Crystal/Gemstone Meaning/Property Guide D

Dalmatiner (aka Dalmatian Jasper, Spotted Jasper)

This jasper stone is named after the Dalmatian dog breed, whose spotted coat it resembles. In fact, Dalmatiner is the German word for Dalmatian (though "Dalmatian" itself is of Greek origin). This brown-and-black-speckled gemstone is believed to increase patience (we're guessing because owning one of the dogs requires a lot of it!). The gemstone is also said to lessen or remove disillusionment and protect against nightmares, depression and negative thinking.

Dinosaur Bone (aka Gem Bone)

The stone people simply call dinosaur bone is more descriptively known as silicified (transformed into silica) fossil of dinosaur bone. The substance is a pseudomorph (atom-by-atom, one mineral has been replaced by another without changing the original mineral's external appearance). In this case, bone has been replaced by chalcedony. Although fossilized dinosaur bones are found in many places around the world, the highly silicified and beautifully colored dinosaur remains sometimes called "gem bone" are almost exclusively found in a relatively small area in the U.S.A. called the Colorado Plateau. Most of the areas that produce quality bone are in Colorado and Utah. During the dinosaur era, this was an area that included both land and water, with swamps, lakes, and shallow oceans bordered by continental shelf, rising into ancient mountains. The climate changed over time, growing more arid and increasing in volcanic activity. Silica-rich volcanic sediments were then carried by the rivers and deposited as the seas retreated. This environment proved ideal for the burial and subsequent preservation of countless dinosaur remains.

Dolomite (aka Dolomite Limestone, Dolostone)

A calcium magnesium carbonate, dolomite was named for French mineralogist Deodat de Dolomieu, who discovered the stone in 1792 while traveling in the Alps. That entire region of the Alps is now known as the Dolomites. Dolomite is usually a white, gray or brown stone. If iron is present, it can also be brown or black. It is a soft stone that reacts slowly to acids. It appears as both a rock and a mineral. Dolomite does not form on the earth's surface, but is in massive rock beds several hundred feet thick. Only small amounts of dolomite form today. In fact, dolomite has not formed in large or moderate amounts for hundreds of millions of years. But, as a sedimentary rock, it should be appearing in much more measurable amounts. Scientists have been baffled by this phenomenon, and are not even sure how the stone forms - it has been dubbed "the dolomite problem." The most popular belief is that dolomite forms from deposits of calcite or limestone.

Dolomite is believed to stimulate the metabolism of calcium and magnesium, and keep a balance between the two.

It is used by healers to stabilize health, especially of the blood and circulatory system. It is thought to relieve cramps.

Dumortierite (aka Blue Quartz, Dumortirite)

The attractively bright color and good hardness of this borosilicate mineral make it truly refreshing. Named after a French paleontologist, Eugene Dumortier, dumortierite is typically blue or violet in color. It makes a delightful substitute for pricier stones; dumortierite often is mistaken for lapis lazuli, which costs up to three times more! It also looks similar to sodalite and lazurite, but blue sodalite is less dense and has whiter portions, while lazurite is not fibrous like dumortierite.

Dumortierite is considered a gemstone that enhances organizational abilities and self-discipline. It is believed to release fear, bringing courage to one's life, and to boost creativity and expression.

It can stimulate verbalization of spiritual ideas and can provide grounding in love matches while clearing away unsettled areas in relationships. Excellent stone for patience, allowing for the recognition of the potential of any or all with whom is involved.