EP3 ‘CRYSTALS’ Brief Gemstone research & Facts General info / facts / quotes Minerals are naturally occurring substances formed by geological processes. They are usually solid and feature a crystal structure as well as specific physical properties and chemical composition. • Physical properties of minerals include crystal structure, hardness (Mohs scale), lustre (how it reflects light) and colour, as well as more complicated properties such as streak, fracture, cleavage and density. • Mohs scale of hardness measures the ability of minerals to scratch each other. Talc is very soft and is listed as 1, diamond is very hard and is measured as 10. • A mineral is sometimes made up of just one chemical element but more often it is a compound (mixture) of two or more. • For example, diamond is made up of just carbon, while fluorite is made up of a compound of calcium and fluorine. • There are over 4000 different types of minerals. • Only around 30 of these are commonly found in the Earth's crust. • Examples of minerals include calcite, gypsum, feldspar, pyrite, gold, quartz and diamond. • The precious gems ruby and sapphire are varieties of the mineral corundum. • Rocks and stones are naturally occurring solids made up of minerals. http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/sciencefacts/earth/rocksandminerals.html •
“Better a diamond with a flaw, than a pebble without.” - Confucius A crystal's colour is dictated by the way light interacts with the chemicals in it, and by how these are bonded in an orderly structure, or lattice. http://www.bbc.co.uk/earth/story/20150623-ten-crystals-with-magic-powers Video documentary note Despite our association between a gemstones name and its colour, -such as sapphire blue, emerald green and ruby red - colour however, cannot be relied upon when identifying a gemstone / mineral. All gemstones vary in colour greatly. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l65FKaeus_E fact: Minerals are crystal in structure and include gemstones Fact: DNA is a crystal structure and a crystallographer aided in the original discovery of DNA. - there are many examples of gemstones meaning similar things to different cultures, even when there has been absolutely no interaction between these cultures, and no opportunity for crossover. Jade was considered to be a kidney healing stone by the ancient Chinese, and also Aztec and Mayan civilisations, turquoise has been worn to give strength and health all over the world, and jaspers have almost always conferred both strength and calm.
http://www.crystalage.com/crystal_information/crystal_history/ Quote: “Looking at these stones under a microscope rendered them “wholly other” he explains, and he began to think, “I want to look at this forever.” https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/gems-minerals-inclusions-insidephotography-art-science-180953662/ -salt, sugar and ice are crystals, too, just like the gems, metals, fluorescent paints and liquid crystals. In fact, most minerals naturally occur in a crystalline form [source: Smithsonian]. https://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/earth/geology/how-are-crystalsmade.htm -When we say someone's thoughts suddenly "crystallize" around a solution, we're all crystal clear on what that means: that a jumble of swirling possibilities resolved itself into something still and orderly. Consciously or not, we understand that the essential quality of a crystal is order -- specifically, a regular, periodic arrangement of atoms [source: UCSB]. https://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/earth/geology/how-are-crystalsmade.htm “Crystals can grow in a countertop pie tin, a high-tech lab or a fissure deep in the Earth. The recipe is deceptively simple: Take a cloud of gas, a pool of solution or a glop of melted rock, overstuff it with the right mineral or compound, then bake in a pressure cooker at somewhere between room temperature and the heat of molten lava. But executing that recipe can require the artistry of a chef and the meticulous control of a master baker -- or, in the case of natural crystals, dumb luck and an awful lot of time [sources: Hunting; Shea; Smithsonian].” https://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/earth/geology/how-are-crystalsmade.htm “Not that you always want to lose the impurities: After all, it's intruders like chromium, iron and titanium -- along with aspects of atomic arrangement -- that give gems their characteristic colours [sources: Encyclopaedia Britannica; Kay; Smithsonian].” https://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/earth/geology/how-are-crystalsmade.htm definition -In physics, the term "crystal" describes a solid substance with internal symmetry and a related, regular surface pattern. This configuration, called the crystal structure, recurs so regularly that you can use it to predict the organization of atoms throughout the crystal [sources: Encyclopaedia Britannica; Isaacs et al.]. https://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/earth/geology/how-are-crystalsmade1.htm -The silica-rich mineral family, or silicates, includes tourmaline, valued both as a gemstone and for its piezoelectric properties, and beryl, a family of gems comprising aquamarine (pale blue-green), emerald (deep green), heliodor (golden
yellow) and morganite (pink). The biggest crystal ever found was a beryl from Malakialina, Madagascar. It measured 59 feet (18 meters) long and 11 feet (3.5 meters) across, and weighed in at a hefty 400 tons (380,000 kilograms) [sources: Banfield; Encyclopaedia Britannica; Encyclopaedia Britannica]. https://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/earth/geology/how-are-crystalsmade4.htm - According to some scientists, Earth's moon-sized inner core could be one giant iron crystal [source: Broad]. https://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/earth/geology/how-are-crystalsmade4.htm - For scientists, “a gemstone is a message in a bottle. Except the message is the bottle, a glittering clue to the extreme physical, chemical and tectonic forces at work deep underground.” https://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/precious-semi-mineral-gems-crystalsstone-emerald-patricia-gemological-institute-natural-history-a8118241.html - Of the more than 2,000 identified natural minerals, fewer than 100 are used as gemstones and only 16 have achieved importance. These are beryl, chrysoberyl, corundum, diamond, feldspar, garnet, jade, lazurite, olivine, opal, quartz, spinel, topaz, tourmaline, turquoise, and zircon. Some of these minerals provide more than one type of gem; beryl, for example, provides emeralds and aquamarines, while corundum provides rubies and sapphires. In virtually all cases, the minerals have to be cut and polished for use in jewellery. https://www.britannica.com/science/gemstone - Iridescence, opalescence, asterism (the exhibition of a star-shaped figure in reflected light), chatoyance (the exhibition of a changeable lustre and a narrow, undulating band of white light), pattern, and lustre are other features that may make a gemstone beautiful. https://www.britannica.com/science/gemstone - In recent times various kinds of synthetic gems, including rubies, sapphires, and emeralds, have been produced. Two methods of fabrication are currently employed, one involving crystal growth from solution and the other crystal growth from melts https://www.britannica.com/science/gemstone -Many regions of South America, mainly in Brazil, are famous for their gems. The ancient bedrocks of the Brazilian Highlands, especially in the states of Minas Gerais and Goiás, are rich in precious and semiprecious stones, including diamonds. However, Brazil contributes only a small percentage to world diamond production. -Other precious or semiprecious stones abound in the same region, notably topazes, tourmalines, beryl’s, aquamarines, chrysoberyls, garnets, opals, and sapphires, as well as quartz of sufficiently high grade for use in the electronics industry. Colombia is famous for its emeralds, found primarily in the Muzo mines of the Cordillera Oriental. https://www.britannica.com/place/South-America/Precious-metals-andgemstones#ref470713
- Brilliance refers to light that is reflected back to the eye, while 'fire' refers to the tendency of a gemstone to split light into its spectral colours (gemologically is referred to as 'dispersion'). Among the well-known gemstones, those with the greatest brilliance and fire include diamond, zircon, sphene, sphalerite, demantoid garnet, spessartite garnet, sapphire and tanzanite. - As a general rule, gemstones with lighter colours will exhibit more brilliance and fire (dispersion) than those with darker colours. - Some gems display flashes of light when held and turned it in the light, which is the result of the dispersion of white light into the separate spectral colours. Dispersion occurs when white light is separated into colour according to wavelength. - Diamond is famed for this quality, but a number of other gemstones are notable for their fire, including demantoid garnet, sphene and zircon. https://www.gemselect.com/help/faq/brilliance-fire.php - Brilliance refers to the light reflected from the interior of a gem. Thus only a transparent gemstone can be said to have brilliance. - Luster, on the other hand, refers to the light reflected from a gem's surface. - Fire refers to the tendency of a gemstone to split light into its spectral colours. The gemological term for this is dispersion. Dispersion occurs when different wavelengths of light are refracted by the internal facets of a gemstone. https://www.gemselect.com/other-info/brilliance-luster-fire.php -The German mathematician, astronomer and astrologer Johannes Kepler (15711630) marvelled when a snowflake landed on his coat showing its perfect sixcornered symmetry. In 1611 Kepler wrote ”Six-cornered Snowflake” (Latin title ”Strena Seu de Nive Sexangula”) the first mathematical description of crystals http://www.xtal.iqfr.csic.es/Cristalografia/parte_01_1-en.html -Gems were divided into two categories in ancient India – the major gems and the minor gems, resulting to the category of divine gems. Divine gems are known to be tied to astrological signs, such as pearl (Moon), blue sapphire (Saturn), red coral (Mars), and diamond (Venus), to name a few. There are now three separate categories of Gems: Precious Gemstones, Semiprecious Gemstones, and Organic Gemstones. https://www.evermarker.com/blogs/evermarkernews/25-facts-about-gemstones -Precious gemstones: Diamonds, emeralds, rubies and sapphires are all examples of Precious Gemstones - Semiprecious Gemstones: Turquoise - Turquoise coined its name from the Greek word “Turkois”, meaning “Turkish”, because it was first brought from Turkey. Moonstone, a Semiprecious Gemstone, is considered to be of good fortune and success in India - Organic Gemstones Organic gems are gems that were created by living organisms and have been mineralized. Natural pearls, cultured pearls, and conch pearls are some of the most popular and commonly known organic gems. https://www.evermarker.com/blogs/evermarkernews/25-facts-about-gemstones
- “Knowing the lineage of a crystal is somewhat akin to knowing where the meat you’re eating came from, or certifying that your engagement ring isn’t a blood diamond,” explained Colleen McCann, an LA-based energy healer (and a “spiritual contributor” to Time Magazine). - Crystals exist on every continent of the planet — including Antarctica — often in concentrated areas. Mount Ida, Arkansas, commonly referred to as the “Quartz Capital of the World,” produces some of the highest-quality clear quartz worldwide, while Brazil and Madagascar are also well-known sources. Obsidian, on the other hand, can be found in regions that have experienced volcanic eruptions, countries as varied as Argentina, Greece, Iceland, Japan and New Zealand. - Speaking scientifically, a crystal is a three-dimensional, geometric formation of molecules, the well-ordered symmetry of which form a lattice; they range from snowflakes, to salt to chunks of pyrite. - Not every seller is as careful as McCann claims to be, especially when it comes to mass quantities purchased from wholesale importers where the focus might be on cost versus supply chain traceability. Much like diamonds and other precious gemstones, crystal mining occurs throughout the world, and is mired in its own share of conflicts. Underage labour, low wages, unsafe health and safety conditions for workers, as well as environmental and sustainability issues (mines by nature are unsustainable, and crystals are non-renewable resources), are all major concerns, And yet there’s currently no governing body requiring accountability nor regulation of the industry, an ironic blemish on an industry supposedly rooted in feel-good vibes https://www.businessoffashion.com/articles/intelligence/the-murky-business-of-feelgood-crystals - “In a crystal we have the clear evidence of the existence of a formative lifeprinciple, and though we cannot understand the life of a crystal, it is non the less a living being.” - Nikola Tesla -Crystals are millions of years old, forged during the earliest parts of earth’s formation. They are the most orderly structure that exists in nature, meaning they have the lowest amount of entropy (a measurement for disorder). Crystals are structured in such a way that they respond to the inputs of all different energies around them, leading them to oscillate and emit specific vibratory frequencies. Because the crystal lattice is so balanced and orderly, the energy it emits is consistent, and when dissonant energy is inputted, it is balanced and transformed into a harmonic energy. - Crystals are essential to the functioning of our modern technologies, because of the way their balanced, ordered structure emits consistent frequencies and allows them to store a tremendous amount of information. As I mentioned earlier, Silicon is used in every single computer and cell phone processor, and liquid crystals comprise the display screens of these devices. Quartz (a type of silicate mineral) is used in watches and clocks to help them tell time, because it helps stabilize and regulate the flow of energy. Earlier this year, The Mind Unleashed reported how a clear piece of Quartz crystal can be used to store data for up to 300 million years! Galena and Pyrite can be used to make radio receivers that do not rely on batteries. Ruby crystals were an important part of the first ever laser developed by Bell Laboratories in the 1960’s, and it is still used today for its abilities to focus and concentrate energy.
- energy, frequency and vibration (which, according to Nikola Tesla, are the key to understanding the universe!) Remember, crystals have been shown to oscillate at their own frequencies, and even respond to the input of vibrations. The cells in the human body also vibrate at certain frequencies, …so when we come into contact with a crystal, its vibration interacts with the vibration of the cells in our body. - Royals have worn crystals throughout history in their jewelry, crowns, thrones and swords. - Crystals have also been used burials, in divination, and in healing rituals for thousands of years. https://themindunleashed.com/2014/10/science-catching-up-ancients-crystal.html - History: (from above link as well) •
The Ancient Egyptians: Used crystals for protection and health, and buried the dead with a piece of quartz on their forehead to help guide them to the afterlife. Dancers wore rubies in their bellybuttons to enhance their sexuality, and a necklace over the heart was intended to bring love into ones life. Forehead crowns were also worn to stimulate the third eye. They even used ground lapis lazuli and malachite as eye makeup. Perhaps the most interesting is the account of pharaohs who carried a copper cylinder and zinc cylinder each filled with quartz, to balance the Ka and Ba energies of the body (equivalent of Ying & Yang today).
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Ancient Greeks: Rubbed themselves with crushed hematite before going into battle thinking that it would make them invincible. The name for Amethyst is derived from the words for “not drunken” in Greek, because Amethyst was worn as an amulet to protect against drunkenness and hangovers. Even the word “crystal” is derived from the Greek word for ice, because quartz crystal looked like water that was frozen and would never melt.
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Romans: The use of crystals as amulets and talismans was very common amongst the Romans. They were used in medical treatment and to attract desirable things, enhance health and provide protection in battle.
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India: The Hindu Vedas, the sacred 5000 year old religious texts, discuss the use of different crystals to treat certain medical ailments, as well as the specific properties of different crystals. For example, they say that emerald will bring good luck. Aryuvedic medicine has also recognized the healing powers of crystals for hundreds of years.
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Mayans, Aztecs and Incans: All three of these societies understood the power of using crystals for balance and healing on physical, emotions and spiritual levels. Crystals were used to diagnose and treat disease, well as to see the future through divination. According to some accounts, the Incans considered certain stones (such as emeralds) to be so powerful, they chose to die before giving the conquerors the location of their emerald mines.
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Indigenous Tribes: American Indians and indigenous tribes of Australia have used, and continue to use, crystals to diagnose and heal illness. Many of the stones used in their traditional jewellery are thought to contain healing powers, including Agate, Turquoise, Onyx and more.
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Ancient Chinese: the 5,000 year old practice of Chinese Medicine often incorporates crystals for their healing powers, including the use of crystal needles in modern day Chinese acupuncture and Pranic Healing. Chinese emperors were even buried in Jade Armor as a symbol of wealth and power.
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Ancient Japanese: The ancient Japanese were skilled at the art of scrying, using transparent crystal balls to produce visions. Quartz crystal spheres were thought to represent the hearts of dragons, which symbolized power and wisdom.
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Tibetan Buddhists have considered quartz crystal spheres to be objects of great holy, spiritual power, believing their properties could even assist with enlightenment. In Buddhism, the Medicine Buddha is called “Healing Master of Lapis Lazuli Radiance,” and its rituals include meditating on lapis lazuli.
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Neolithic Man: The use of talismans and amulets dates back to the times of prehistoric man, with the oldest crystal amulet, made from Baltic Amber, dating back over 30,000 years. Prehistoric humans also constructed stone tribal burial chambers, or ‘Megaliths‘ that were designed according to the texture, weight, colour and vibration of the stone to maximize its resonance. - The Ancient Egyptians are believed to have used lapis lazuli, turquoise, quartz, and topaz to anoint the tombs of the dead and to wear as jewellery and protective amulets. - Ancient Greek soldiers used hematite as protection before battle and amethyst to fend off hangovers, some lore claims - In other practices like Ayurveda, gems like sapphires and rubies are allegedly linked to righteousness and vitality. https://psmag.com/news/why-are-young-people-so-into-healing-crystals - The internal arrangement of atoms determines all the minerals' chemical and physical properties, including colour. Light interacts with different atoms to create different colours. Many minerals are colourless in their pure state; however, impurities of the atomic structure cause colour. Quartz, for example, is normally colourless, but occurs in a range of colours from pink to brown to the deep purple of amethyst, depending on the number and type of impurities in its structure. In its colourless state, quartz resembles ice. In fact, the root for crystal comes from the Greek word krystallos-ice-because the ancient Greeks believed clear quartz was ice frozen so hard it could not melt. - A mineral is a naturally occurring, inorganic (non-living) solid having a specific chemical composition. - Each crystal starts small and grows as more atoms are added. Many grow from water rich in dissolved minerals, but they also grow from melted rock and even vapor. - Under the influence of different temperatures and pressures, atoms combine in an amazing array of crystal shapes. It is this variety and perfection of form and symmetry that has long drawn scientists to the study of minerals.
- Symmetry is a regular, repeated pattern of component parts. Symmetry is everywhere in nature-the paired wings of a butterfly, the whorls and petals in a sunflower, the pattern of a snowflake, the legs of a spider-and minerals are no exception. - In crystals, these repeated patterns occur within the basic atomic structure and reflect the pattern of faces of the crystal. http://www.smithsonianeducation.org/educators/lesson_plans/minerals/minerals_cry stals.html Individual stones & crystal facts and interesting info There are now three separate categories of Gems: Precious Gemstones, Semiprecious Gemstones, and Organic Gemstones. https://www.evermarker.com/blogs/evermarkernews/25-facts-about-gemstones -Precious gemstones: Diamonds, emeralds, rubies and sapphires are all examples of Precious Gemstones - Semiprecious Gemstones: Turquoise - Turquoise coined its name from the Greek word “Turkois”, meaning “Turkish”, because it was first brought from Turkey. Moonstone, a Semiprecious Gemstone, is considered to be of good fortune and success in India - Organic Gemstones Organic gems are gems that were created by living organisms and have been mineralized. Natural pearls, cultured pearls, and conch pearls are some of the most popular and commonly known organic gems. https://www.evermarker.com/blogs/evermarkernews/25-facts-about-gemstones Aquamarine Aquamarine has been said to stop toothaches while Rose Quartz is used to assist in weight loss, to clear acne and protect against wrinkles. https://www.evermarker.com/blogs/evermarkernews/25-facts-about-gemstones - Aquamarine's name comes from the words "aqua" and "mare," meaning water and sea, from its intense blue-green colour. Because of its resemblance to the ocean, sailors used to wear talismans made of aquamarine depicting the god Neptune, who ruled the seas. With the help of their god, they believed the aquamarine would offer them protection from the elements. http://www.burkemuseum.org/blog/march-month-aquamarine - An alternate birthstone for March is bloodstone, a dark green opaque (cryptocrystalline) quartz flecked with red spots. http://www.burkemuseum.org/blog/march-month-aquamarine
Lapis Lazuli In Ancient Egypt, Lapis Lazuli was used as an eyeshadow after crushing it to its powdered form. Also used by artists such as Da Vinci and for paintings in the Sistine Chapel, Lapis Lazuli was ground up and mixed with oils in the 14th century and was only allowed to be in the possession of royalty. https://www.evermarker.com/blogs/evermarkernews/25-facts-about-gemstones Diamonds Red diamonds - most rare diamond and second rarest to Jadeite. - Despite its enormous size, the Lesedi is not the biggest diamond ever found. That distinction goes to the 3,106-carat Cullinan diamond found in South Africa in 1905. That gem was cut into nine pieces and the biggest, a 530-carat "Great Star of Africa" is now part of Queen Elizabeth II's scepter https://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/earth/geology/this-ones-more-twomonths-salary-worlds-largest-diamond-auction.htm - Researchers lately have been astonished to discover that some of the world’s largest and most valuable diamonds, which can sell for hundreds of millions of dollars, originated 250 miles or more below the surface – twice the depths previously estimated for Earth’s diamond nurseries. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/precious-semi-mineral-gems-crystalsstone-emerald-patricia-gemological-institute-natural-history-a8118241.html -both graphite (used in pencils) and diamond are formed of carbon, but they have very different structures and properties: graphite is opaque and soft, while diamond is transparent and the hardest mineral on Earth. http://www.burkemuseum.org/blog/april-month-diamond From youtube vid: Both diamonds and graphite are made from the same substance, the same element - carbon. Both the hardest and softest material substances. The difference between them is how the atoms which make up each bond together. Graphite forms in low pressure near the earth’s surface, whereas diamond’s form 100’s of miles towards the centre of the earth through high pressure environments. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l65FKaeus_E Hope Diamond: -the world’s largest deep-blue diamond, -The diamond was discovered in India, sold to King Louis XIV of France in 1668, and stolen during the French Revolution. It reappeared 50 years later in the collection of Dutch banker Henry Philip Hope – hence its name – was sold by Hope’s bankrupted heir and then passed from hand to sometimes unfortunate hand, picking up an aura en route of being “cursed”. -After jeweller Harry Winston donated the diamond to the Smithsonian Institution in 1958, blithely sending the massive jewel from New York to Washington through the mail, the diamond’s fame exploded.
When then-First Lady Jackie Kennedy arranged a one-month loan of the diamond to the Louvre in Paris, Washington’s National Gallery of Art got Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa in return. -Researchers have since plied the 45-carat diamond with every non-invasive tool in their arsenal, seeking to understand the precise distribution of boron atoms that lend the Hope its steely blue tint and why the diamond will glow, or phosphoresce, a spectral shade of blood orange when exposed to ultraviolet light. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/precious-semi-mineral-gems-crystalsstone-emerald-patricia-gemological-institute-natural-history-a8118241.html - Diamonds that fell to Earth inside a meteorite may contain the remnants of our solar system's first planets, protoworlds that were lost billions of years ago to extreme bombardments and collisions. - Now, an analysis published today in Nature Communications suggests that diamonds trapped in a rare meteorite called a ureilite show evidence of these early worlds. - Nabiei began by examining a piece of ureilite that fell in Sudan's Nubian Desert in 2008. This meteorite holds tiny diamonds, which have long been touted by researchers as the perfect casings to preserve minerals, because they're capable of withstanding extreme pressure. Last month, for example, a diamond from deep within Earth yielded a never-before-seen type of mineral. - “[The find] proves the theories about the formation of our solar system,” says Nabiei. https://news.nationalgeographic.com/2018/04/lost-protoplanet-diamond-meteoritessolar-system-science-spd/ - Some diamonds turn out to be surprisingly youthful: a billion years old rather than the average diamond’s two billion to three billion years of age. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/precious-semi-mineral-gems-crystalsstone-emerald-patricia-gemological-institute-natural-history-a8118241.html - Diamonds, the hardest-known natural substance, represent exquisite beauty to many but to some they also represent an exploitive industry that has fuelled African bloodshed https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/photos/gems/ - The biggest known diamond in the universe is a star named Lucy. This white dwarf has a carbon interior that crystallized as it cooled, which formed a giant diamond in the sky. Scientists couldn’t resist naming it after the Beatles song Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/3492919.stm - The ancient Greeks and Romans thought that diamonds were made of tears from the Gods and splinters from twinkling stars. The largest loose diamond in the world is the Paragon Diamond, weighing in at 137.82 carats. Sold for $83 million, the Pink Star Diamond is the most expensive gemstone to ever be sold. https://www.evermarker.com/blogs/evermarkernews/25-facts-about-gemstones-
-the diamond, for instance, was thought to give its wearer strength in battle and to protect him against ghosts and magic. https://www.britannica.com/science/gemstone - Diamonds are not indestructible, but they are the hardest substances known, given the top score of 10 on the Mohs scale of hardness – that is, resistance to scratching. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/precious-semi-mineral-gems-crystalsstone-emerald-patricia-gemological-institute-natural-history-a8118241.html - Amber is the softest gemstone; diamond is the hardest. https://www.daysjewelers.com/blog/10-gemstone-fun-facts/ - the Earth’s mantle, which is thought to hold about 90 per cent of the planet’s carbon supply, is practically glittering with diamonds at various stages of formation. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/precious-semi-mineral-gems-crystalsstone-emerald-patricia-gemological-institute-natural-history-a8118241.html - The Sanskrit word for diamond, vajra, is also the word for the Hindu goddess Indra's thunderbolt and diamonds are often associated with thunder. http://www.crystalage.com/crystal_information/crystal_history/ Ruby - Industrial diamonds are far from the only fugazi stones on the market. Synthetic rubies have been around since French scientist Marc Gaudin, who helped develop dry-plate photography, figured out how to grow them in 1873. They remained fairly easy to detect until around 1950, when scientists hit on heat treatment as a way to remove the microscopically curved growth patterns that reveal the stone as grown, not sown [sources: Encyclopaedia Britannica; Kay]. High-end wristwatches sometimes cover their faces with scratch-resistant, but brittle, synthetic sapphire [source: BlueDial]. https://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/earth/geology/how-are-crystalsmade3.htm - Rubies, valued as precious gems, are the mineral corundum in its red form. Perhaps the country best known for its rubies was Myanmar (Burma), but the country's production has greatly decreased. Today rubies are also created synthetically in the lab. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/photos/gems/ - Researchers have been fascinated by the fluorescence and phosphorescence of rubies since at least the 18th century. https://www.sciencehistory.org/distillations/magazine/making-gemstones -Rubies do glow when illuminated by visible or ultraviolet light, turning from a pale red or pink colour to a deep red. This glow, called fluorescence, sometimes continues after the gem is no longer illuminated, a related phenomenon called phosphorescence - The very first laser, however, had a synthetic ruby crystal at its heart.
-Electrons in trace elements cause not only the colour but also the fluorescence of gemstones. Electrons absorb and release energy as light. https://www.sciencehistory.org/distillations/magazine/making-gemstones -researchers have linked ruby creation to collisions between continental landmasses, and propose that the red jewels be called “plate tectonic gemstones”. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/precious-semi-mineral-gems-crystalsstone-emerald-patricia-gemological-institute-natural-history-a8118241.html - The ruby is one of the most highly valued of all gems. Ancient Hindus referred to it as "the king of gems," and royalty used ruby to ward off evil because it was believed to have magical powers. One such magical power was that the ruby would get darker in the presence of evil and lighter when the evil was gone—but only if possessed by its rightful owner. http://www.burkemuseum.org/blog/july-month-ruby Ruby originates from metamorphic rock, and is a variety of the mineral corundum, second only to the diamond in hardness. Rubies exist in a wide variety of colours, including blue, which is more commonly known as sapphire. Chromium is what causes the red colour of rubies, however. Rubies can range in colour from pale pinks to the deepest possible red, known as "pigeon blood." When rutile crystal inclusions are oriented in a specific pattern, a six-pointed star (called an asterism) becomes visible—these prized gems are called "Star Ruby." http://www.burkemuseum.org/blog/july-month-ruby Emerald - When the mineral beryl takes on a green form, we know it as an emerald. Highly valued by Mesoamerican cultures, some of the finest emeralds come from Colombia. Beryl is a beryllium-aluminium silicate, and its colour comes from small amounts of chromium. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/photos/gems/ -1920, …the Patricia Emerald: a dazzling 12-sided crystal roughly the size of a soup can, with a weight of 632 carats – more than a quarter of a pound – and a verdant colour so pure and vivid you’d swear the stone was photosynthesising. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/precious-semi-mineral-gems-crystalsstone-emerald-patricia-gemological-institute-natural-history-a8118241.html -Emerald is the softest of the precious stones, with a Mohs score between 7 and 8, and at its finest it’s a piece of fossilised swamp. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/precious-semi-mineral-gems-crystalsstone-emerald-patricia-gemological-institute-natural-history-a8118241.html Tourmaline - An Egyptian legend explains that tourmalines come in so many different colours because they passed through a rainbow on the journey from the Earth's centre, but scientists know that a tourmaline's chemical composition determines its colour. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/photos/gems/
- Tourmaline can also be many tones of pink, green, blue, or even black. http://www.burkemuseum.org/blog/october-month-opal turquoise - Since about 6,000 B.C. when it was first mined by the Egyptians, turquoise has been one of the most valuable opaque minerals in the jewelry business. Native Americans and Persians also valued it for its decorative and ornamental beauty. The Navajo believe that turquoise is a part of the sky that fell to Earth. http://www.burkemuseum.org/blog/december-month-turquoise gold - There is enough gold on the seafloor to give every person alive nine pounds, scientists estimate. That would be worth about $150 trillion, or $21,000 a person. https://news.nationalgeographic.com/2016/07/deep-sea-mining-fivefacts/?_ga=2.128991244.1469055983.1524744253-1438265740.1524055074 Labradorite Labradorite gemstone towers are Etsy bestsellers https://psmag.com/news/why-are-young-people-so-into-healing-crystals Amber Amber is the softest gemstone; diamond is the hardest. https://www.daysjewelers.com/blog/10-gemstone-fun-facts/ Peridot Peridot was Cleopatra's favourite gemstone. https://www.daysjewelers.com/blog/10-gemstone-fun-facts/ - The Arabic word "faridat," meaning gem, is where the name for the gem peridot comes from. Peridot's stunning beauty and bright colour caused the ancient Egyptians to call it "the gem of the sun." It was believed that peridot glowed with its own inner light even after sunset, and that miners used to locate the stones at night to retrieve them during the day. http://www.burkemuseum.org/blog/august-month-peridot Sapphire One of the largest sapphires is known as the Star of Asia, which is currently housed at the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History. https://www.daysjewelers.com/blog/10-gemstone-fun-facts/ -Sapphires were believed to have special protective powers, such as preventing envy and protecting the wearer from poisoning. Some ancient cultures even thought that if a sapphire container held a venomous snake, it would die. In addition, people believed that sapphire had medical healing properties, such as the ability to cure colic, rheumatism, blindness, and mental illnesses. http://www.burkemuseum.org/blog/september-month-sapphire
- video notes: Sapphires are considered more rare than diamonds and are formed in the earths crust (not deep within the earths core). Most commonly found in Shri Lanka - which sits above where two tectonic plates meet/merge. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l65FKaeus_E Calcite Iceland spar is a special form of calcite The Icelandic sagas of the 10th century record the details of Viking voyages. They describe a mysterious "sunstone", which Scandinavian seafarers used to locate the Sun in the sky and navigate on cloudy days. The identity of the stone stumped scholars for centuries, but in 2011 a convincing candidate was put forward: Iceland spar Researchers studied a piece of Iceland spar discovered aboard an Elizabethan ship that sunk in 1592. They found that moving the stone in and out of a person's field of vision causes them to see a distinctive double dot pattern that lines up with the direction of the hidden Sun. http://www.bbc.co.uk/earth/story/20150623-ten-crystals-with-magic-powers Opal -Opal was also ingested in a ground-up powder to protect against nightmares. - The structure of opal consists of chains of silicon and oxygen formed within tiny spheres. These spheres are usually inconsistent in size and concentration. In precious opals (the variety used most often in jewellery), however, there are many organized pockets of spheres. The spheres diffract light at various wavelengths, creating beautiful, prismatic colours. http://www.burkemuseum.org/blog/october-month-opal Opal - is not technically a crystal due to its internal structure. Instead of crystals and shards of geometric mineral shapes & atom bonds - opal is made of minute mineral spheres which gives their characteristic opalescence - known as “flashes” of colour (opposed to “fire”). It is not a crystal - more a fossil, silica minerals from millions of years ago trapped and encased within water. Opal is a hydrated amorphous form of silica (SiO2·nH2O), Because of its amorphous character, it is classed as a mineraloid, unlike crystalline forms of silica, which are classed as minerals. http://www.geologyin.com/2016/06/types-of-opal-with-photos.html Amethyst - According to Greek myth, Dionysius, god of intoxication, was angered by an insult from a mere mortal and swore revenge on the next mortal that crossed his path, creating fierce tigers to carry out his wish. Along came the unsuspecting Amethyst, a beautiful maiden on her way to pay tribute to the goddess Diana. Diana turned Amethyst into a statue of pure crystalline quartz to protect her from the tigers. Dionysus wept tears of wine in remorse at the sight of the beautiful statue. The god's tears stained the quartz purple, creating the gem we know today. http://www.burkemuseum.org/blog/february-month-amethyst
- Amethyst is a member of the quartz family, occurring as crystals within rocks. Quartz often grow within cavities of cooling lava, forming geodes. Although the gem colour must always be purple to be amethyst, it has a wide range of purple shades. hematite -Hematite comes from the word for blood, because of the red colouration produced when it oxidises. Hematite is an iron ore and the ancient Greeks associated iron with Aries, the god of war. Greek soldiers would rub hematite over their bodies before battle, purportedly to make themselves invulnerable. Greek sailors also wore a variety of amulets to keep them safe at sea. http://www.crystalage.com/crystal_information/crystal_history/ Garnet Garnet was named after the seeds of a pomegranate. https://www.daysjewelers.com/blog/10-gemstone-fun-facts/ - There are many different myths about the origins of garnet. One such myth suggests that the garnet originated with Persephone, the Greek goddess of sunshine. Persephone was captured by Hades, the god of the underworld. Before Hades released Persephone, he wanted to guarantee her return, so he gave her some pomegranate seeds. The word garnet comes from the Latin "granatus," which means seed. The next time you eat a pomegranate, you will notice the seeds' resemblance to garnet. http://www.burkemuseum.org/blog/january-month-garnet Citrine - Citrine, like all forms of quartz, was believed to have magical powers and was worn as protection against evil and snake venom poisoning. http://www.burkemuseum.org/blog/november-month-citrine Moonstone - Moonstone's name comes from the fact that its shiny iridescent and refractive properties resemble the glowing moon. Moonstone (also called sunstone) can be blue-white or peach in colour. Ancient peoples believed that the stone had mystical properties and could help with spiritual awareness. Some even believed that wearing this stone could cause invisibility for the wearer. - structures form from layers caused by chemicals responding to hot and cold temperatures differently. When light enters the stone, it is bounced back and forth between these layers before it exits as the glowing moon-like effect we see. http://www.burkemuseum.org/blog/june-month-moonstone Quartz -Ancient Greeks thought quartz was ice that had frozen so hard it wouldn't melt, so they called it krystallos ("ice"), thereby giving us the word crystal. https://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/earth/geology/how-are-crystalsmade4.htm
If you squeeze a crystal of quartz, it generates a tiny electric current. The pressure on the crystal's surface forces ions within it to move out of position, upsetting the overall charge balance and turning the crystal into a tiny battery, with oppositelycharged faces. The phenomenon is known as the piezoelectric effect, and it also works in reverse. Pass an electric current through a quartz crystal, and it will squeeze itself. http://www.bbc.co.uk/earth/story/20150623-ten-crystals-with-magic-powers Quartz was also central to our developing understanding of crystals. In 1669, Danish scientist Nicolas Steno noticed that quartz crystals, irrespective of where on Earth they were found, always showed the same angles between similar crystal faces. By the turn of the 19th century, French crystallographer René Just Haüy had extended this idea. He realised that the same rules underlie the shapes and angles of all crystals. We now understand that the shapes of crystals are an expression, on a grand scale, of the orderly lattices in which their constituent atoms are arranged. http://www.bbc.co.uk/earth/story/20150623-ten-crystals-with-magic-powers The most common mineral found on the earth surface is called as Quartz. https://www.myinterestingfacts.com/mineral-facts/ Jade In china, Jade is more valuable than diamonds with some pieces selling for over $20 million USD. Jade is an intrinsic part of Chinas ancient history playing a memorable and key role in the cultures traditional spirituality. Thought to connect people with their gods, jade was in fact forbidden to anyone bar royalty during XXXX and highly revered due to the punishment of beheading for having any links with the mineral. The emperors Seals, known as ‘Shi’ - Stamps used in every important decision made by the emperor during his reign - were made of Jade and it was thought that whoever owns and places the ‘Shi’ in their hands, own the country and holds all power. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l65FKaeus_E - Jade is made of either of 2 minerals - Jadeite or Nephrite Jade. Nephrite Jade being the more valuable of the two. Jade has been used as the base for carving since the prehistoric times. early Chinese dynasties used jade (or nephrite jade) - Jadeite is often more expensive than nephrite. It is used in more expensive pieces of fine jewellery, such as earrings, necklaces, and bracelets. - In general, nephrite is more often used in jewellery than jadeite. Nephrite is also referred to as New Zealand greenstone, New Zealand jade, spinach jade, and kidney stone, among others. Nephrite is also used as ancient burial pieces. https://www.ebay.co.uk/gds/Whats-the-Difference-Between-Jadeite-and-NephriteJade-/10000000178258849/g.html Jade - jewellery piece comprising of 0.5mm beads made of jade sold in china during 1997 Hong Kong for 9.3 million USD
Fluorite A crystal's colour is dictated by the way light interacts with the chemicals in it, and by how these are bonded in an orderly structure, or lattice. Any impurities that work their way into fluorite's lattice can alter its apparent colour. For example, manganese ions turn it orange. http://www.bbc.co.uk/earth/story/20150623-ten-crystals-with-magic-powers Geodes Geodes are spherical to sub spherical rock structures with an internal cavity lined with mineral materials. They have a durable outer wall that is more resistant to weathering than the surrounding bedrock. This allows the geode to survive intact when the surrounding bedrock weathers away. Geodes range in size from under one centimetre to several meters in length. From the outside most geodes look like common rocks, but when they are opened the sight can be breath-taking. https://geology.com/articles/geodes/