As promised in my How to Make Crystal Tinctures video I have listed below the crystals that are toxic to your gem water or elixir. Keep in mind that just because the crystal is toxic doesn't mean that you cannot take advantage of it's healing properties. Carefully using the indirect method of making gem water and tinctures will still enable you to make awesome elixirs, tinctures and oils.

Most minerals are toxic because they contain metals with copper, lead, arsenic, cadmium, aluminum, barium, mercury, zinc, and other other poisonous substances. These substances are often the reason the stone has its coloring or shape. Great to look at, great to hold, but not great to ingest. Listed beside the crystals below are the toxic material that may be harmful if ingested. If your plan is to make topical products such as oils and lotions you may still take advantage of the crystal's properties by using the indirect method for making your product.

Adamite - zinc, copper

Amazonite - copper

Amber - toxic dust, fumes, possible ingestive toxicity

Angelite - lead, sulphur

Aragonite

Atacamite - copper

Auricalcite - zinc and copper

Azurite - copper

Boji-stones/Kansas Pop Rocks (may contain sulphur)

Bronchantite - copper

Cerrusite - sulphur, molybdenum

Chalcantite (aka "blue shit") - copper

Chalcopyrite (Peacock Stone, Peacock Ore) - copper and sulphur

Chrysacolla (Chrysocolla) - copper

Cinnabar - mercury

Cobaltocalcite (Pink Cobalt Calcite) - cobalt

Conicalcite - copper

Copper - copper

Coral - organic, may contain bacteria as well as pollutants from toxic materials in the water it forms in

Cuprite - copper

Diopside - copper

Dioptase - copper

Eliat Stone - copper

Emerald - aluminum

Garnet - aluminum

Gem Silica - copper

Galena/ Galenite - lead

Garnierite (Genthite, Falcondoite) - nickel

Hiddenite - aluminum

Iolite - aluminum

Kansas Pop Rocks - may contain sulphur

Kunzite - aluminum

Kyanite - aluminum

Labradorite - aluminum

Lapis Lazuli - may contain copper, sulphur

Marcasite (Markasite) - sulphur

Magnetite (Lodestone) - iron in large quantities

Malachite - copper

Meteorite - may contain many toxic substances

Mohawkite - copper, arsenic

Moldavite - aluminum

Molybdenum - molybdenum

Moonstone - may contain aluminum or other toxic substances

Mother of Pearl - organic, may contain bacteria as well as pollutants from toxic materials in the water it forms in

Opal - toxic dust for inhalation at least

Pearl - organic, may contain bacteria as well as pollutants from toxic materials in the water it forms in

Psiomelane - barium

Pyrite (Fool's Gold, Inca Gold) - sulphur

Quartz (all types) - toxic dust for inhalation

Realgar - sulfur, arsenic

Rhodocrosite (Rhodochrosite) - lead

Ruby - aluminum

Sapphire - aluminum

Sodalite - aluminum

Spinel - may contain aluminum, zinc

Stibnite - lead, antimony

Smithsonite (Galmei, Zinc spar)- zinc, may contain copper

Sulphur - sulphur

Tiger's Eye

Topaz

Tourmaline, Watermelon - aluminum

Turquoise - copper

Uranium - radioactive mineral

Vanadanite - lead

Variscite - aluminum

Wulfenite - lead, molybdenum

Here are some general rules to follow to help you avoid toxic stones.

Polished stones are best for elixirs as they are less likely to leak hazardous materials. Rough stones are most likely.

Almost all blue and green stones, especially brightly colored ones, contain copper and/or arsenic and are unsafe to use for conventional gem elixirs, etc.

Avoid all shiny, metallic stones like pyrite hematite etc.

Don't handle stones containing arsenic, such as realgar, or mercury, such as cinnabar without protective gloves. Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water after handling them. These stones are extremely toxic

Do not eat, drink, or smoke while handling potentially toxic stones.