As someone who collects and loves minerals of all kinds, I have done my best to collect as much information on the care and safety of all kinds of stones, crystals, and minerals in general as I can for my own grimoire. However, although I have attempted to do a great deal of research, these lists are not exhaustive, and please take care of any minerals and crystals you have.
Minerals That Should Not Be Exposed to Water
These minerals are water-soluble, some more than others, or maybe damaged by water. Some, such as halite (which is salt crystal), should even be stored in a dry location, as excess humidity may damage it. Do not charge or cleanse these with water ever!
Any Soft, “Fluffy”, Fibrous, or Flaky Mineral
Alum/Alunite
Anglesite
Angelite (Anhydrite)
Borax
Calcite
Celestite/Celestine
Chalcanthite
Concretions/Kansas Pop Rocks/Boji Stone®
Desert Rose (Gypsum or Baryte Crystals)
Dioptase
Galenite/Galena
Geyserite
Gypsum
Halite
Hanksite
Hematite
Jet
Kernite
Lapis Lazuli
Magnetite/Lodestone
Malachite
Newberyite
Opal, Fire
Purpurite
Pyrite
Sal Ammoniac
Satin Spar
Selenite
Sulfur
Sylvinite
Sylvite
Ulexite
Minerals That Should Not be Exposed to Sunlight/Bright Light
These minerals are not lightfast (may fade or darken with exposure to bright light). Store in a dim place and do not cleanse or charge using sunlight.
Acanthite
Amergreen
Amethyst
Ametrine
Aquamarine
Aventurine
Calcite, Honey
Celestite
Citrine
Fluorite
Jet
Kunzite
Lapis
Malachite
Opal
Rose Quartz
Smoky Quartz
Spirit Quartz
Super Seven
Topaz
Tourmaline
Turquoise
Minerals That Should Not Be Exposed to Salt
Salt may corrode many minerals or may become trapped in crevices and react with moisture to expand and crack stones, and should be used with care, whether it is saltwater or dry salt. This list was hardest to find good information on, so it is definitely not exhaustive.
Most Metals and Minerals Containing Metals
Minerals Containing Trapped Water
Hematite
Lapis Lazuli
Opal
Pyrite
Selenite
Soft Minerals
Soft minerals scratch easily. They should be stored and carried alone, such as in their own bag.
It is a good idea to consult the Moh’s Hardness Scale for any given mineral (those 5 and below are particularly prone to scratching and scuffing). Even dust may contain particles harder than 5, in which case wiping the mineral that is dusty could scratch it.
Bismuth
Calcite
Celestite
Chrysocolla
Copper
Fluorite
Gold
Graphite
Hematite
Iron
Jet
Gypsum
Lapis Lazuli
Malachite
Nickel
Obsidian
Silver
Talc
Turquoise
Minerals That Are Potentially Hazardous to Health
(Not for Use in Consumables/Elixirs; Use Care When Handling)
Determining toxicity of minerals is difficult, as some are toxic when inhaled, others when consumed, some only when consumed over a period of time or in large bioavailable quantities (such as copper), and some are toxic upon skin contact. Some minerals are potentially allergenic but do not affect everyone (many of the minerals here listed as allergenic are also toxic).
Minerals that are toxic may or may not be soluble in water, but for safety’s sake, potentially toxic minerals should not be used in elixirs, massage oils, etc. made by a direct method. It is always safer to use crystal elixirs, oils, and the like made by the indirect method (separated from the consumable by an impermeable barrier, such as glass).
Flakey, brittle, soft, and porous stones should not be used to make consumables.
Handle stones containing mercury, lead, and arsenic with gloves. Wash your hands after handling all minerals, and do not handle minerals while eating, drinking, etc.
This list is not exhaustive.
When in doubt, play it safe!
Actinolite (Fibrous Form is Asbestos)
Adamite (Contains Copper and Arsenic)
Ajoite (Contains Aluminum and Copper)
Alexandrite (Contains Aluminum)
Algodonite (Contains Arsenic)
Altaite (Contains Lead)
Aluminum/Aluminium (Al)
Amozonite (Contains Copper)
Anglesite (Contains Lead)
Antimony (Sb)
Antimonite (Salts of Antimony)
Antozonite, variety of Fluorite (Radioactive)
Apollo Stone (Contains Uranium)
Aquamarine (Contains Aluminum)
Arsenic (As)
Arsenopyrite (Contains Arsenic)
Asbestos (Hazardous to Lungs)
Atacamite (Contains Copper)
Aurichalcite (Contains Zinc and Copper)
Autunite (Contains Uranium)
Axinite (Contains Aluminium)
Azurite (Contains Copper)
Azurite-Malachite (Contains Copper)
Azurite-Pseudomalachite (Contains Copper)
Barium (Ba)
Beryl (Contains Aluminum, Beryllium)
Beryllium (Be)
Bindheimite (Contains Lead)
Bismuth (Used in medicines, but bismuth poisoning can occur.)
Boji Stone® (My Contain Sulfur, other toxic minerals; trademarked name of Concretions, Kansas Pop Rocks)
Brazilianite (Contains Aluminum)
Bronchantite (Contains Copper)
Bunsenite (Allergenic)
Cadmium (Cd)
Calaverite (Contains Telluride)
Calomel (Contains Mercury)
Carnotite (Contains Uranium)
Cavansite (Contains Copper)
Cerussite (Contains Lead)
Chalcanthite (Contains Copper)
Chalcopyrite (Contains Copper and Sulfur)
Chromium (Cr)
Chrysoberyl (Contains Aluminum)
Chrysocolla (Contains Copper)
Chrysotile/Chrysotite (Asbestos)
Cinnabar (Contains Mercury)
Cinnabar-Opal (Contains Mercury)
Cobaltocalcite (Contains Cobalt)
Coloradoite (Contains Mercury and Tellurium)
Colusite (Contains Arsenic)
Concretions (May Contain Sulfur, other toxic minerals)
Conichalcite (Contains Copper)
Copper (Cu)
Corundum (Contains Aluminum)
Covellite (Contains Copper)
Creaseyite (Contains Copper and Lead)
Crocidolite (Contains Asbestos)
Crocoite (Contains Lead and Chromium)
Cumengite (Contains Lead and Copper)
Cuprite (Contains Copper)
Cyanotrichite (Contains Copper)
Devilline (Contains Copper)
Diaboleite (Contains Lead and Copper)
Diopside (Contains Copper)
Dioptase (Contains Copper)
Dumontite (Contains Uranium and Lead)
Dumortierite (Contains Aluminum)
Durangite (Contains Arsenic)
Eclipse Stone (Contains Arsenic and Sulfur)
Eglestonite (Contains Mercury)
Eilat Stone (Contains Copper)
Emerald (Contains Aluminum)
Enargite (Contains Sulfur and Copper)
Endlichite (Contains Lead and Arsenic)
Epidote (Contains Aluminum)
Erythrite (Contains Arsenic)
Euchroite (Contains Arsenic and Copper)
Feldspar (Contains Aluminum)
Fiedlerite (Contains Lead)
Fluoride (F)
Fluorite (May Contain Toxic Minerals)
Freibergite (Contains Copper, Antimony, and Arsenic)
Galena/Galenite (Contains Lead)
Garnet (Contains Aluminum)
Garnierite (Contains Nickel)
Gaspeite (Allergenic; Contains Nickel)
Goshenite (Contains Aluminum)
Greenockite (Contains Cadmium and Sulfur)
Guérinite (Contains Arsenic)
Hancockite (Potentially Contains Lead)
Heliodor (Contains Aluminum)
Hiddenite (Contains Aluminum)
Hutchinsonite (Contains Thallium, Lead, and Arsenic)
Iolite (Contains Aluminum)
Iron-Nickel Meteorite (Allergenic; Contains Nickel)
Jadeite (Contains Aluminum)
Jamesonite (Contains Lead)
Kansas Pop Rocks (May Contain Sulfur, other toxic minerals)
Kasolite (Radioactive)
Kunzite (Contains Aluminum)
Kyanite (Contains Aluminum)
Labradorite (Contains Aluminum)
Lapis Lazuli (Contains Pyrite Inclusions Which Contain Sulfur)
Lazulite (Contains Aluminum)
Lazurite (Contains Aluminum and Sulfur)
Lead (Pb)
Lemon Chrysoprase (Allergenic, Contains Nickel)
Lepidolite (Contains Aluminum)
Linarite (Contains Lead and Copper)
Litharge (Contains Lead)
Löllingite (Contains Arsenic)
Lopezite (Allergenic; Carcinogen; Handle with Gloves)
Malachite (Contains Copper; Particularly Dangerous During Polishing/Cutting/Grinding)
Marcasite (Contains Sulfur)
Mendozavilite (Contains Molybdenum)
Mercury (Hg)
Millerite (Allergenic, Contains Nickel)
Minium (Contains Lead)
Mixite (Contains Copper, Bismuth and Arsenic)
Mohawkite (Contains Copper and Arsenic)
Moldavite (Contains Aluminum)
Molybdenum (Mo)
Moonstone (Contains Aluminum)
Morganite (Contains Aluminum)
Nadorite (Contains Lead)
Natrojarosite (Contains Sulfur)
Nickel (Ni; Common Allergen)
Nickeline/Niccolite (Allergenic, Contains Nickel and Arsenic)
Olivenite (Contains Arsenic)
Orpiment (Contains Arsenic and Sulfur, Handle with Gloves)
Orthoclase (Contains Aluminum)
Osarizawaite (Contains Lead)
Pargasite (Contains Aluminum)
Phosphohedyphane/Polysphaerite (Contains Lead)
Pietersite (Fibrous Form Contains Asbestos)
Pilsenite (Contains Bismuth and Tellurium)
Plattnerite (Contains Lead)
Pollucite (Contains Cesium)
Prehnite (Contains Aluminum)
Proustite (Contains Arsenic and Silver)
Psilomelane and Pyrolusite (Contains Barium)
Pyrite (Contains Sulfur)
Pyromorphite (Contains Lead)
Quartz (Non-Toxic but Dust is Harmful to Breathe [Silicosis])
Rauenthalite (Contains Arsenic)
Realgar (Contains Arsenic and Sulfur)
Rhodizite (Possibly Contains Cesium)
Rhodochrosite (Contains Lead)
Ruby (Contains Aluminum)
Saléeite (Contains Uranium)
Scapolite (Contains Aluminum)
Schrockingerite (contains Uranium, Sulfur, and Fluorine)
Scorodite (Contains Arsenic)
Seamanite (Contains Manganese)
Senarmontite (Contains Antimony)
Serpentine (Fibrous Form Contains Asbestos)
Smithsonite (Contains Zinc, May Contain Copper)
Sodalite (Contains Aluminum)
Sphaerocobaltite (Allergenic; Contains Cobalt)
Spinel (Contains Aluminum)
Spodumene (Contains Aluminum)
Stibnite/Stibnite (Contains Antimony and Lead)
Stilbite (Contains Aluminum)
Sugilite (Contains Aluminum)
Sulfur/Sulphur (S)
Sunstone (Contains Aluminum)
Svabite (Contains Arsenic and Fluorine)
Sylvanite (Contains Tellurium)
Tanzanite (Contains Aluminum)
Tellurium (Te)
Tennantite (Contains Copper and Arsenic)
Tetrahedrite (Contains Copper, Antimony, and Sulfur)
Thallium (Handle with Gloves)
Thenardite (Contains Sulfur)
Tiger’s Eye, Dragon’s Eye, etc. (Fibrous Forms Are Asbestos; Use in Polished Form Only)
Tirolit (Contains Arsenic)
Topaz (Contains Aluminum)
Torbernite (Radioactive)
Tourmaline (Contains Aluminum)
Tremolite (Fibrous Forms are Asbestos)
Turquoise (Contains Copper)
Tyrolite (Contains Arsenic)
Ullmannite (Contains Nickel, Sulfur, and Antimony)
Uraninite (Contains Uradium and Radium)
Uranium (Radioactive)
Uranophane (Contains Uranium)
Valentinite (Contains Antimony)
Vanadinite (Contains Lead)
Variscite (Contains Aluminum)
Vesuvianite (Contains Aluminum)
Violarite (Contains Nickel and Sulfur)
Villiaumite (Contains Fluoride; Handle with Gloves)
Vivianite (May Contain Manganese)
Wad/Wadd/Wadt (Contains Manganese)
Wavellite (Contains Aluminum)
Weeksite (Contains Uranium)
Wulfenite (Contains Lead and Molybdenum)
Witherite (Contains Barium)
Zincite (Contains Zinc; May Contain Copper)
Zircon (Contains Zirconium, Uranium and Thorium)
Zoisite (Contains Aluminum)
Hope this guide helps! Please feel free to ask any questions that may be coming up for you.