Rock crystal: historical mysteries, properties and applications


The semi-precious stone rock crystal is the frozen ice of truth in the depths of the mountains. This is what the ancient Indians believed. It is endowed with magical and healing powers by peoples all over the world - from China to Mexico.

Those who do not believe too much in the otherworldly wear jewelry with pleasure. Rock crystal combines the elegance of jewelry, the purity of natural water and the aristocracy inherent in natural crystals.

The affordable price of jewelry also adds to its popularity.

Origin story

Rock crystal is a natural stone (quartz) formed in the depths of the earth under the influence of high temperature and pressure.

The crystals have a rhombohedral structure, which can be seen already during their extraction. Rock crystal is a stone that does not have an unsightly top layer because it is formed in cracks in rocks (hydrothermal veins) when water cools suddenly.

In nature, it occurs in the form of conglomerates with a pronounced prismatic apex.

The history of use goes back to the pre-Christian era, and the geography coincides with the deposits:

  • Magnifying glasses made in Ancient China, about 2500 years old. It is unknown how much natural glass lenses improved vision, but people were already using stone for their needs.
  • Crystal skulls, balls, and other occult attributes that were popular among the Mayans. Their exact purpose is unknown, but researchers suggest that these are magical attributes.
  • The practical ancient Greeks used rock crystal dishes to cool water.

In Russia, the fashion for products made from this stone was introduced by Empress Catherine the Great. Fine jewelry framed in precious metals adorned the dresses of not only ladies-in-waiting, but also noble nobles.

Price

The price of rock crystal depends on the quality characteristics, the place of extraction, and the complexity of processing for making jewelry. It is not very expensive, cost in dollars:

  • high-quality sample - from 4 per carat or 20 per gram ;
  • stone 6.5x2.5x2.5 cm - 8;
  • ball 54 mm — 30;
  • bracelet 16.5 cm — 17;
  • beads 45 cm — 25.

The price of jewelry in a frame depends more on its value: gold jewelry is 10 times more expensive than silver jewelry of comparable parameters.

Affordable price and visual similarity to diamonds have made rock crystal a desirable stone for many.

Read also: Scapolite - a stone staff that bestows knowledge

Physical properties

Rock crystal has the chemical formula of glass - silicon dioxide SiO2. However, like diamond and graphite (which are both pure carbon), rock crystal is distinguished from glass by its internal structure.

Glass structure is amorphous. Rock crystal has an ordered crystal lattice.

This gives the stone distinctive physical properties:

  • density – 2.6 g/cm³;
  • hardness – 7;
  • fractured crystal structure;
  • low thermal conductivity;
  • no thermal expansion.

Rhinestone is difficult to scratch by hand. However, if hit, it will easily crack.

Physicochemical characteristics of chlorite


In its structure, chlorite is a layered silicate that is very similar to mica, namely, an aluminosilicate consisting of magnesium, aluminum, iron, nickel and chromium.
Its crystals have a monoclinic system, mica-like perfect cleavage, translucency (transparent in thin plates), a rich, pearlescent luster, low hardness and specific gravity: hardness on the Mohs scale 2-2.5, specific gravity 2.6-3.02 g/ cm3. — Advertising —

Crystalline chlorite is interesting because it easily splits off thin leaves that are flexible, but not elastic. The mineral is colored brown-green and is often found in the form of granular, leafy masses.

Types of stone, color

Depending on the additives included in the composition, the following types are distinguished:

Citrine

Transparent stones with a glassy sheen, from lemon to amber-honey shades. Diamond cut yellow crystal pairs perfectly with gold.

It is believed that owners of jewelry with citrine are distinguished by exceptional honesty and nobility.

Amethyst

Purple rock crystal. According to legend, it was created by Bacchus himself, the god of wine. He endowed amethyst with the power to protect a person from the vice of drunkenness.

The stone helps its owners maintain sobriety and make the right decisions in difficult situations.

Hairy

An amazing, transparent amber stone with parallel veins inside in the form of needles. It is believed that the stone itself chooses its owner, for whom it becomes a love talisman.

Rauchtopaz

A dark, smoky stone with mysterious depth and power. He is endowed with the ability to communicate with the world of higher powers, including dark ones.

Jewelry with this stone is not worn every day. It helps a person with pure thoughts get rid of negative energy emanating from the world. Normalizes sleep and puts thoughts in order.

Especially recommended for people who practice meditation.

Morion

Black crystal. The stone is dark brown to black in color. It is considered an indispensable attribute of alchemy and occult magic.

Jewelry with morion is recommended for people prone to pessimism and melancholy as a means of cleansing from bad thoughts and negative energy.

A special type of rock crystal, the Herckmeier Diamond, is mined in New York State. The stones here are formed in soft rock, which allows them to grow not only longitudinally, but also in width.

The result is stones of amazing purity that are difficult to distinguish from real diamonds.

Multicolored crystal


It is generally accepted that rock crystal is extremely colorless. But it is not always the case. There are yellow, and green, and even black. This, however, is not about colors in their pure form, but only about shades.

Rauchtopaz is a smoky quartz with a brown tint, endowed with powerful magical powers and the same healing properties. A variety called citrine has yellow hues. They are especially appreciated by jewelers for their rarity. Violet shades, smoky veins – amethyst. The name speaks for itself: the mineral relieves alcoholism. It can help to bewitch your lover.

The most mysterious of this company is black morion (maybe dark brown). This is a talisman for witches, sorcerers and other “subtle” natures. A stone with a green tint calms its owner, evokes pleasant thoughts and optimism.

If a mineral has inclusions, it is called “hairy”: straight - “Cupid’s arrow”, fibrous - “hair of Venus” (or less poetically - rutile quartz). But both provide their owners with happiness and love.

Usage

Clear quartz is used to make jewelry. With a good cut, stones in rings and earrings sparkle no worse than a diamond.

Since its cost is more economical than premium, interior items, dishes, decorative elements, and figurines are in great demand. In this segment, artificial crystal is more often used.

Beyond competition are amulets, magic balls, ritual objects, religious symbols.

Quartz and industry were not spared. The stone is used in optics, instrument making, and radio engineering.

Industries using chlorite


Previously, large accumulations of ferruginous chlorite (chamosite, thuringite) were used as iron ore. In addition, the transformation products of chlorites were often used as paint. Today, beautiful specimens of this mineral are interesting as collection stones. Among the varieties of chlorite, clinochlore is mainly popular in jewelry.

Meaning and magical properties

All peoples who use rock crystal endow it with positive otherworldly powers. The main direction is divination. An indispensable attribute of full-fledged fortune telling is a transparent crystal ball, skulls, and amulets of power.

It is believed that through the core of a natural crystal, spirits show the future, convey messages to the living, and warn of impending troubles.

Religious objects made of rock crystal are endowed only with the power of white magic. The ball does not allow you to cast a love spell, send misfortune or illness. He is only a conductor of otherworldly revelations, a mediator between two worlds.

The second direction of action of the power of rock crystal is protective:

  • Earrings or beads will protect a waking person from the appearance of unclean thoughts.
  • A bracelet on the left hand attracts love. On the right - it will not allow you to deceive the hostess, it will protect you from lies, hypocrisy and attempts at manipulation by other people.
  • Brooches and rings, especially in combination with other stones, neutralize envy directed at the owner.

Rock crystal is of particular importance for a person’s mental health during sleep. With the help of the stone, you can correctly interpret dreams, and disturbing dreams will be replaced by calm and understandable dreams.

Just put the ring under your pillow and you will forget about nightmares.

Why do you dream of rock crystal?

Crystal not only attracts prophetic dreams, but sometimes itself appears to the sleeping person. In this case, it can warn about various incidents in life.

  • Crystal in a dream is an unfavorable sign. It portends serious troubles, disappointments in people and natural disasters.
  • If a woman saw this gem, then she needs to take a closer look at her lover. It is quite possible that he is not who he says he is.
  • A crystal product received as a gift foreshadows universal recognition and admiration.
  • A broken gem product speaks of a painful separation. It will be impossible to prevent this.

Medicinal properties

Traditional medicine uses rock crystal to treat nervous disorders, anxiety, and loss of energy associated with sleep disorders.

Ideally, if the stone suits you is rock crystal. Today it is difficult to find a city dweller who is not susceptible to depressive syndrome or does not experience periodic insomnia.

Healing properties of the stone:

  • strengthens the nervous system;
  • reduces tearfulness, tendency to explosive manifestations of feelings;
  • relieves headaches;
  • eliminates muscle tension;
  • accelerates recovery from colds;
  • Helps withstand high temperatures.

The practical medicinal use of the stone is well known to massage therapists. Traditional healers use physical therapy with polished stones to relieve back and neck pain.

This massage improves blood circulation, dilates blood vessels, soothes, and reduces blood pressure. It is especially useful for older people to wear rhinestone to relieve tension in the lower back.

Chlorite colors


Despite the fact that the name itself indicates the green color of chlorite, not all of its varieties are colored exactly in shades of green. The color of the mineral is significantly influenced by metal impurities in its composition. Chlorite specimens can be colorless, yellowish, pink, purple, and even almost black.

Who is suitable according to their zodiac sign?

Transparent rock crystal can be worn by all zodiac signs; there are no contraindications. The stone is tolerant and helps anyone.

Special preferences when choosing rock crystal according to zodiac signs:

  • Amethyst prefers water and air signs, especially Pisces and Aquarius . But the lighter the stone, the more calming properties it has. Saturated crystals will help you make the right choice and give you strength.
  • Morion is the choice of Scorpios . Impulsive and stubborn, they are a perfect match for the black gem.
  • Herkimer diamonds are Aries . This is the only sign that ordinary rock crystal has almost no effect on. Those who stubbornly reach the top require a special mineral.
  • Earth signs should avoid yellow stones - they burden an already clumsy psyche. They are ideal for Libra and Gemini .
  • Rauchtopaz is an ideal mineral for Capricorns . It helps to cope with internal contradictions and become more attentive to others.

When choosing jewelry or an amulet, listen to yourself. Yours will be 100% the stone that evokes a response, a warm feeling.

Color palette and varieties

There is a popular misconception among people who love jewelry: crystal is only transparent.

In fact, third-party impurities change the color of rock crystal beyond recognition. Many people don’t even suspect that this or that pebble is also rock crystal!

What species are found in nature:

  • Citrine. A beautiful stone with a citrus name, a honey hue and an unusual cobweb inside, arouses the admiration of many ladies. Due to its effect on the solar plexus chakra, it is actively used in unconventional healing practices.
  • Morion is black rock crystal. It is probably due to its color that it has gained a somewhat bad reputation. The gem is called the witches' stone; it is believed that it serves as a guide to the world of the dead, helping to make contact with spirits.
  • Amethyst. Another type of crystal that combines completely transparent crystals and purple inclusions. An interesting legend is associated with it, according to which the beautiful nymph rejected the love of the god Dionysus. The story ended with the girl turning into a stone, which was named after her.
  • Rauchtopaz. Among the listed stones, this is the most unremarkable, but at the same time the most unusual. Resembling tinted glass, it does not evoke the same excitement as amethyst or citrine. But external unattractiveness does not at all prevent the gem from having the strongest magical potential.
  • Hairy. This mineral is easily confused with citrine. The difference is that it has a less saturated shade, and instead of a random cobweb, a strand of thin golden hair seems to be enclosed inside the mineral. For this reason, it received a very poetic name - the hair of Venus.

All these varieties differ in color and structure, but their physical and chemical properties remain unchanged.

Who is the name suitable for?

Rock crystal jewelry is so diverse that the owner of any name can easily choose a stone “to suit his heart”:

  • Earrings, rings, bracelets, and a necklace with a pure stone cut in white gold will suit Anastasia They will emphasize her femininity and aristocracy.
  • for Dmitry to choose rauchtopaz. He will balance their emotional outbursts.
  • Alexandra can wear a necklace with morion. Her inner strength will only strengthen.
  • for Catherine . This delicate stone will emphasize her grace, sensitivity, and tenderness.
  • Yuri will be able to lead people more effectively if he wears a hairy ring.

Slavic names gravitate towards light shades. Greek - to more saturated. Amber stones give harmony to owners of eastern names.

Types of chlorite


The chlorite group includes about twenty varieties of minerals, and the most famous and widespread of them are the following:

  • Pennines - deposits of this subspecies are located between Italy and Switzerland, in the so-called Pennine Alps. The mineral consists of aluminosilicates and oxides of magnesium and iron. In terms of appearance, those samples of pennine that contain chromium are interesting. They are characterized by pink, carmine-red and red-violet coloring on chips. The first samples of this chromium-containing variety were discovered in the Urals by mineralogist Alexander Kemmerer, after whom it is sometimes called pennine-kemmererite. This stone is very popular among collectors.
  • Clinochlores, also known as seraphinites, are similar in composition to pennines, but it is impossible to confuse these stones, since clinochlore is colored green. Stones are mined in Russia in the Urals. Clinochlore intergrowths are distinguished by a beautiful and unusual internal structure, especially in the case of a chaotic arrangement of crystals. The color palette of the mineral contains all shades of green from light olive to bright grass color, as well as white and pinkish-gray. Clinochlor has a pearlescent luster. Thanks to these properties, interior decorations and jewelry with clinochlores are very popular.
  • Thuringites - outwardly resemble graphites or jades, but differ from them in color. The color palette of the mineral varies from light green to black-green. In addition, there are also specimens of pinkish-yellow, gray, brown color with a pearlescent sheen. Thuringite is popular as an ornamental material.
  • Chamosite is an iron ore of sedimentary origin, previously widely used for industrial purposes.

Jewelry

The semi-precious stone from the frozen ice of truth is used to make all types of jewelry. Rings, earrings, necklaces, beads, sets - all this can be chosen freely, since the price of the products is very affordable.

Approximate prices in dollars depending on the deposit of stones:

  • Earrings and rings with small Herkimer diamonds – $5.
  • Products made from Russian gems – $4-5, depending on size and cut.
  • Magical items made from Brazilian stones will cost around $10-12.
  • Tibetan stones go up to $25.

It should be understood that we give average prices. The cost of products varies depending on the artistic value and additional materials used.

Where is it used?

The mineral is used in science and technology, in decorative and applied arts.

Jewelry

Crystals are used as semi-precious stones in the form of inserts in jewelry - bracelets, earrings, rings, pendants.

Jewelry artists make beads, necklaces, brooches, and buttons. The stone goes well with silver, gold and other precious stones.

Decor

Centuries ago, bowls, goblets, skulls, church utensils, and sculptures were carved from solid crystals. Modern decor uses souvenirs, figurines, decorative Easter eggs, magic balls, pendulums . Craftsmen use small crystals to embroider icons and make picture frames.

Other areas

In radio engineering, the mineral is used to produce ultrasonic vibrations. Aspherical lenses and spectral devices are made from stone. Due to the electrical conductivity of quartz, it is used in electronics to create quartz watches. Transparent granules are necessary for the production of ceramic tiles and porcelain stoneware.

Price

The price per gram of top quality rock crystal (transparent, free of impurities and defects) averages 5–6 dollars. The cost of a translucent mineral with darkening and inclusions is from 1 dollar per 1 g.

The shine of collectible druzes, figurines, cups, luxury and decorative items, and jewelry is mesmerizing even in photographs. Experts evaluate them according to weight, quality of raw materials, and artist’s work:

  1. Hairworm (hair of Venus, arrows of Cupid) is estimated to be 20-25% more expensive due to the inclusions of rutile, schorl and gold). The cost depends on the size of the stone and the cut.
  2. A silver ring or earrings will cost up to $45-$50.
  3. Gold items with stones – from 70 USD
  4. The cost of bracelets and beads ranges from $100 to $150.

Important: in a jewelry store, a stone is provided with an appropriate certificate confirming its origin.

Talismans and amulets

Rock crystal, regardless of its color, exhibits the strongest magical properties. A distinctive feature of stones is considered to have a positive effect on a person or home.

To one degree or another, talismans and amulets protect against envy, anger, love spells, and damage.

Rock crystal amulets help a person cope with his weaknesses - excessive emotionality, impulsiveness, a tendency to dependency (including from destructive relationships).

Talismans attract good luck, positive energy, and the favor of others into the house (or the owner). A wearable talisman can help you move up the career ladder, attract love, and gain popularity.

Amulets for the home will not allow people into it who come with evil thoughts. Such guests quickly become “uneasy” and begin to avoid visiting. To protect your home, it is enough to place a decorative element made of natural stone in the room.

There is only one piece of advice for choosing magical protection for yourself, your loved ones, and your home - listen to your heart. Your item will make itself felt with a warm feeling of calm and serenity.

How to care for stone


Rock crystal earrings
Fans of rock crystal products have to take more care of their jewelry than owners of other talismans. Rock crystal has enormous magical power, and therefore it is important to take care of its energetic purity. But first things first.

How to care for a stone so that it does not lose its beauty:

  • Clean crystal from dust and sebum using gentle products. Forget about laundry soap - just gentle, mild hand soap. You can take children's clothes, they are usually the most neutral.
  • Let it dry after washing. Leave the decoration to dry on a napkin or dry it with a towel. The mineral does not tolerate temperature changes very well, so it is better to do without a hair dryer and drying it in the sun.
  • Try not to drop it or hit it again. Remove it from the box carefully, threading the ear of the pendant through a chain or cord above the table so that it does not fall from a height. It would be good to store it in a piece of cloth or a separate bag.

And now about another, no less important, method of care. These tips will be useful to anyone who uses a gem for magical purposes - to perform rituals or protect against damage:

  • Don't wear rock crystal all day long. This way the amulet will quickly deplete and lose some of its power. Take it off at night so it has time to rest.
  • Give the crystal a bath. No bubble baths are required, but running the jewelry under running water before bed is a good idea. This will help dispel the negativity that has accumulated during the day.
  • Clean the talisman with salt. Immerse it completely in salt and leave it overnight. The frequency of these procedures is a very individual matter. For some, once a month is enough, while for others, weekly cleanings are required. It depends on how often you encounter negativity.

Try to make sure that people you don't trust do not touch the amulet, otherwise it may stop working. It’s better not to talk about the fact that this thing protects you at all.

What stones does it go with?

Precious and semi-precious stones are naturally energetically charged. Some enter into irreconcilable confrontation.

The most incompatible stones:

  • rock crystal – topaz;
  • amethyst - emerald;
  • morion – zircon;
  • citrine – onyx.

It is not recommended to combine stones of different elements in an outfit. For example, pearls, corals, and aquamarine are not combined with any mountain mineral.

Crystal mining, known deposits

Most deposits are of hydrothermal origin. A rock crystal druse is created by circulating hot mineralized gas-liquid solutions underground at medium depths. Such mineral accumulations are found in “burrows” - the voids of hydrothermal veins, stockworks, and strata-like deposits.

Large minerals are found in “alpine” type veins, in the voids of pegmatite veins. Crystalline brushes (druses) are found in sedimentary rocks (redediments).

The most significant mining sites:

  • Southern Yakutia (Perekatnoe deposit, White Mountain);
  • Eastern Kazakhstan, Akzhailau massif (Semipalatinsk region, on the border with China, Tarbagatai mountain range);
  • Southern Urals, Astafievskoe piezoquartz deposit (Magnitogorsk, Nagaibaksky district, Yuzhny village);
  • Siberia, Transbaikalia, Sherlova Gora, Adun-Chelon (Sherlovogorsk field);
  • Kola Peninsula, Tersky coast of the White Sea (Murmansk region, Tersky district, Umba village);
  • Transcaucasia, Azerbaijan (Dashkesan field, Koshkarchay river, Ganja);
  • South-Eastern Ukraine, Donbass, Nagolny Ridge (Severodonetsk, Komsomolskoe village).

How to distinguish a fake?

Colored stones are often counterfeited. To obtain morion, rock crystal is irradiated. To give a noble amber color, the stones are calcined.

However, more often than not, an inexperienced buyer is faced not with a fake, but with falsification, when painted glass or plastic is passed off as rock crystal.

You can distinguish natural stone from synthetic materials in the following ways:

  • Warm it in your hand . The natural mineral will keep you cool, while the fake mineral will quickly reach body temperature.
  • Scratch the surface . The stone is hard enough to be affected by metal. Scratches form on the surface of the glass.
  • Assess color . The color of natural crystal is rarely uniform throughout the entire volume; there is haze, inclusions, and tone transitions.
  • Evaluate transparency . Colored quartz is “tinted”.

The rounded edges, the presence of bubbles, and the seller’s reluctance to test the authenticity of the stone should suggest a fake.

Brief description of the stone

Rock crystal is a transparent variety of quartz. Pure glass-like specimens are extremely rare. More often, the crystal structure contains smoky or banded inclusions. Since quartz is the most abundant mineral on the planet, crystal is mined all over the globe.

The phrase "rock crystal" is used only for the transparent variety of quartz. Colored species are called differently, for example, purple amethyst, which I already talked about, or black morion.

Crystal grows in the form of a hexagon with a pyramidal top. Outwardly, it resembles a sharpened pencil.

Interesting Facts

  • Emperor Nero kept wine in rock crystal vessels. Their drinks never lost their freshness and coolness.
  • A skull made of transparent rock crystal, found during excavations at the site of Mayan settlements, is made in life size. Inside it is a system of lenses that make the eye sockets glow if a light source is placed from below.
  • In Tibet, crystal balls were used as an antibacterial agent for open wounds. Sunlight passing through the ball effectively disinfected the surface.
  • A certain Russian oligarch paid about a million dollars for a bathtub made of rock crystal. It was made by a Florentine company from a single piece weighing five tons.

Products from antiquity to the present day


Crystal skull in the British Museum
The ancient Greeks and Romans carved seals, vessels, and jewelry from rock crystal. A. Fersman wrote that Nero had two beautiful goblets carved from perfectly transparent crystals. Roman patricians cooled their hands with rock crystal balls in the summer. Incendiary lenses were cut out of crystals, with the help of which the priests lit the fire on the altars with “divine fire.”

In China and Japan, ideal balls were made, many of which are exhibited in various museums around the world. Thus, the US National Museum in Washington houses a Chinese-made ball with a diameter of 327 mm, close in shape to ideal.

In the Armory Chamber of the Moscow Kremlin there are various vessels made of rock crystal: the samovar of Peter I, carved from a single piece of rock crystal, a barrel, a pepper shaker, a mug, bowls, “hand-held”, etc. A collection of rock crystal dishes is available in the Museum of Art History in Vienna. In the American Museum of Natural History in New York there is a stamp of Russian work in the form of Atlas holding the globe on his shoulders.

In Russia XVIII-XIX centuries. snuff boxes, buttons, signets, and church utensils were cut out of rock crystal.

In the novel “Salammbô” G. Flaubert describes a Carthaginian temple in which a crystal egg resting on a copper column plays a mystical role. The Greek poet Onomacritus (5th century BC) believed that the gods were unable to refuse a person if he came to the temple holding rock crystal in his hands. Roman doctors at the beginning of our era used rock crystal balls as “burning glasses” to cauterize wounds.

Once upon a time in Europe, rock crystal was called “Arabic” or “Bohemian diamond”.

What does it look like? Photo

The cost of the stone, why it can change

The cost of a stone depends on its weight, cut shape, presence of foreign inclusions and defects. Counterfeits made from ordinary transparent glass are often found on sale. In order to purchase real rock crystal, you need to contact only special jewelry stores and workshops.

  • The cost of a small unprocessed crystal does not exceed 1000 rubles.
  • Designer jewelry and household items cost much more – from 50,000 rubles and more.
  • A piece of jewelry that includes good quality and cut rock crystal costs from 15,000 rubles.
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