Gemstones That Start With U: A–Z Guide

Mehran Khan July 20, 2026Last Updated: July 20, 2026

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Gemstones and gem materials that start with U include ulexite, Umbalite garnet, unakite, uvarovite garnet and uvite.

The U directory is short but mineralogically diverse. It includes an optical borate mineral, two members of the garnet family, a patterned multi-mineral rock and a tourmaline-group mineral.

Some U materials are suitable for everyday jewelry, while others are mainly collected as mineral specimens.

Traditional gemstone meanings are symbolic associations rather than scientifically proven medical effects.

Continue from Gemstones That Start With T. For a broader mineral-focused overview, explore Crystals That Start With U.

U Gemstones at a Glance

Gemstone or material	Typical appearance	Material type	Common use
Ulexite	White, clear or silky fibrous material	Hydrated borate mineral	Optical specimens and collector pieces
Umbalite Garnet	Raspberry, pink-red or purple-red	Garnet trade variety	Faceted fine jewelry
Unakite	Green epidote with pink feldspar	Multi-mineral rock	Cabochons, beads and carvings
Uvarovite Garnet	Bright green drusy crystals	Garnet species	Collector jewelry and specimens
Uvite	Brown, green, reddish or black	Tourmaline-group mineral	Faceted collector gems and specimens

Ulexite

Ulexite is a hydrated borate mineral best known for its unusual natural fiber-optic effect.

When a properly oriented polished piece is placed over printed text, the image can appear to rise to the upper surface. This behavior has given ulexite the nickname TV rock.

Ulexite commonly appears:

White.
Colorless.
Silky.
Fibrous.
Rounded or compact.
Transparent along the direction of its fibers.

It is traditionally associated with:

Clarity.
Seeing a situation from another perspective.
Recognizing overlooked details.
Flexible thinking.
Mental organization.

Ulexite is soft and vulnerable to scratches, moisture and surface damage. It is rarely practical for rings, bracelets or other high-wear jewelry.

Polished optical pieces should remain dry and be handled with clean hands. The general guide to crystals in water explains why soluble and delicate minerals should not be soaked.

Umbalite Garnet

Umbalite garnet is a commercial name associated with pink-red, raspberry, purplish-red and warm reddish garnets from the Umba Valley region of East Africa.

Its composition commonly falls between several members of the garnet group rather than representing a separate mineral species.

Umbalite colors may include:

Raspberry pink.
Rose red.
Purplish red.
Orangish pink.
Deep wine red.
Pink-purple under certain lighting.

Umbalite garnet is traditionally associated with:

Confidence.
Affection.
Commitment.
Motivation.
Emotional maturity.

Its brilliance and saturated color make it suitable for rings, earrings, pendants and bracelets.

Umbalite generally shares the favorable jewelry properties of the wider garnet family, including useful hardness and the absence of prominent cleavage.

Inclusions, fractures, cut quality and color darkness should still be considered before purchase.

Unakite

Unakite is a patterned rock commonly composed of:

Green epidote.
Pink potassium feldspar.
Clear, white or gray quartz.

The contrasting minerals create mottled pink-and-green patterns. Some pieces also contain cream, brown or dark inclusions.

Unakite is traditionally associated with:

Balance.
Patience.
Gradual growth.
Emotional resilience.
Combining past experience with future plans.

Because unakite is a rock rather than one mineral, different areas may vary in hardness, fracture resistance and polish.

Its green component is commonly related to epidote, while its pink areas are generally feldspar-rich.

Unakite is widely used for:

Beads.
Cabochons.
Pendants.
Carvings.
Tumbled stones.

Solid pieces are suitable for casual jewelry, but rings should be checked for open fractures and uneven matrix.

Uvarovite Garnet

Uvarovite is a chromium-rich garnet species known for intense emerald-green color.

Unlike many familiar garnets, uvarovite commonly forms as:

Tiny sparkling crystals.
Drusy coatings.
Crystal-lined cavities.
Green crusts on dark matrix.
Small crystals associated with chromium-rich rocks.

Uvarovite is traditionally associated with:

Prosperity.
Individuality.
Confidence.
Appreciation.
Recognizing value without comparison.

Large transparent crystals suitable for faceting are exceptionally uncommon. Most jewelry preserves the natural drusy surface.

Common designs include:

Pendants.
Earrings.
Brooches.
Collector rings with recessed settings.
Mineral-specimen jewelry.

Uvarovite belongs among the broader types of garnet, but its crystal habit makes its jewelry care different from faceted almandine, pyrope or grossular.

Do not scrub the exposed drusy surface or allow it to rub against harder gems.

Uvite

Uvite is a calcium-magnesium member of the tourmaline mineral group.

Its colors may include:

Brown.
Reddish brown.
Dark green.
Yellow-green.
Black.
Nearly colorless.
Strongly zoned combinations.

Uvite is traditionally associated with:

Grounding.
Resilience.
Self-control.
Practical judgment.
Remaining steady during change.

Transparent crystals may be faceted, although much uvite is collected as natural crystals or matrix specimens.

Dark uvite can resemble dravite or schorl, while green material may resemble other tourmalines.

Its wider mineral relationships are explained in the tourmaline guide.

Uvite has useful scratch resistance, but elongated crystals, internal fractures and matrix attachment can increase the risk of breakage.

U Gemstones by Color

Green U Gemstones

Uvarovite is the brightest green entry. Unakite contains green epidote, while some uvite crystals appear dark green or yellow-green.

Pink and Red U Gemstones

Umbalite garnet provides raspberry, rose, purple-red and wine-red shades. Unakite combines pink feldspar with green epidote.

White and Clear U Gemstones

Ulexite is the principal white or colorless U material.

Brown and Black U Gemstones

Uvite commonly occurs in brown, reddish-brown and nearly black crystals.

Which U Gemstones Are Best for Jewelry?

Best for Frequent Wear

Umbalite garnet is the most practical U gemstone for rings, bracelets and frequently worn jewelry. It offers attractive color, good scratch resistance and useful toughness.

Suitable for Casual Jewelry

Unakite works well for beads, cabochons, pendants and carvings. Its mixed composition should be inspected for fractures before setting.

Best for Protected or Collector Jewelry

Uvarovite garnet is best in recessed settings that protect its exposed crystal surface.

Transparent uvite can be worn in pendants or earrings, although faceted material is uncommon.

Primarily a Collector Material

Ulexite is too soft and moisture-sensitive for ordinary jewelry.

The gemstone hardness chart helps compare scratch resistance, but matrix stability, cleavage and toughness must also be considered.

Identification and Buying Notes

Look for these distinguishing features:

Ulexite may transmit printed images through aligned fibers.
Umbalite garnet should show natural-looking raspberry or red-purple color rather than an artificial surface coating.
Unakite contains visibly different pink, green and quartz-rich mineral areas.
Uvarovite typically occurs as small sparkling green crystals rather than large faceted stones.
Uvite may require laboratory testing to separate it from visually similar tourmalines.

Trade names do not always identify a separate mineral species. Umbalite is a commercial garnet variety, while unakite is a multi-mineral rock.

Laboratory documentation is especially useful for unusually expensive faceted Umbalite or uvite.

Care Guide for U Gemstones

Keep ulexite dry and protected from scratches.
Clean Umbalite garnet according to its inclusions and jewelry setting.
Inspect unakite for open fractures before washing or tumbling.
Do not scrub uvarovite’s drusy crystal surface.
Protect elongated uvite crystals from side impacts.
Store delicate specimens separately from faceted garnet jewelry.
Avoid ultrasonic or steam cleaning when fractures, matrix or unknown treatments create risk.