sul.
UK – from the Llanddwyn Island in Wales
South Africa - the Northern Cape Province. It is most famous for poppy jasper or leopard jasper
Germany - From Erzgebirge, Saxony. It has red and yellow jasper. Gnandstein, south of Leipzig, Sachsen, is a famous location for banded Jasper.
India - Heliotrope comes from the Kathiawar Peninsula in Gujarat . Grey agate is mined in the Deccan traps of Maharashtra.
Madagascar – From South Madagascar we get Ocean Jasper also called Orbicular Jasper found only at a remote location on the coast and can only be mined at low tide. Polychrome Jasper also called Desert Jasper is a delightful new find from South Madagascar. It was discovered by geologists in 2006 it has great play of multiple colors.

Uruguay – Northern  Uraguay is famous for banded Jasper.  

Opacus Collection

Opacus collection – (Opaque gem stones) In this collection we have clubbed all opaque (Non transparent) stones which are incorporated by Creation Gems for use in Interiors and do not fall in Knossos and Chatoyancy collection. So this collection does not include stones which fall in the Jasper group and those which show chatoyancy and labradorescence like Tiger eye, Halk’s eye, labradorite etc.

Creation Gems offers the following types of opaque gems for use in interiors:-

Petrified wood - Petrified wood (from the Greek root petro meaning "rock" or "stone"; literally "wood turned into stone") is the name given to a special type of fossilized remains of terrestrial vegetation. It is the result of a tree or tree-like plants having completely transitioned to stone by the process of permineralization. All the organic materials have been replaced with minerals (mostly a silicate, such as quartz), while retaining the original structure of the stem tissue. Unlike other types of fossils which are typically impressions or compressions, petrified wood is a three-dimensional representation of the original organic material. The petrifaction process occurs underground, when wood becomes buried under sediment and is initially preserved due to a lack of oxygen which inhibits aerobic decomposition. Mineral-laden water flowing through the sediment deposits minerals in the plant's cells; as the plant's lignin and cellulose decay, a stone mould forms in its place.

This unusual crystal fuses complex patterns of ancient tree rings with a full range of brown, earthy hues. Drawing energy from deep within powerful tree roots, Petrified Wood projects both stability and flexibility; imbuing luxurious home design with a sense of comfort and stability. This unusual crystal reflects ancient tree trunks in a full range of softly blended brown shades. With its powerful tree analogy, these semi-precious slabs project strength and grace, power and beauty; imbuing a designed space with a sense of wellbeing and reassurance. With its extraordinary look, Petrified Wood makes attractive work surfaces, floors and opulent furniture.Petrified Wood offers a remarkable finished look that creates luxurious work surfaces, floors and furniture.

Graphic Feldspar - Recognized as one of most treasured crystals in ancient civilization, this stone is known to reveal hidden sources of strength and skill. It evokes safari sunsets, agile tigers and the spirit of Africa, due to its complex pattern of black stripes and spots on opaque yellows and browns. Perfect for any design concept or luxurious home design, Graphic Feldspar can be used to create breathtaking floors, opulent furniture and trendy luxury countertops.
Pyrite - Also known as Fool's Gold, The name pyrite is derived from the Greek πυρίτης (puritēs), "of fire" or "in fire", in turn from πύρ (pur), "fire". In ancient Roman times, this name was applied to several types of stone that would create sparks when struck against steel. It has crystals in the hexagonal system have four axes, three of which are of equal length and intersect at 60 degree angles within a plane, and the fourth of which is perpendicular to the plane of the other three. Gemstones occurring in hexagonal crystals include beryl, corundum, quartz, and tourmaline.Crystals in the cubic, or isometric, system have three mutually perpendicular axes of equal length.
one of the most grounding stones. Used for focus, practicality, logic, memory and clearing fuzzy thinking. Pyrite aids digestion, improves circulation, strengthens and oxygenates blood, enhances brain functions, influences a more positive outlook on life, enhances emotional body, strengthens will, helps one’s ability to work with others harmoniously, enhances practicality, helps with stomach, intestines, ulcers; sulphur and mineral assimilation, circulation, body acidity. Aids to counteract imbalances, depression, illusions / lack of clarity about situations / people. Great for grounding after meditation / psychic readings. Represents Sun's golden energy. Chakras: root (1), solar plexus (3), heart (4).

Aventurine - A powerful general healer, it brings balance to the intellect, emotions & physical being. Quells anxiety, helps in making the right decisions & shields energy drain from outside sources. A helpful centring stone. It helps purify mental, emotional and etheric bodies. Its real strength is in losing anxiety and fears by digging at the foundations of the cause. Centres you whilst inspiring independence, well-being and health. Emotional tranquillity, positive attitudes towards life. It stimulates muscle tissue and strengthens blood. Chakra: heart (4)

Lapis Lazuli - Lapis lazuli is a rock, largely formed from the mineral lazurite. Lapis is the Latin word for "stone" and lazuli is the genitive form of the Medieval Latin lazulum, which is taken from the Persian لازورد lāzaward, meaning "heaven" or "sky", since the sky is blue; therefore, it is the "stone of heaven" or "sky stone". Lāzaward is from the Persian لاژورد lāzhward, the name of a place where lapis lazuli was mined. Taken as a whole, lapis lazuli means "stone of Lāzhward". A "stone of protection and enlightenment". Assists with spiritual growth, intuitive perception and objectivity. Mentally calming, supports clarity & helps one to organize day to day activities. Enhances serenity, acceptance and dreams. It Strengthens skeletal system, activates thyroid gland, releases tension and anxiety, energises throat chakra, augments strength, vitality, virility, facilitates opening of chakras. A powerful augmenter of psychic abilities and communicator with the higher self, inspiring greater creative expression and illumination. It enhances psychic abilities and communication with higher Self and spirit guides, creative expression. Helps with wisdom, patience, truth, artistic expression, and personal integrity. It is believed to attract good fortune and success in love, increase concentration, strengthen instincts, and promote cheerfulness. Chakras: third eye (6), throat (5).
Malachite - Malachite is a copper carbonate hydroxide mineral. This green-colored mineral crystallizes in the monoclinic crystal system, and most often forms botryoidal, fibrous, or stalagmitic masses. The stone's name derives (via Latin: molochītis, Middle French: melochite, and Middle English melochites) from Greek Μολοχίτης λίθος molochitis lithos, "mallow-green stone", from μολόχη molōchē, variant of μαλάχη malāchē, "mallow". The mineral was given this name due to its resemblance to the leaves of the Mallow plant. A "stone of transformation". Assists in coping with setbacks, challenges & changing situations. Aids in releasing negative emotional experiences. Helps to intuit answers, to create an unobstructed path & to identify the steps needed to attain desired result. Brings loyalty in love, friendships and partnerships. It Aids functions of pancreas and spleen, reduces stress and tension, aids tissue regeneration, strengthens heart and circulatory system, pineal and pituitary glands, assists in a good night’s sleep, vitalises full body and mind, reveals subconscious blocks, excellent balancer on all levels, Chakras: heart (4), solar plexus (3).
Sodalite - Sodalite is a rich royal blue gemstone. It was discovered in 1811 in the Ilimaussaq intrusive complex in Greenland. Although somewhat similar to lazurite and lapis lazuli, sodalite rarely contains pyrite (a common inclusion in lapis) and its blue color is more like traditional royal blue rather than ultramarine.

It unites logic and intuition, enhances mediation & inner wisdom. Excellent stone for group work - mentally calming, it eliminates confusion and supports increased efficiency & organization. Helps to define clarity of purpose & direction, & to resolve issues with logic. It’s a general communication and writing stone. Logic, ideas and truth. Aids pancreas, balances endocrine system, strengthens metabolism and lymphatic system, balances male and female polarities, alleviates fear, calms and clears the mind, slightly sedative, grounding, cuts through density and illusion, bringing clarity and truth, enhances communication and enables creative expression to flower. Helps with insomnia, cooling and drawing out infections, burns, sinus inflammations, high blood pressure, etc. Similar qualities as lapis lazuli. Chakras: throat (5), third eye (6).

Hematite - The name hematite is derived from the Greek word for blood αἷμα haima. Hematite crystallizes in the rhombohedral system. Hematite is harder than pure iron. It is colored black to steel or silver-gray. It has been used as an amulet against bleeding, When arranged like the petals of a flower, it is referred to as the "iron rose". Native American folklore states that war paint made from hematite will make one invincible in battle. Hematite is good for increasing intuition. Hematite stimulates iron absorption in the small intestine, which in turn improves oxygen supply to the body. Hematite is used to improve relationships.

Following are the best location of opaque stones from were Creation Gems sources them for use in interiors:

Argentina – Petrified wood in Santa Cruz Province in Patagonia
Australia – Petrified wood in Chinchilla, Queensland is famous for its 'Chinchilla Red' petrified wood. Pyrite is mined at Olympic Dam in South Australia located some 550 km NNW of Adelaide, and Malachite in Broken Hill, New South Wales;
Belgium – Petrified wood in Geosite Goudberg near Hoegaarden.[3]
Brazil – Petrified wood In Paleorrota. Hematite from Manas Gires.
Canada – Petrified wood in the badlands of southern Alberta and Axel Heiberg Island in Nunavut.
China – Petrified wood in the Junggar Basin of Xinjiang, northwest China . Hematite from norther TIbet.
Ecuador – Petrified wood from Puyango
Greece – Petrified wood from Lesvos, at the western tip of the island of Lesbos,
Indonesia – Petrified Woods comes from Banten and also some part of Mount Halimun Salak
Namibia – Petrified wood from Damaraland
New Zealand - Petrified wood in Curio Bay on the Catlins coast and, Takapuna, Auckland,
Thailand - Petrified wood from Ban Tak District
Ukraine – Petrified araucaria trunks near Druzhkivka.
United Kingdom – Petrified wood in Dorset, England
United States – Petrified wood in Lemmon, South Dakota, Flora, Mississippi, Florissant, Colorado and Petrified Springs in Kenosha, Wisconsin.
Russia – Malachite in Ural Mountains. Lapis Lazuli in region around Lake Baikal in Siberia.
Namibia – Malachite in Tsumeb
France - Malachite in Lyon,
Israel - Malachite in Timna valley,
Democratic Republic of Congo - Malachite in Katanga
Zambia – In copper mines from south Zambia
Chile - Lapis is mined in Andes mountains near the town of Ovalle.

Nacre Collection

Nacre Collection - (Mother of Pearl) Mother of pearl is the common name for iridescent nacre, a blend of minerals that are secreted by oysters and other mollusks and deposited inside their shells, coating and protecting them from parasites and foreign objects.

Nacre is the same substance that is deposited around an object that becomes lodged in the mollusk--either naturally or inserted by humans--to become a pearl.

Although pearls are popular today, some past cultures regarded colorful mother of pearl as a more desirable component for jewelry and other objects. Jewelry made from mother of pearl falls in the group referred to as organic jewelry -- jewelry that originates from a living creature, plant or organism.

Nacre appears iridescent because the thickness of the aragonite platelets is close to the wavelength of visible light. This results in constructive and destructive interference of different wavelengths of light, resulting in different colors of light being reflected at different viewing angles. Nacre is composed of hexagonal platelets of aragonite (a form of calcium carbonate) 10-20 µm wide and 0.5 µm thick,[citation needed] arranged in a continuous parallel lamina.[citation needed] These layers are separated by sheets of organic matrix composed of elastic biopolymers (such as chitin, lustrin and silk-like proteins). This mixture of brittle platelets and the thin layers of elastic biopolymers makes the material strong and resilient, with a Young's modulus of 70 GPa. Strength and resilience are also likely to be due to adhesion by the "brickwork" arrangement of the platelets, which inhibits transverse crack propagation. This design at multiple length sizes increases its toughness enormously, making it almost equivalent to that of silicon. . Mother of pearl or nacre, such as from a New Zealand Paua shell, is one of nature’s wonder materials. Made by a host of mollusks, the material has proven to be an accurate barometer of environmental conditions as signatures of both water temperature and water depth reside in the material. There is a strong correlation between the temperature at which nacre was deposited during the life of the mollusk and water temperature,

Mother of Pearl carries the gentle, peaceful healing energy of the sea. Relaxes, soothes emotions, sensitivity, stress. It's Chakra: heart (4). A protection stone, Mother of Pearl brings the gentle healing power of the sea. It is a stress relieving stone; relaxing, soothing and calming to the emotions. Mother of Pearl stimulates our intuition, imagination, sensitivity and adaptability. It helps our emotions become more harmonious and balanced. Calming and soothing to temper or feelings of fear. It enables you to more easily express feelings of love. Mother of Pearl helps with clarity in decision making and is helpful for endurance, organisation and for home life.

Creation Gems offers the following types of Mother of pearls for use in interiors:-

Silver  Lip Ocean Pearl Oyster - (Pinctada maxima), a formerly very large shell, used for pistol grips, clothing buttons, fans, and vanity items, which produces the classic white M.O.P., referred to in France as "poulette" or "nacre blanche". Shell sizes have greatly diminished in recent years, due to a decline in diving for "wild caught" shells, making it increasingly difficult to get larger pieces.
Gold Lip Ocean Pearl Oyster -(Pinctada maxima), the source of our GOLD M.O.P., which comes from a thin yellow layer underlying the white nacre. White material from these shells typically has lots of colorful iridescent "flash".
Wing Shell  - (Pteria penguin),  large, thin-shelled, and scoop-shaped, yields the beautiful pinkish-brown and highly iridescent Brown M.O.P.
Black Lip Ocean Pearl Oyster - (Pinctada margaritifera),  this shell produces the famous and exotic black jewelry pearls, but has become very hard to get in sizes large enough to make inlay materials from, so availability is sporadic at best. The French term is "nacre grise".
Capiz -  Also called Kapiz or Window Shell (Placuna placenta),  - is round, small (2"-3"), and flat, has been used for centuries in native handicrafts and for making lampshades and primitive transparent windows. It is one of the very few shells that can be softened enough by boiling that it can be cut with scissors (making it popular in craft shops), but it is also very fragile and flaky which limits it's uses in modern inlay work.
Pen Shell -  (Pinna rudis) It is  traditionally used for making small beads, sheets made from this large, thin shell are not pearlescent but do have a faint and silky chatoyance. Color is mottled light tans to dark purplish-browns, somewhat similar to tortoiseshell.
Agoya -  Also called Akoya Oyster (Pinctada fucata, also listed as P. martensii), This is the small shell which is used to produce cultured pearls. Closely related to the larger ocean pearl oysters, but has a slightly "bumpier"-looking internal figure and a pale straw-yellow color that shows wonderful pink and green flashy highlights.
Donkey Ear Abalone - (Haliotis asinina),  a tiny little thin-shelled animal, often used whole for earrings and pendants, its long narrow shape looks like a donkey's ear. Palest pink with no black lines, but plenty of very fine striated texturing to give it interest, and some iridescence. Not thick enough to get solid blanks from.
Green Sea Snail  - (Turbo marmoratus),  It was widely popular in the 1800's and early 1900's for jewelry, fans, buttons, small box ornament, and instrument inlay. After supplies from Okinawa diminished new sources were discoved in Africa, but the main fishing grounds in Africa were worked out trying to keep up with the Japanese market, so has not been available from that area for many years. Beautiful, clear, creamy iridescence, and has a rolling light to it imparted by the strong curvature of the raw shell structure. Traditionally known in France as "burgo", "burgau", or "burgaudine".
Green Turbo Shell -  (Clorostoma xanthostigma)  a small cone-shaped snail, producing the most brilliant iridescence of any variety of pale-colored shell . It is expensive, but has breathtakingly beautiful coloration.
Korean Awabi Abalone  - (Haliotis supertexta),  a small, pale-colored abalone, which has a fine internal wrinkly/bumpy/wavy figure but possesses almost the same intensity of color and iridescence as Turbo shell! Very beautiful   "pale" and pastel shells.
Japanese Awabi Abalone  - (Haliotis madaka, formerly gigantea), until the beds were overfished, this was one of the largest abalone species, second only to the Red abalone. The nacre is very pale, but with strong "washboard" figure, though not as tightly rippled as the best Green abalone can produce. Seen often as a backing veneer in antique fans, known in France as "nacre d'orient" and in England as "goldfish". The shells are too thin to make thicker solid blanks.
Red Abalone - (Haliotis rufescens), the biggest abalone in the world, its name refers to the red "bark" covering the outside of the shell. Nacre is pale pink to intense dusky pinks, greens, and violets; the central muscle-scar area of the shell yields the much sought-after dark and burly "heart" pieces. Because of overfishing,  depredation, and a recent outbreak of mysterious "withering foot disease", the commercial fishery has been shut down indefinitely, so availability is very less.
Green Abalone - (Haliotis fulgens), a beautifully colored shell second only to Paua abalone, but due to severe overfishing not many of the color-producing larger shells are available, so material tends to be much paler than in the past. "Heart" is very densely colored and figured, with deep greens, blues, and pinks, but small shells yield very little of this, so availability is always limited.
Pink Abalone  -  (Haliotis corrugata), a well colored shell, pale to predominantly darker pinks. Underused, as it is difficult to process because of a crumbly consistency, but finished products work fine, and it is becoming a popular substitute for the increasingly hard-to-find Green abalone.
Paula Abalone - (Haliotis iris), indisputably the most colorful nacreous shell in the world, typically deep blue or green, but even the pink material turns bluish when viewed at an angle! A smallish shell with lots of other life forms eating holes in it, but since the fishery has been tightly managed for many years, good quality shell is available.

Following are the best location of Mother of Pearl from were Creation Gems sources them for use in interiors:

Australia –  From Northern Australia and Queensland we get Pinctada maxima
Indonesia –  we get Pinctada maxima from Borneo and Bali. Pen shell comes from Sumatra.
Philippines - we get Pinctada maxima from Babuyan Islands and Pteria penguin from Negros island. Capiz Shell and Haliotis asinina comes from Luzon province.
Tonga – We get Pteria penguin from Niafu.
Tahiti – We get Pinctada margaritifera from Moorea island.
Japan – Agoya Shell comes from Kyoshu island. Turbo marmoratus is from Okinawa island. Haliotis madaka comes from western part of Honshu Island.
Senegal  -  Clorostoma xanthostigma comes from coastal Senegal.
South Korea - Haliotis supertexta comes from West coastal South Korea.
USA -  Red Abalone comes from northern California. Green Abalone  and Pink Abalone comes from Southern California.
Mexico -  Green Abalone and Pink Abalone comes from Baja province.
New Zealand – Paua Abalone comes from North Island .