The Italian Island of Elba A Mineralogical Jewel in the Tuscan Archipelago by FedericoPezzotta Paperback, 96 Pages, Published 2005 by Lapis International, Llc ISBN-13: 978-0-9715371-7-0, ISBN: 0-9715371-7-8
"Five tectonic complexes and the Monte Capanne intrusion come together on the 229 square kilometer island that is Elba. This compact complex geology is the setting for vast iron deposits and historic pegmatites. Elba’s famous iron mines have been long-time producers of world class pyrite and hematite specimens, but its pegmatites are even better known among mineral collectors for yielding fabulous polychrome elbaite, one of the nine mi ..."
"Emerald and aquamarine have been known and cherished since Antiquity, but it is only in the last few centuries that science has realized that these two coveted gems are actually different varieties of the same mineral -- Beryl. Number 7 in the popular extraLapis English mineralogy monograph series, "Beryl: And Its Color Varieties" surveys the mineralogy and localities of this popular gemstone."
"Taking its name from the Latin rubellus, meaning reddish, rubellite was rare in the ancient world. Its unique properties set it apart from other hard, red gemstones, generically known then as ruby or carbuncle. That distinction was lost during the Dark Ages but revived in the Enlightenment, as science undertook its quest to understand the nature of things. For two and a half centuries, rubellite has had a part of that great unraveling."
Madagascar A Mineral and Gemstone Paradise by FedericoPezzotta Paperback, 98 Pages, Published 2001 by Lapis International ISBN-13: 978-0-9715371-0-1, ISBN: 0-9715371-0-0
"... Laurant Thomas (Tropic Stone Co.. Antananarivo), Gilles Mannequin (
Madagascar Treasures Co., Antananarivo), Lydie Touret (Musee de Mineralogie,
Ecole des Mines. Paris), Pierre-Jaques Chiappero. Giancarlo Parodi and Henry-
Jean Schubnel (Musee National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris), Alessandro Guastoni
and Paolo Arduini (Museo Civico di Storia Naturale, Milan) as well as numerous
helpers and friends of mineralogy in Madagascar. Tr ..."
"While the ancients referred to many purple stones as Amethyst, today the term is more exclusively applied to quartz in the violet spectrum. The gemstone has long been assigned spiritual and mystical properties including protection from inebriation. However, this like-named volume offers no protection from the intoxicating power of Amethyst - a collectible that is still very much collectable."