I am looking for a resource that gives fantasy style magical properties to Gems.

Most of the sites I have found really only focus on "New age" meanings and stuff.

I am looking for something more to enhance magic and so forth.

Anyone got any suggestions?

For what system?

In reply to Dara (msg # 2):

System Doesn't matter... Looking for a guide/reference

Well there is no one definitive lore on gems and magic.  Each culture out there has there own myths and legends about what gems could do.  Just doing a quick search on the web with magical gems and myths and legends gave me a few sites that were more academic rather than "new age"  But even the new age often derive their stuff from myths.

For example Amethyst: The name comes from the Ancient Greek ἀ a- ("not") and μέθυστος methustos ("intoxicated"), a reference to the belief that the stone protected its owner from drunkenness.

The ancient Egyptians however considered the amethyst a stone of the intellect and wisdom.

Which one is right?  Both.  Not all gemstones had magical powers in each culture.  You could pick and choose how you like if you prefer.  Or just make up your own magical abilities or ways in which they enhance the magic in your world.

The old DMG had a brief list:

Gem Type              Effects or Uses                  
Agate                 Restful and safe sleep
Alexandrite           Good omens
Amber                 Wards off diseases
Amethyst              Prevents drunkenness or drugging
Beryl                 Wards off foes
Bloodstone            Weather control
Carbuncle             Powers of dragon's sight
Carnelian             Protection from evil
Cats' eye agate       Protection from spirits
Chalcedony            Wards off undead
Chrysoberyl           Protection from possession
Chrysolite            Wards off spells
Chrysaprase           Invisibility
Coral                 Calms weather, safety in river crossing,
                      cures madness, stanches bleeding
Diamond               Invulnerability vs. undead
Hematite              Aids fighters, heals wounds
Jacinth               Luck travelling, wards off plague,
                      protection from fire
Jade                  Skill at music and musical instruments
Jasper                Protection from venom
Jet                   Soul object material
Lapis Lazuli          Raises morale, courage
Malachite             Protection from falling
Malachite & Sunstone  Wards off spells, evil spirits, and poisons
Moonstone             Causes lycanthropy
Olivine               Protection from spells
Onyx                  Causes discord amongst enemies
Peridot               Wards off enchantments
Ruby                  Gives good luck
Sapphire              Aids understanding of problems, kills spiders,
                      boosts magical abilities
Sapphire, Star        Protection from magic
Sard                  Benefits wisdom
Serpentine            Adds to wile and cunning
Topaz                 Wards off evil spells
Turquoise             Aids horses in all ways (but stone shatters
                      when it operates)

The caveat on the list is that it is given for the DM's aid in creating formulae, and mere possession of the gem does not convey the properties listed.

Anyway, that's an old, old list, but it's a good palce to start.

thanks for those

Some one on another forum directed me to this

http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/.../Elemental-Gemstones

Might get that, but all other suggestions are welcome

Cruinne, can I barrow that list? For years I have been trying to nail down a ranking for a certain race in my games, I need a new race name for em because of I borrowed their name from Legend of Mana. I was never happy with their rankings.

Oh, I don't care at all.  The book is long out of print, and it's a very, very tiny portion of it (well within fair use) so I doubt the original authors (one of whom is dead) would care much either.

Meh, I never knew gem properties, and I honestly have no idea how to do the ranks, except maybe as a symbol for the stage in life associated with said ranks.

Well a minor point: a limited run is back in print; but again, I don't think anyone would care for such a small portion.

I have no idea what Merevel means by ranks, but a few games that may help with gem ideas are:

The Compleat Alchemist
The Delian Book of the Dead  (at least I think that was the one with the gems)
Powers & Perils  (the old Avalon Hill game)
Chivalry & Sorcery  (The C&S Red Book is or was free online)

There is an Ars Magica supplement on Hedge Magic and Magical Companions that has an extensive list of properties for minerals, not just Gems.  The base game has properties for materials and what type of magic they are suited for.

I liked what RuneQuest did with gems. IIRC there were two (or three?) different types of 'Power Crystals'. One type stored magical power and could be charged in down time and then used to cast spells in combat, the other type could hold a spirit that could cast its own spells for you.

How about a crystal ball with its own clairvoyance spell built in?

RMFRP's Treasure Companion has a nice long list of gems, both precious and semi-precious, and their magical properties, at least thee schools of magic that they relate too.  The Essence Companion will help you with ideas on how to blend the uses into your game.  Not sure if you have looked at these as I know you have access to both books.