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Crystals are built out of atoms. The fundamental building blocks for atoms are protons, neutrons and electrons.

When we hear the word "crystals," we usually think of coloured minerals. But those are not the only types of crystals. Graphite in pencils, table salt, and snow are crystals, too.

The ancient Greeks used the word krystallos to mean both ice and quartz.

Crystals have caught the eye of humans since the dawn of time. Some scientists have even speculated that the origins of life on Earth may trace its origins to crystals.

For centuries, crystals have been considered valuable for their technological, healing and spiritual qualities. From powering a calculator to alleviating pain, the wide variety of ways that crystals can be used is astonishing.

Article on ecological and socio-economic issues associated with the extraction and trade of gemstones.

Gemstones and the environment share an intrinsic relationship. Gemstones themselves are a product of temporary geological conditions and environments.