Aventurine
Aventurine is given its glimmer by mineral inclusions of mica, hematite, or goethite. This effect is called aventurescence. While it is typically green, it can come in red, orange, brown, and rarely blue.
Where it's Found: Around the world, including India, Brazil, Russia, Tanzania, Spain, and Chile.
Mohs Hardness Scale: 6.5-7
Chrysoprase
Chrysoprase is a green variety of chalcedony that is cryptocrystalline, which means that its crystal structure is only visible under magnification. Unlike most green stones, which get their color from chromium and vanadium, Chrysoprase gets its color from nickel. Chrysoprase is also known by the name, "Australian Jade."
Where it's From: Australia, Brazil, Kazakhstan, Myanmar, Poland, Russian, Tanzania, and the US.
Emerald
Emerald is the may birthstone and represents both the 20th and 35th wedding anniversary. It is the green variety of the mineral, beryl.
Cleopatra famously prized emeralds during her reign of Egypt from 50 to 31 BC. In fact, emeralds were buried with pharaohs in their tombs, a symbol of eternal life.
Where it's From: Columbia, Madagascar, Canada, Zambia, and Brazil, Israel, Zimbabwe, India, China, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Russia.
Mohs Hardness Scale: 7.5-8
Jade
There are two types of jade: nephrite and jadeite. Of the two, jadeite is rarer. Jade has rich cultural ties to China and the Maori people of New Zealand. There is a Chinese proverb that translates to "Gold has a price; jade is priceless."
Jade has been used as far back as the Stone Age in tools and weapons because of its hardness qualities. While hardness refers to resistance to scratching. Toughness refers to resistance to breaking. While jade is relatively hard, it is exceptionally tough. It is actually tougher than diamond.
Where it's Found: Around the world, including Myanmar, China, Canada, Russia, New Zealand, Australia, Brazil, the US, Kazakhstan, and Japan.
Mohs Hardness Scale: 6-7
Malachite
Malachite characteristically forms with patterns of swirls and bands. It can also sometimes form in combination with other copper based minerals, such as chrysocolla, azurite, or cuprite.
Huge malachite art exists at the "Malachite Room" in the Winter Palace in St. Petersburg, Russia.
Where it's Found: Australia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Namibia, South Africa, Russia, the US, and Zambia.
Mohs Hardness Scale: 3.5-4
Peridot
Peridot is the August birthstone. It is the gem quality variety of the mineral, olivine, featuring a small range of yellowy green coloration. Peridot gemstones form deep within the earth and surface with volcanic activity.
Uniquely, peridots can have extra terrestrial origins, as they can be found in meteorites.
Where it's Found: Around the world, including Egypt, Myanmar, the US, Norway, Mexico, Sri Lanka, Kenya, Australia, Brazil, China, Ethiopia, Germany, and Russia.
Mohs Hardness Scale: 6.5-7
Tsavorite
Tsavorite is a brilliant green variety of garnet with a color close to emerald, though it is actually much rarer than emerald. It wasn't discovered until 1967 in Tanzania.
Where it's Found: Kenya, Tanzania, and Madagascar.
Mohs Hardness Scale: 7-7.5