This list is not comprehensive. Please research crystal and stone constituents before handling them. I personally do not handle any minerals with mercury, arsenic, or vanadium (even in polished form).
Most problems occur from mineral dust inhalation after grinding (such as shaping stones for jewelry, etc) or ingestion. This is why I only recommend the indirect method for gem essences.
It’s important to note that many of the elements (such as aluminum) occur naturally in soil, water, and air.
Adamite – Contains arsenic
Actinolite – Fibrous form of asbestos
Ajoite – Contains aluminum & copper
Alexandrite – Contains aluminum
Aluminum – Toxic levels may cause serious problems
Amazonite – Contains copper
Antimony – Inhalation can be toxic
Arsenic – Toxic poison
Asbestos – Carcinogen
Atacamite – Contains copper
Aquamarine – A type of Beryl
Auricalcite – Contains zinc & copper
Azurite – Contains copper
Beryl – Contains aluminum & beryllium
Black Tourmaline – Contains aluminum
Cavansite – Contains copper & vanadium
Celestite – Contains strontium
Chalcopyrite (Peacock Ore) – Contains copper & sulfur
Chrysocolla – Contains copper
Cinnabar- Contains mercury
Copper – Toxic at high levels
Cuprite – Contains copper
Dioptase – Contains copper
Eilat Stone – Contains copper
Emerald – A type of Beryl
Eudialyte – Mildly radioactive
Fluorite – Contans fluorine
Galena – Contains lead
Heliodor – A type of Beryl
Garnet – Contains aluminum
Hawk’s Eye – Contains asbestos (raw/fibrous form use caution; tumbled form generally regarded as safe)
Iolite – Contains aluminum
Kyanite – Contains aluminum
Kunzite – Contains aluminum
Labradorite – Contains aluminum
Lapis Lazuli – Contains Pyrite
Malachite – Contains copper
Mohawkite – Contains copper & arsenic
Moonstone – Contains aluminum
Morganite – Contains aluminum
Nuummite – May contain asbestos
Orpiment – Contains arsenic
Pietersite – Contains asbestos (raw/fibrous form use caution; tumbled form generally regarded as safe)
Prehnite – Contains aluminum
Pyrite – Contains sulfur
Realgar – Contains arsenic
Ruby – Contains aluminum
Sapphire – Contains aluminum
Serpentine – Contains asbestos (raw/fibrous form use caution; tumbled form generally regarded as safe)
Sodalite – Contains aluminum
Stibnite – Contains antimony & lead
Sunstone – Contains copper
Tanzanite – Contains aluminum
Tiger’s Eye – Contains asbestos (raw/fibrous form use caution; tumbled form generally regarded as safe)
Topaz – Contains aluminum
Tourmaline – Contains aluminum
Turquoise – Contains copper & aluminum
Vanadinite – Contains vanadium
Wulfenite – Contains lead
Zircon – Contains zirconium; radioactive
Zoisite – Contains aluminum
Irradiated Minerals
These minerals are likely to be treated by irradiation:
Amethyst that is very deep purple in color
Smokey Quartz that is very dark; almost black
Tourmaline that is very deep red
Colored diamonds
Blue Topaz (always irradiated)
Granite (aggregate of different minerals; usually emits radiation overtime – some are radioactive)
