Gems

8 Splashes.

1. DiamondA diamond is pure carbon, squeezed into a crystal deep underground by great heat and pressure, and carried up to the surface by volcanic eruptions long ago.
2. RubyA ruby is a red form of the mineral corundum, which is made of aluminum and oxygen.
3. EmeraldAn emerald is a green form of the mineral beryl, colored by tiny amounts of chromium or vanadium.
4. Amethyst GeodeA geode is a rock with a hollow inside, lined with crystals.
5. SapphireA sapphire is the mineral corundum, the same as ruby, but colored blue by iron and titanium.
6. Quartz ClusterQuartz is one of the most common minerals in the Earth's crust, made of silicon and oxygen.
7. OpalOpal is made of tiny balls of silica, the stuff of quartz and sand, with a little water between them.
8. PearlA pearl is a gem made by a living animal.