There’s a many reasons why Lanzarote is a favourite European holiday destination, including the good all year round weather.

And one of the island’s beaches has just been included globally as one of the top ones. Read more »

From time to time you will come across a survey that has found that going on vacation can be one of the most stressful activities that you can do, the only things that come out as more stressful in the survey are getting married or buying a new house. It is surprising then to believe that we all look forward to our summer vacation so much. Vacations do not have to be so stressful though and if you follow a few basic tips you should be able to have a nice relaxing time from the moment that you book your vacation to the moment you step back through your front door after the vacation. So what are the top tips to remember when going on vacation? Read more »

We are fast approaching that time of year where we look forward to our annual two week vacation away with our family to somewhere warm and relaxing where we can forget all about the stresses and strains of our everyday lives and enjoy some quality time with our loved ones. If you are looking to get away from the inclement weather at home perhaps a villa holiday could be the ideal two week break for you and your family. Read more »

As times get harder and money becomes tighter we all have to take stock of exactly what we can and cannot afford in life and the unfortunate thing is that as we get to this time of year many of us will sacrifice our annual two week family vacation this year in the belief that we just cannot afford a vacation this year. But this does not have to be the case, by shopping around and by being a little shrewder than you may have been in the past you may still be able to find yourself the perfect family vacation for a fraction of the price you would usually pay. Read more »

Fire Agates is a layered stone that is formed then water that is saturated with colloida silica and iron oxide enters a cavity in a rock and the mineral in the water starts do form new rock. When cutting, the stones layers are ground or polished off following the natural contours of the stone until the desired colored is all that is left. Grind off one to many layers and the stone is ruined.

Searching for fire agates is considered hard rock mining. The agates are usually found embedded in layers of dense limonite and rhyolite rock. Removing these gemstones from the underling bedrock without breaking the gemstones takes time and experience. Read more »

Find out more about the wines from the Languedoc,France, especially Picpoul from La Clape in France Read more »

Find out about the fascinating wine producing region of the Minervois, in the south of France. Read more »

Do you have a hankering to find some Jade but you do now want to travel to China or South America for it? Well you are in luck; you can just pick it off the ground from Jade Cove which is located about 65 miles south of Monterrey California.
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Treasure Hunting For Emeralds

As with most gemstones the emerald can be created as the result of volcanic activity, where the extreme pressure and heat creates the gemstones. Another process knows as hydrothermal circulation, which in the most general sense is the circulation of hot water containing dissolved minerals passing through pockets in the underlying bedrock, evaporate caused the stones to cool as large crystals.

Emeralds belong to the beryl family of gemstones. This family also contains aquamarine, goshenite, morganite, heliodor, quartz and red beryl to name a few. The emerald has a hardness of 7.5 to 8 and is composed of chromium and vanadium. When iron sulfate pyrite is entered into the mix the result is the rich green color traditionally associated with the emerald. Read more »

Turquoise is possibly the most valuable, non-transparent mineral used in jewelry. It has been mined since at least 6000 BC by Egyptians. Like other opaque such as coral, turquoise is commonly sold by the size in millimeters rather than by weight.

Turquoise is usually found sandstone layers and can be seen as splotches or as a network of brown or black veins running through the sandstone. There are many small-scale mining operations that are worked by hand. Only one mine in Apache Canyon California operates at a commercial capacity today. Read more »