![stichtite cut in cabochon](https://www.patrickvoillot.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/stichtite-cabochon55.png)
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Je vous emmène à travers mes vidéos découvrir mon expérience acquise depuis plus de 30 ans a silloner le globe entier à la recherche de pierres précieuses, de rencontre mémorables mais aussi de difficulté parfois …
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![stichtite cut in cabochon](https://www.patrickvoillot.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/stichtite-cabochon55.png)
![pink spherocobaltite from Morocco](https://www.patrickvoillot.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/spherocobaltite-maroc58.png)
spherocobaltite
Its name comes from the Greek “sphaira” for sphere and from its composition with cobalt, which gives it its color, this is a rare stone. It’a a Cobalt Carbonate that is often wrongly called “cobaltoan calcite” Cobaltoan calcite chemically is a pink calcite owed to
![cushion cut sphalerite from Picos de Europa, Santander in Spain](https://www.patrickvoillot.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/sphalerite-coussin-espagne59.png)
sphalerite
Its name comes from the Greek “sphaleros” meaning traitor, deceitful, because in its black variety it looked like galena but did not release lead during fusion … and because of its brightness was also confused with the diamond. It is the major ore of zinc.
![cabochon of sogdianite](https://www.patrickvoillot.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/sogdianite-cabochon62.png)
sogdianite
Discovered in 1968 in Tajikistan, it owes its name to Sogdiana, who is the former name of this Central Asian region.
![smithsonite cut in cabochon](https://www.patrickvoillot.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/smithsonite-cabochon64.png)
smithsonite
Name honoring James Smithson (1765-1829), founder of the Smithsonian Institution in Washington (USA). It is also called bonamite.
![yellow - green sillimanite from Tanzania](https://www.patrickvoillot.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/sillimanite-tanzanie67.png)
sillimanite
Discovered in 1824, it honors the name of the American geologist Benjamin Silliman (1779-1864). It is also known for its blue or violet variety called fibrolite. It has been known since prehistoric times and it was used to manufacture cutting tools. There is also a