Editorial standard / source desk
Useful knowledge needs a visible boundary.
We are building an English reference library for crystals, minerals and jewelry context. The goal is not to make every stone sound mystical or every claim sound certain.
Three evidence lanes
Mineral science
Composition, structure, hardness, optical properties and treatment information supported by specialist sources.
History and symbolism
How people have used, named or interpreted stones, clearly presented as cultural context.
Claims and markets
Seller language, price claims, trend reports and identification tips are not treated as facts without evidence.
What we do not promise
- We do not present crystals as medical treatment or diagnosis.
- We do not call a product natural when a dye, coating, heat treatment or synthetic origin is relevant and undisclosed.
- We do not use a home scratch, float, touch or UV test as a guaranteed authenticity result.
- We do not make market size, price growth or ranking claims without a traceable source.
How a page is reviewed
- Define the material or variety precisely.
- Separate mineral facts from seller language and cultural meaning.
- Check care advice against hardness, toughness, cleavage, treatment and setting.
- Record sources and a last-reviewed date.
- Mark remaining uncertainty instead of filling it with confident wording.
Sources
Our internal research library stores source URLs, retrieval metadata and review notes. Public articles use original writing and link to relevant sources rather than reproducing third-party pages.
The first reference set includes Gemological Institute of America, U.S. Geological Survey, National Park Service and other specialist material. See the internal project knowledge base for the working source inventory.