Quartz is the most common mineral making up the earth's crust. Its uses range from sand, glass making, grinding and scouring material, gas and oil hydraulic fracturing, time-keeping and radio/television transmission cystals to specialized lenses and many other uses. Quartz occurs in many colors. Amethyst, citrine, rose quartz, smoky quartz, aventurine, agate and jasper are all types of quartz. The pink form of quartz is known as Rose Quartz, whose delicate, translucent color make it a prized gemstone.
 
Rhodochrosite is the official state mineral of Colorado. It is a manganese carbonate mineral that ranges in color from light pink to bright red and is often found in association with silver mines. It may be found in veins or in cavities in sedimentary and metamorphic rock. Soft, and with perfect cleavage in three directions, it is difficult to cut, but beautiful as collector specimens or beads.
 
Freshwater Pearls are produced by various species of fresh water mussels in much the same way as oysters produce saltwater pearls. The difference is that pearls cultured in oysters use a bead as the irritant to induce the oyster to produce the nacre that forms the pearl. In freshwater mussels a bit of mussel donor tissue is used, which means that the entire freshwater pearl is made of nacre, which takes about 2-7 years to form. Freshwater pearls come in a wide range of colors, including white, cream, gray, as well as pastel shades such as yellow, lavender, pink and orange. The shape of freshwater pearls is equally diverse and sometimes whimsical.  Potato, stick, rice, button, coin, drop, off-round and round shapes are all produced naturally by the mussel. 
 
Mother of Pearl is composed of the same nacre that gives pearls their luster. Nacre is a blend of minerals secreted by oysters, mussels and other mollusks, coating their shells and protecting them from parasites and foreign objects. The color is generally white with an irridescent sheen.