POTENTIALLY TOXIC OR HARMFUL STONES

[SunKat]

FOR GEM ELIXIRS, GEM WATERS, MASSAGE OILS, HANDLING, ETC.

I've been asked many times about whether a certain stone is safe for making conventional gem elixirs, gem waters, massage oils, or other internal or absorbent uses. While any stone can be potentially harmful for fumes, or dust, here is some information on stones that are known to be toxic in certain situations.

While some of these minerals are micronutrients, such as copper, which we need to survive, they might also be extremely toxic in larger amounts than required by the body. Also, many of them are only harmful in certain situations -- say the raw stone might be, but one with a high polish might not.

Please be aware that this is an partial list, as I don't know all the possible toxicity information. Some I learned in college, from crystal experts, or from books. Before using any stone or crystal for elixirs or waters, you should personally make sure that it's safe by consulting a mineralogist, healthcare specialist, or a geological professional. If in doubt, make your elixir using the indirect method, and be sure to wash your hands after handling it.

Types of stones that are typically toxic to ingest are minerals/ metals containing copper, lead, arsenic, cadmium, aluminum, barium, mercury, zinc, or other poisonous / toxic substances. These substances are often what give a stone its characteristic coloring or shape. Great to look at, great to hold, but not great to put in the body. Where I have information on it, I've noted the toxic material that is or may be in the stone.

WASH YOUR HANDS after handling any stone that you are not sure is safe to handle. Use your common sense here, folks. Consult a mineralogist, healthcare specialist, or geological professional if you are not sure about a particular stone. Really.

Actinolite - asbestos
Adamite - zinc, copper 
Amazonite - copper
Amber - toxic dust, fumes, possible trapped bacteria or virii, possibly toxic to ingest
Angelite - lead, sulphur
Anthophyllite - asbestos
Aragonite - sometimes contains lead
Atacamite - copper
Atlantisite - contains Serpentine (see below)
Auricalcite - zinc and copper
Azurite - copper
Boji-stones/Kansas Pop Rocks - may contain sulphur
Bronchantite - copper
Celestite aka Celestine - aluminum
Cerrusite - sulphur, molybdenum 
Chalcantite (aka "blue shit") - copper
Chalcopyrite (Peacock Stone, Peacock Ore) - copper and sulphur
Charoite - barium, strontium 
Chrysacolla (Chrysocolla) - copper 
Chrysotile - asbestos
Cinnabar - mercury, VERY TOXIC
Cobaltocalcite (Pink Cobalt Calcite) - cobalt 
Conicalcite - copper
Copper - copper
Coral - organic, may contain bacteria as well as pollutants from toxic materials in the water it forms in 
Chrysoprase - nickel
Crocidolite - asbestos
Cuprite - copper
Diopside - copper
Dioptase - copper
Eliat Stone - copper
Emerald - aluminum
Feldspar - aluminum 
Fluorite - source of dangerous gas hydrofluoride
Garnet - aluminum 
Gem Silica - copper
Galena/ Galenite - lead 
Garnierite (Genthite, Falcondoite) - nickel 
Hematite - iron
Hiddenite - aluminum
Howlite - boron, boron oxide, borate
Iolite - aluminum 
Jade (Jadeite) - aluminum, iron
Jade (Nephrite) - aluminum, iron, titanium
Kambaba Jasper - cyanobacteria and possible cyanotoxins
Kansas Pop Rocks - may contain sulphur 
Kunzite - aluminum
Kyanite - aluminum
Labradorite - aluminum 
Lapis Lazuli - may contain copper, sulphur
Leopard (Skin) Jasper - iron
Marcasite (Markasite) - sulphur 
Magnetite (Lodestone) - iron in large quantities
Malachite - copper
Merlinite - barite, iron
Meteorite - may contain many toxic substances 
Mohawkite - copper, arsenic
Moldavite - aluminum 
Molybdenum - molybdenum 
Moonstone - may contain aluminum or other toxic substances
Mother of Pearl - organic, may contain bacteria as well as pollutants from toxic materials in the water it forms in 
Ocean Jasper - iron
Opal - toxic dust for inhalation at least
Paraiba Blue Quartz - aluminum in the tourmaline component
Pearl - organic, may contain bacteria as well as pollutants from toxic materials in the water it forms in 
Psiomelane - barium 
Pyrite (Fool's Gold, Inca Gold) - sulphur
Quartz (all types) - toxic dust for inhalation
Realgar - sulfur, arsenic, VERY TOXIC
Rhodocrosite (Rhodochrosite) - lead 
Rose Quartz - iron / titanium
Ruby - aluminum 
Sapphire - aluminum 
Sepentine (fibrous type) - asbestos
Sodalite - aluminum 
Spinel - may contain aluminum, zinc 
Stibnite - lead, antimony 
Smithsonite (Galmei, Zinc spar)- zinc, may contain copper 
Spinel - aluminum
Spodumene (incl Kunzite, Hiddenite) - aluminum
Strawberry Quartz (natural) - hematite/iron inclusions
Stromatolite - cyanobacteria and possible cyanotoxins
Sulphur - sulphur
Sunstone - Aluminum 
Tiger's Eye - asbestos
Topaz - aluminum
Tourmaline - aluminum
Tremolite - asbestos
Turquoise - copper 
Unakite - aliminum/iron
Uranium - radioactive mineral 
Vanadanite - lead 
Variscite - aluminum 
Wulfenite - lead, molybdenum

I recommend avoiding and not making conventional gem elixirs, gem waters, massage oils, or other consumables with these stones. The guidelines below can help you and those you know stay safe.

1. Do not make conventional, direct gemstone elixirs, gem waters, massage oils of any stone containing metal (lead, copper, etc.) Use an indirect method instead.
2. FYI: Polished stones are less likely to allow elixirs, etc. to leach any potentially hazardous materials. Rough stones are most likely.
3. In general, almost all blue and green stones, especially brightly colored ones, contain copper and/or arsenic and are potentially unsafe to use for conventional gem elixirs, etc.
4. Shiny, metallic stones should be avoided.
5. Don't handle stones containing arsenic, such as realgar, or mercury, such as cinnabar without protective gloves. Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water after handling them. These stones are extremely toxic.
6. Do not eat, drink, or smoke while handling potentially toxic stones.
7. Keep all potentially harmful stones (including small, bite-sized stones that aren't necessarily toxic but can cause choking hazards!) out of reach of children for safety.

You may find contradictory information elsewhere as to the potential hazards of crystals. I recommend being cautious, though, and using indirect methods for making elixirs and other consumables unless you're absolutely certain of what you're doing. To be on the safe side, consider these stones, and any stones you don't know for sure about, to be toxic to eat, drink, or otherwise consume.

I have a "Don't Panice" Q&A on Potentially Harmful Stones, too.

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