Sentence:  Although there are dozens of different types of gems, among the best known and most important are [...]&thinsp;. (Common gem <WSD>materials</WSD> not addressed in this article include amber, amethyst, chalcedony, garnet, lazurite, malachite, opals, peridot, rhodonite, spinel, tourmaline, turquoise and zircon.) 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  (matter)Matter which may be shaped or manipulated, particularly in making something.