Brown Gemstones
Brown gemstones and crystals — 59 popular brown stones with photos and identification notes. Looking for brown crystal names for jewellery, collecting or a daily-carry stone? Start here, then test yourself in the crystal quiz.
Crystals that are brown
Stones get their brown colour from trace elements or inclusions, and the same mineral species can occur in several colours — so colour alone never confirms an identification. The most recognisable crystals and gemstones that are brown include Copper, Limestone, Amber, Agate, Jasper, Sandstone. Below is every brown stone in Gemdle with photos, Mohs hardness and how to tell them apart — pair it with the guided identifier to narrow down an unknown specimen.
Mainly brown stones & crystals
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Copper
Mohs 2.5–3
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Limestone
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Amber
Mohs 2–2.5
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Agate
Mohs 6.5–7
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Jasper
Mohs 6.5–7
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Sandstone
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Flint
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Zircon
Mohs 7.5
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Travertine
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Shale
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Petrified Wood
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Chert
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Tiger's Eye
Mohs 6.5–7
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Schist
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Aragonite
Mohs 3.5–4
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Rhyolite
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Rutile
Mohs 6.0–6.5
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Muscovite
Mohs 2–2.5 parallel to {001} 4 right angle to {001}
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Sunstone
Mohs 6.0–6.5
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Breccia
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Scoria
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Sphalerite
Mohs 3.5–4
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Smoky Quartz
Mohs 7 – lower in impure varieties (defining mineral)
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Conglomerate
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Chromite
Mohs 5.5
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Biotite
Mohs 2.5–3.0
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Cassiterite
Mohs 6–7
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Goethite
Mohs 5.0–5.5
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Bornite
Mohs 3–3.25
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Siderite
Mohs 3.75–4.25
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Almandine
Mohs 7.0–7.5
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Pyrrhotite
Mohs 3.5 – 4.5
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Augite
Mohs 5.5 to 6
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Sillimanite
Mohs 7
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Titanite
Mohs 5–5.5
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Staurolite
Mohs 7 – 7.5
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Vesuvianite
Mohs 6–7
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Andalusite
Mohs 6.5–7.5
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Sardonyx
Mohs 6.5–7
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Diaspore
Mohs 6.5–7.0
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Enstatite
Mohs 5 to 6
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Fire Agate
Mohs 6.5-7
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Nepheline
Mohs 6
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Pietersite
Mohs 7
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Axinite
Mohs 6.0–7.5
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Bronzite
Mohs 5–6
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Mimetite
Mohs 3.5–4
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Powellite
Mohs 3.5-4
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Descloizite
Mohs 3 – 3.5
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Hessonite
Mohs 6.5 to 7
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Dravite
Mohs 7.0–7.5
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Mookaite
Mohs 6–7
Stones that also occur in brown
These minerals are best known in other colours but are also found in brown — so a brown specimen is possible, though the photo here may show a different shade. Confirm the colour of the actual stone, not just the species.