Did You Know that Certain Bones Are Considered Gemstones?

Gemstones you didn’t expect come from animals and plants

Photo byBrett MelitionUnsplash

When most people think of gemstones, the first images that likely come to mind are diamonds, rubies, and emeralds—minerals created deep within the Earth's crust over millions of years. However, there is more to the world of gemstones than just minerals. In fact, organic materials, like wood, shells, and even bones, dinosaur bones, are also classified as gemstones.

The world of organic gemstones

While traditional gemstones like sapphires and garnets are composed of inorganic minerals, organic gemstones are derived from living organisms. These organisms undergo natural processes that harden them over time. These organism that existed in the distant past undergoes significant transformations that make them durable and visually striking. (“What are Organic Gems | Geology.com”)

Dinosaur bones

One of the most unique organic gemstones is fossilized dinosaur bones. Known as "gembone," these ancient remnants have become valuable due to the process they undergo over millions of years. As a dinosaur's skeleton decays, the bone tissue is gradually replaced by minerals like silica, calcite, and jasper. This transformation is a type of fossilization called "permineralization," where the organic material is replaced by minerals.

The resulting gemstone is called a "dinosaur bone agate." These gemstones are particularly rare and valuable because only a small amount of dinosaur bones are fossilized to this degree. (“Agatized Dinosaur Bone | Geologyin.com”)

Petrified wood

Another example of an organic material turned gemstone is petrified wood. Like dinosaur bones, petrified wood undergoes a process of permineralization, where the original organic material is gradually replaced by minerals over millions of years. However, instead of bone tissue, it is the wood fibers and structures that are preserved and transformed.

Shells

Marine life, particularly shells, are organic materials that can be classified as gemstones. The most well-known example is mother-of-pearl, also called nacre, which forms the inner layer of certain mollusk shells. This shinney material has been prized for centuries for its delicate shimmer and is often used in jewelry, inlays, and decorative objects.

Mother-of-pearl is formed by a form of calcium carbonate called aragonite. It is secreted by the mollusk to protect its inner shell. Over time, these layers build up to create a smooth surface, giving mother-of-pearl its signature sheen.

Pearls, which are also organic gemstones, are formed in a similar way when a foreign substance becomes lodged inside a mollusk. To protect itself, the mollusk coats the irritant with layers of nacre, eventually forming a pearl. Shells from abalone and conch are also used as gemstones.

Other organic gemstones

Apart from bones, wood, and shells, many other organic materials are classified as gemstones. Amber, for example, is fossilized tree resin that has been used in jewelry for thousands of years. Jet, a type of lignite coal, is another organic gemstone, often used in mourning jewelry during the Victorian era. Even coral, a marine organism, is considered a gemstone and has been used in jewelry for centuries. (“Organic Gems | Lizzadromuseum.com”)

While diamonds and rubies may be the most familiar, gemstones are far more diverse than you may realize.