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Rarity is one of the most prized qualities of gemstones.
However, it isn t clear to people just how rare a given gem is. All of them are rare, but some are much more so than others. The most common crystallized mineral is quartz. Even today, with the popularity of outside activities, few people have ever seen a crystal in nature. Those who have are mostly prospectors, miners and rock hounds who go to known collecting sites.