Some crystal experts say though that this is nothing but a marketing ploy.
Just a question though. Do crystals that have basically the same physical-chemical structures, all other things being equal, have the same metaphysical properties in general, or do they vary by geographical location, with crystals mined in specific locations becoming more special or powerful relative to mineralogically similar crystals mined in others? This is a genuine question btw, I'm not being rhetorical nor am I fishing for any particular answer. I'm just curious what others here think about this.
Apparently, some crystals are supposed to be stronger than others depending where they come from, according to some of the crystal bibles I have read. But personally, I do not find this to be true. In my long experience of using crystals, they all work equally well if they are meant to be those that should work with you. In other words, if you get the crystal that seems to choose you, or the crystal that best fits the cure for your issue, you are good to go!
In regard to the TM crystals, I personally think it is a money grab. This is based upon the opinion of various mineralogical societies, who say the TM'd stones are the same in composition to their trade-mark free equals.
I'd say that anyone who tells you a stone from a specific region works better than the same stone from another region is just as misled as those who claim TM stones work better than their un-TM'd sisters and brothers.