Turquoise

Common Name: Aqeeq. Persian: Aqeeq. Arabic: Aqeeq Nature: It is a famous stone; the finest kind is Yemeni. Temperament: Cold and dry in the second degree. Color and Odor: Red, yellow, white, black, and dendritic. Taste: Insipid, tasteless. Harmful Effect: Harmful to the kidneys. Corrective: Tragacanth and moistening substances. Substitute: Red coral (coral root) and amber. Planetary Attribution: Associated with Pluto. Specific Benefit: Strengthens the heart, eyesight, and teeth; relieves palpitations. Full Dose: Up to one and three-quarter mashas. Minimum Dose: Four to six rattis. Actions and Properties: Drinking about six rattis finely dissolved strengthens the heart. It relieves palpitations and serves as a hemostatic. It is especially effective for menstrual bleeding that does not stop by any means. Taken alongside deobstruent medicines, it clears blockages of the liver and spleen, and combined with lithotriptic medicines, it dissolves kidney stones. Used as a collyrium (surma), it strengthens eyesight, and as a tooth powder (manjan), it strengthens the teeth and prevents bleeding. Wearing it around the neck dispels anger and rage, and is beneficial against palpitations. Aqeeq is an attractive and famous gemstone. Some scholars believe that Aqeeq is not truly of the mineral category, because the term mineral can strictly apply only to those substances whose constituents, if analyzed chemically, each have the same nature as the metal or mineral of which they are a part. This is not the case with Aqeeq. This gemstone is an aggregate of several minerals of the silica and quartz types, which differ from one another in color, style, and structure. When two or more of these minerals combine into a nodule and develop spots and banding layers, they are called Aqeeq. These minerals are themselves gemstones, and their names are: chalcedony, rudraksha, onyx (sang-e sulaimani), jasper/jade (sang-e yashm), opal, amethyst, sunstone/aventurine (sang-e sitara), bloodstone (hajar-ud-dam), mocha stone, and bhekham. Aqeeq is called Agate in English. Based on various colors and patterns, there are several varieties of agate: (1) Riband Agate: (meaning a silk ribbon-like agate) in which bands of different colors are present and these bands intersect one another. (2) Onyx Agate: (meaning Sulaimani agate) in which the colors of the bands are vivid and the bands run parallel to the surface. (3) Banded Agate: (meaning yellowish banded agate) which has diverse types of stripes. (4) Circular Agate: The one that features circular concentric stripes. (5) Eye Agate: If spots of different colors appear in the center of the rings, it is called an Eye Agate (meaning eye-like agate). (6) Rainbow/Iris Agate: An agate whose bands unite to form the shape of an arc, displaying prismatic colors when held against the sun. The thinner the stone, the more pronounced this quality becomes. In addition to these, several other scholars mention these varieties: (1) Ribbon Agate: Meaning silk ribbon-like agate; in this, layers of jasper and chalcedony appear in parallel rows. It comes from Siberia and Sicily. (2) Brecciated Agate: This is actually amethyst combined with fragments of ribbon agate; it comes from Saxony. (3) Fortification Agate: It is found in several forms. When cut, its parallel zigzag lines resemble the bastions of a fortress or building. Fragments of bhekham and amethyst are visible within it. (4) Moss Agate: Meaning botanical agate; it contains chalcedony and veins of red jasper. Its appearance seems as if it has a plant origin. It contains iron oxide, and some varieties also contain bitumen. Its surface is rubbed on stone and polished with soft wood. Its brown and yellow tint is due to magnesium and iron oxide. (5) Sardonyx (6) Plasma: This is grass-green in color, translucent, with yellow and white specks. Its green color is caused by chlorite matter. (7) In addition, agates are categorized in another way: all lustrous and superior varieties are called Oriental agates, while the lesser grade ones are called Occidental agates. In Persian texts, the following varieties of Aqeeq are recorded: Red and liver-colored, whose inner color is redder than its exterior. Clear and transparent, possessing reflective power like a mirror. Saqaq, which is not quite transparent and lacks mirror-like reflectivity. Ablaqui (pied/piebald), which is partly white and partly black. Zuo-Balaqati or Jauza, which has micaceous flaky layers like mica. Shajari (dendritic), which resembles a tree or a mountain in shape. Baba Ghori or Sulaimani, which contains circular markings. In Egypt, green agate is called Antas, black is called Sulaimani, and earth-colored agate is called Gauri. Since Aqeeq is found abundantly in Yemen, superior colored varieties are referred to as Aqeeq Yamani (Yemeni Aqeeq).

Common Name: Neelam. Persian: Neelam. Arabic: Yaqoot Kabood. Hindi: Neelmani. Nature/Origin: A famous, high-grade mineral stone from which gems and jewelry are crafted. Temperament: Hot in the first degree and dry in the third degree. Color and Odor: Clear, transparent, lustrous blue. Taste: Bland, with no dominant flavor. Harmful Effects: Harmful to those with warm temperaments. Corrective (Antidote): White sapphire/ruby (Yaqoot Safaid) and cooling substances. Substitute: Red ruby (Yaqoot Surkh) or yellow sapphire (Yaqoot Zard). Planetary Association: Associated with Saturn. Specific Benefit: Exhilarant and tonic for the heart and brain. Dose (Complete/Refined): Up to three and a half rattis. Dose (Crude/Substandard): One to two rattis. Actions and Properties: It is an exhilarant and imparts strength to the heart and brain. Dissolving and administering one dirham is beneficial in epilepsy, obsessions/melancholia, palpitations, plague, hemorrhage, neutralizing venom, and countering climatic epidemic shifts; it purifies the blood and preserves innate heat and vital faculties. Holding it in the mouth eliminates oral odor, quenches thirst, and acts as a cardiac tonic and exhilarant. Its collyrium (surma) strengthens eyesight and protects the eyes. (Makhzan) Neelam, which is called Neela in Sanskrit, Sapphire in English, and Yaqoot Azraq in Persian and Arabic, is an extremely fine bluish gem. Its brilliance and sky-blue color are immensely pleasing to the heart. This gemstone has been renowned since ancient times and is mentioned in the ancient texts of both Hindu and Muslim scholars. No other gemstone was believed to possess magical properties equal to this gem. The Greeks dedicated it to Apollo (a deity of the Greeks). Because of its pleasing color and brilliant shine, this gem is widely used for personal adornment. Since the ancients found it very difficult to cut such a hard stone, it was rarely used in jewelry. Five varieties of sapphire are described, and various benefits of wearing them are recorded: (1) Godato: Small in size but heavy in weight; wearing it fulfills heartfelt desires. (2) Sangrat: Constantly brilliant; wearing it increases wealth and love. (3) Durnari: Emits blue rays when held against the sun; wearing it brings wealth and commodities. (4) Parshwat: Emits golden, silvery, and crystalline reflections; wearing it brings fame and renown. (5) Ranj Kitu: Makes a vessel appear blue due to its brilliance when placed inside; wearing it brings advancement to one's offspring. There is a variety named Mahaneel; if placed in milk measuring a hundred times its volume, the milk appears blue due to its radiance. There is another variety named Indraneel. In addition to these, Sanskrit texts describe several defective and inauspicious sapphires whose wearing is believed to bring harm and ruin. They are six: (1) Abraq: Has a cloud-like sheen on its upper portion; it ruins life and wealth. (2) Tarash: Shows a fracture mark; it carries the fear of harm from beasts like bears. (3) Chitrak: Possesses a color different from those mentioned above; wearing it is believed to bring the ruin of one's community or nation. (4) Mrit Griha: Has an earthy or muddy color; it gives rise to many diseases. (5) Ashm Griha: Appears like a rough piece of common rock; wearing it carries the fear of death. (6) Rokhi: Has white porcelain-like blemishes; wearing it carries the fear of exile. Modern jewelers classify sapphire into two main categories: first, ancient (old rock), and second, modern (new rock). For each, they describe three shades: (1) Greenish-blue or blue tending toward green. (2) Bluish with a reddish tint. (3) Rich blue, meaning deep sky blue. The people of Persia describe sapphire as a variety of corundum/ruby and therefore call it Yaqoot Azraq, but in reality, it is a distinct gemstone separate from ruby.