People in Glorantha have as much trouble telling gems apart
as people on Earth do. They may have more, because the shape of
a stone gives no information about it. With some exceptions, any
stone could have its shape because a sorceror formed it that way.
Sorcerors can also mold a mottled or banded stone like clay until
it has a consistent color. Sorcerors or simple craftsmen can
change a stone's texture. This leaves color, transparency,
toughness, and fragility as the main distinguishing
characteristics. Glass is the great unknown. It can be flecked,
banded, layered, milky, silky or catseye. It can be transparent
or translucent, or opaque if a dark color.
Notes:
s = solid (assume all gems are solid unless an m or b note
appears)
f = flecked
m = milky or waxy
b = banded
l = layered
c = catseye
w = waxy
g = glittering
Multicolored stones are of the same transparency as solid stones
of the same type; where there is none, Tp (Transparent), Tl
(Translucent), or O (Opaque) appears.
If it is... Then the gem could be:
Black and
Transparent Diamond, or Zircon
Translucent Diamond, or Zircon
Opaque Alabaster (dyed), Chalcedony (dyed),
Coral (s, f), Jet (s, f, g, w), Obsidian
(s, f, b), Pearl
Blue and
Transparent Aquamarine, Diamond, Jewelflor (whitish),
Quartz, Sapphire, or Zircon
Translucent Aquamarine, Jewelflor (whitish), Quartz, or
Zircon
Opaque Alabaster (dyed), Chalcedony (dyed), Coral
(s, f), Lapis Lazuli (f), Pearl, Turquoise
(s, f)
Brown and
Transparent Diamond
Opaque Alabaster (dyed), Chalcedony (f, or dyed s),
Jet (s, f, g, w), Petrified Wood, Sard,
Tiger's Eye, or Topaz
Orange Hawk's Eye (O: c)
Yellow Chalcedony (b)
Yellow & White Chalcedony (b)
Clear and
Transparent Diamond, Jewelflor, Quartz, or Zircon
Translucent Jewelflor (m, w), or Zircon
Green and
Transparent Aquamarine (bluish), Arkatite (in daylight),
Diamond, Emerald (s, f, b), Jewelflor,
Quartz, Sapphire (bluish), or Zircon
Translucent Aquamarine (bluish), Emerald (s, f, b), Jade
(s, f, m, b), Jewelflor (m, w), Sapphire
(bluish)
Opaque Alabaster (dyed), Chalcedony (dyed),
Chrysoprase (f, b), Grow Stone (s, f), Jade
(s, f, m, b), Jewelflor (m, w, g), Prase
(grayish)
Brown Chrysoprase (b), Jade (f, b)
White Chrysoprase (b, f), Jade (f, b)
Orange and
Transparent Amber, Diamond, Zircon
Translucent Agate
Opaque Agate (f), Alabaster (dyed), Chalcedony
(dyed), Grow Stone
Brown Hawk's Eye (o)
Gray Agate (b)
Pink and
Transparent Quartz, Ruby, or Zircon
Translucent Ruby
Opaque Alabaster (dyed), Chalcedony (dyed), Coral
(s, f), Grow Stone, Sard,
Red and
Transparent Amber, Arkatite (by firelight), Ruby
Translucent Almandine, Cornelian (m, w), Ruby
Opaque Alabaster (dyed), Bloodstone (f), Chalcedony
(dyed), Coral (s, f)
Black Bloodstone (f), Coral (f, b), Jasper (O: b,
f)
Brown Bloodstone (f), Coral (f), Jasper (O: b, f)
Green Bloodstone (f)
Orange Jasper (O: b, f)
White Jasper (O: b, f)
Onyx (dark and light), Opal (spectrum of speckles), Tiger's
Eye (brown and yellow, perhaps with red lines), or Turquoise
(blue and one or more of: black, brown, or white)
Violet and
Transparent Amethyst, Jewelfor (whitish), Zircon
Translucent Almandine, Jewelflor (whitish)
Opaque Amethyst (f), Alabaster (dyed), Chalcedony
(f, b, or dyed s), Grow Stone
White Amethyst (b), Chalcedony (b), Jade (f, b),
Jewelflor (m)
White and
Transparent Jewelflor
Translucent Alabaster (see notes), Jade (s, f, b)
Opaque Alabaster (natural), Chalcedony (b or dyed
s), Coral, Grow Stone, Ivory, Jade (s, f, b),
Pearl
Violet Amethyst (b), Chalcedony (b), Jade (f, b)
Yellow & Brown Chalcedony (b), Jade (f, b)
Yellow and
Transparent Amber, Chrysoberyl (s, c), Diamond, Zircon
Translucent Jade (f, b), Jewelflor
Opaque Alabaster (dyed), Chalcedony (f, b, or dyed
s), Grow Stone, Ivory, Jade (s, f, m, b),
Topaz
Brown Chalcedony (f or b), Jade (f, b)
Brown & White Chalcedony (f or b), Jade (f)
SUMMARY:
Gem Color(s) Transparency
AGATE O, Gy, banded Op, Tl
ALABASTER W Op
ALMANDINE R-Vt Tl
AMBER O, Y, or R Tp, Tl
AMETHYST Vt (+W) Tp (W=Op)
AQUAMARINE Bu, Bu-Gn Tp, (Tl)
ARKATITE Gn in daylight, lt R by firelight
or magical light Tl
BEZOAR Gray Op
BLOODSTONE Dark Gn + R Op
CHALCEDONY banded/mottled waxy, dull, or
Tl
CHRYSOBERYL golden-Y Tp
CHRYSOPRASE mottled/banded Gn Tl and Op
CORAL R, W, P, Bk, Bu Op
CORNELIAN cherry R waxy or milky
DIAMOND C, Y, Bn, Bu, Gn, O, Bk Tp
ECHOSTONE Gray Op
EMERALD Gn Tp or Tl
lustrous
GLASS Any Tp or Tl
GROW STONE Gn Op
HAWK'S EYE O + Bn striped Op
IRONROCK Gray Op
IVORY W Op
JADE Gn, W or Y Op, Tl
JASPER dark red and white, brown, or
black, striped/spotted Op
JET Bk, Bn Op
JEWELFLOR W, C, W/Gn, W/Bu Tp
LAPIS LAZULI Bu (spotted/striped) Op
OBSIDIAN Bk Op
ONYX even layers dark and light,
especially white and black Op
OPAL iridescent rainbow Tp, Op
PEARL W, Bk, Bu, G Op
PETRIFIED WOOD Bn, Gy Op
PRASE Lt Gy-Gn, mottled Op
QUARTZ C Tp
RUBY R Tp, Tl
SAPPHIRE Bu or Bu-Gn Tp
SARD R-Bn Tp or milky
TIGER'S EYE Bn + Y striped, (+ dark R lines) Op
TOPAZ Bn or Y, too deep to be
chrysoberl, or Gn- or R-tinted
yellow stones Tp, Tl
TURQUOISE Bu (+Bk, Bn, or W) Op
ZIRCON variety Tl
