The game Stardew Valley is home to a wide variety of minerals. You have the typical popular ones like diamonds and emeralds, but you also have the somewhat lesser talked about stones, such as calcite, esperite, dolomite, and helvite. The variety and care to lesser known stones is one reason why we love Stardew Valley here. You can use stones in the game for all sorts of things. But just how accurate is its information? Let's dive in!
Gifts
Let's get the obvious one out of the way. Gemstones and minerals often make for excellent gifts, and Stardew Valley knows this well. There's no shortage of gem goodies out. A crystal kit or even some plain tumbled stones can bring just a little natural light to home decor. In the game, various characters love to receive mineral gifts. Characters seem to like certain stones more than they would others. The diamond is a top pick for sure, but Emily likes amethyst and aquamarine stones, for instance. Leo prefers some quartz crystals, and who can blame him? Quartz is a diverse and pretty stone. Sebastian likes obsidian (shocking -- we know), and Abigail joins the ranks of fellow amethyst stone lovers.
As you can see, these precious stones offer a wide range of options for every taste and style. Though, you don't need a large and fancy diamond ring in Stardew Valley. Instead, you give your lover a "Mermaid's Pendant".
Tools & Items
Stardew Valley has many tools and items, some of which use gemstones and minerals. Some of these make a lot more sense than others. These are often done to enhance certain weapons, for instance. In Stardew Valley, you can drop certain minerals into your forge with your weapon to increase its stats, such as using a ruby crystal to improve a weapon's damage.
While there are tons of historical precedents for gemstones being used for tools, how about weapons? Well, one of the most common rocks used for weaponry is obsidian. Though obsidian is brittle, it has historically been used for axes and clubs. To a lesser extent, studies have shown that even quartz was used for arrowheads or small knives. While they do not have the same properties in the game, there is undoubtedly material out there to suggest that gemstones and minerals have historically had a wide array of uses.
A diamond in the game is part of a recipe to create something that can crush and crunch those geodes! Diamonds are actually extremely practical and have an extensive list of applications in various industries. You may have heard of "diamond-coated" somethings. Diamonds are the hardest naturally occurring mineral, ranking a whopping 10/10 on the Mohs scale. This means that it can cut anything that falls below that number. This means it can cut just about any stone, making it really useful for stuff like saws.
Even in the present, there is no short list of what gemstones and minerals have been able to do. If you are curious to learn more, we actually have another blog on this exact topic!
Accessories & Clothing
While Stardew Valley takes some liberties with what a gemstone or mineral accessory might look like (especially with clothing), it's no secret that people love to wear gemstones. Diamond jewelry is immensely popular, as is opal jewelry. But let's explore some more interesting alternatives. While a beautiful ruby ring or jade necklace is downright amazing, surely people have gotten a little more inventive, right?
Well, sort of. When it comes to some very rich people, there is no telling what they might try. Someone did make an expensive diamond gown (https://www.today.com/style/17-million-diamond-gown-most-expensive-dress-world-1c8955714), and really diamond-encrusted clothing isn't super far-fetched. It's out of your typical price range, sure, but it's not like you're going to be weaving as many gemstones in Stardew Valley as you can. They have a robust creative license with things.
Now, the shocking thing here is that gemstones have actually been used for pigments and dyes. There are dozens of better options than stones when it comes to clothing, however. For other stuff, it's more complicated. One of the most prized dyes (if not the most) was ultramarine sources from lapis lazuli. We have another blog on this rather fascinating topic!
Collecting
Okay this is also somewhat of a cheat answer. Sorry. But, yep, gemstones and minerals make for awesome collecting. If you're one of those people who just wants to collect every mineral and item in a game (that's us), then you can absolutely start an expansive crystal collection in real life, too. There are numerous ways you can start up your gemstone decor, and places like crystal shows or rock shops are an excellent place to start.
However, there is something important to mention. In Stardew Valley, you can head right into a mine and start hacking away. It's crucial to note that you cannot go rock spelunking into any mine you want. For one, many of them are incredibly dangerous enough without worrying about slime monsters. They also require special gear or tools to explore properly. Plus, most mines are privately owned property, which means that if you head there, you could be in danger of a trespass.
It's best to keep your crystal collecting habits with safe venues, such as stores. Preferably ones also free of monsters.
The Wrap Up
Stardew Valley is an excellent game with a bunch of minerals in it! We were pretty glad to explore this topic and provide some knowledge on the practical uses of various stones. We hope you enjoyed reading. Thank you!