Apparently the runes listed in help runes are not grouped. A simple analysis of the possibilities versus the stat of those identified shows early signs that they indeed are.
High chance the first 12 listed are stat runes. The four runes in a row starting with "c" are prob "save" ruins. (spells/breath/petri/paral)
"Tourmaline", "Alexandrite", "Aquamarine" possibly +5 mv, hp, ma.
Those centered around Golden Yellow Topaz a good chance of being something like Dam Reduct, Undead Control, Sysshock etc.
Fire Opal and Colorless Sapphire appear twice together in the list, possibly showing that they are somehow subjectively related.
They are grouped in help gems oddly... leading me to speculate...
STATS AND MAX_STATS
"Banded Agate", "Eye Agate", "Moss Agate", "Azurite", "Blue Quartz", "Hematite", "Lapus Lazuli", "Malachite", "Obsidian", "Rhodochrosite", "Tiger Eye", "Freshwater Pearl"
SAVES AND ????
"Bloodstone", "Carnelian", "Chalcedony", "Chrysoprase", "Citrine",
"Light Blue Iolite", "Jasper","Moonstone", "Peridot", "Quartz", "Sadonyx",
"Rose Quartz", "Smokey Quartz", "Rock Crystal Quartz", "Zircon", "Orange Zircon"
"Amber", "Amethyst", "Chrysoberyl", "Coral", "Brilliant Green Garnet",
"Salmon Pink Garnet", "Champagne Pearl", "Pale Golden Pearl", "Pearl",
"Silver Pearl", "Red Spinel", "Brown Red Spinel", "Dark Green Spinel", "Tourmaline"
NEW CLASSO RUNES? HD, DAM REDUCT, UC ??? ETC
"Alexandrite", "Aquamarine", "Violet Garnet", "Silvery Blue Pearl",
"Deep Blue Spinel", "Golden Yellow Topaz"
"Emerald", "White Opal", "Opal", "Fire Opal", "Colorless Sapphire", "Tomb Jade", "Water Opal"
"Bright Green Emerald", "Gray White Diamond", "Pink Diamond", "Black Onyx", "Aventurine","Jade", "Jet", "Jacinth", "Sapphire", "Ruby", "Star Ruby", "Blue Star Sapphire", "Purple Star Sapphire"
It also appears that with the "save" runes identified so far there is a predisposition to make them attach to the same eq slot, so I expect to see some form of "slot" grouping for the ruins in play. This may mean you may have to make some hard choices about what eq to attach a rune to in relation to trying to wear as many max_stats as possible. Wisdom would say to wait before attaching ruins at the moment.
I didn't even see a gem before I was 3x40, however I have now popped a few myself soloing mobs. I think there pop rate is quite acceptable for there value, and should increase as your char power increases. Gems will come to you through solo, prob more than groups. All in all I think it's a fantastic edition to the game. The only problems I see coming are related to stats ruins and wear locations, but without the eq list and a heck of a lot more mudding it's to hard to tell yet. I can't see myself finding +7 MAX_WIS for my regen mode... unless it's able to be purchased at avatar. It's too early to say.
All will be revealed