More than you ever wanted to know about Euclase

This edition of my ongoing series of blog posts about gem and mineral fact, fiction and lore, features euclase.  A little known gem.

Euclase is beryllium aluminum hydroxide silicate.   At 7 ½ in hardness it is fine for a gemstone, its perfect cleavage, however, makes it very hard to cut and polish successfully.  Once cut there is no doubt that it is a gem.

   

Euclase is a transparent gem that ranges between sea-green, light blue and colorless.  Colorless euclase can be irradiated to make it blue.Crystals occur within pegmatites and as druses. The crystals are a product of decomposition of beryl, a gem to which it is closely related.

There are occurrences in Brazil, Tanzania, Russia, Zimbabwe, Madagascar, and Austria.

Lore

Euclase is known to be a communication enhancement stone. 

“This mineral has been called the ‘stone of happiness’.  It can stimulate happiness in one’s life through activity, not only governed by reason, but governed by the heart, intuition, and serendipity.” ¹

It is known to enhance altruism, selflessness, and generosity; and is sometimes used by healers to promote happiness and joy; relieving stress and pain. 

1)    

1)  1) Melody "Love is in the Earth- A Kaleidoscope of Crystals - The Reference Book Describing the Metaphysical Properties of the Mineral Kingdom"  pg. 160

More than you ever wanted to know about Epidote

This edition of my ongoing series of blog posts about gem and mineral fact, fiction and lore, features Epidote.

The name epidote is from the Greek epi, "over," and didonai, "to give," and was intended to describe the enlargement of one side of the crystal in some specimens.  Epidote ranges in color from green to brown and black.

Lore 

Epidote is associated with transformation and evolution.  It is also a stone of empowerment and fulfillment.

"This mineral can provide for increase in that to which  one attunes it.  This short but clear statement shows that epidote is truly a stone to experience in all aspects of one life" ¹

Medicinally epidote is thought to improve one's overall physical well being.  "Epidote also works to heal intestinal blockages due to nervous disorders affecting the stomach" ²

Also effective for anxiety attacks.

1)  A. Melody "Love is in the Earth- A Kaleidoscope of Crystals" pg. 156

2)  Marguerite Elsbeth  "Crystal Medicine (More Crystals and New Age) "

More than you ever wanted to know about Emerald

This edition of my ongoing series of blog posts about gem and mineral fact, fiction and lore, features
Emerald.

Emerald, a green variety of beryl, gets its name from the Greek term smaragdus, which refers to a type of precious gemstone. Traces of chromium and vanadium produce the green color.

High quality emerald is more valuable than diamond.

Lore

Emerald has been treasured since at least 4000 BC when it was traded in the gem market of Babylon. Egyptian emerald mines were worked as early as 2000 BC. The ancient Greeks are known to have associated this stone with the goddess, Venus.

Like many green stones, emerald, is a stone of prosperity (perhaps because it has always been expensive).

". . . those whose hearts had been smitten by the shafts from Cupid's bow found in this stone an invaluable auxiliary, for it revealed the truth of falsity of lover's oaths. Strange to say, however, the emerald, although commonly assigned to Venus, was often regarded as an enemy of sexual passion. So sensitive was the stone believed to be in this respect that Albertus Magnus relates of King Bela of Hungary, who possessed an exceptionally valuable emerald set in a ring, that, when he embraced wife while wearing this ring on his finger, the stone broke into three parts." 1

Emerald " . . . can be used to enhance the memory and to stimulate the use of greater mental capacity. The emerald helps to combine intelligence with discernment, allowing for the choice of 'right' action to be the only choice available." 2

Medicinally, emerald is thought to be a curative for eye problems, it brings clear vision. It is also associated with clairvoyance, memory and intuition. "Engravers of gems and other artificers were accustomed, therefore, to keep an emerald in front of them while at work, believing it would rest their eyes to look upon it occasionally . . ." 3

Emerald is thought by many to help in a difficult labor or birth.

"The Egyptian Book of the Dead says that the god Thoth gave the emerald to the Egyptians. Embalmers were instructed to place an emerald at the throat of every mummy to give youthful strength and protection during the journey through the Underworld." 4

Emerald has seen long use In India as a laxative.

Emerald is one of the birthstones for May.

1) George Frederick Kunz "The curious lore of precious stones"

2) A. Melody "Love is in the Earth- A Kaleidoscope of Crystals" pg. 152

3) Oliver Cummings Farrington "Gems And Gem Minerals (1903)" pg. 101

4) D.J. Conway "Crystal Enchantments: A Complete Guide to Stones and Their Magical Properties" pg. 88

More than you ever wanted to know about Dumortierite

This edition of my ongoing series of blog posts about gem and mineral fact, fiction and lore, features dumortierite.

Dumortierite is named after Eugene Dumortier, a French paleontologist, sometime in the 1880's.


Crystals are fairly hard at about 8 1/2 on the Mohs scale, and are very rare. It is the massive form from which jewelry, beads and stone carvings are made. The massive form is approximately a 7 in hardness.

Dumortierite comes in shades of blue (most commonly used in jewelry applications) and red-brown. It is often used as an inexpensive substitute for lapis. Non jewelry uses for dumortierite are mostly ceramics.

Sometimes found intergrown with quartz, named dumortierite quartz. (what a surprise)

Lore

As a healing stone dumortierite is said to be beneficial with a number disorders including relief of nausea and vomiting. Some of the literature claims that a tincture of dumortierite applied to the skin relieves sunburn.

“It can be used to diminish wasting disorders, to provide strength in dealing with conditions of dis-ease, and to provide insight into the basis of a condition in order to help one to understand and correct the cause.” 1 Sometimes used as a diagnostic tool by stone healers.

“Dumortierite makes it easier to cope with depressive situations. It is especially important, however, for helping one to talk about the feelings of depression and its causes. This makes it one of the most important crystals to accompany any form of therapy.” 2

Dumortierite is thought to work as a memory aid and is useful in helping to organize one's thoughts. “It highly reduces difficulties of scattered mind and disorganization. In addition, it encourages one to see and accept reality, and react to it in an intelligent manner in one’s own behalf” 3

Meditating or sleeping with dumortierite is useful as it helps you to focus.

“Dumortierite opens the doors of insight, activating the third eye chakra and assisting one in making the mental leaps necessary for transcending intractable difficulties or seemingly hopeless situations.” 4


1) Melody “Love is in the Earth- A Kaleidoscope of Crystals“ pg. 149
2) Michael Gienger “The Healing Crystals First Aid Manual“ pg. 89
3) Gregory Branson-Trent “The Magick And Healing Properties Of Crystals, Metals And Stones“ pg. 121
4) Robert Simmons, Naisha Ahsian “The Book of Stones: Who They Are & What They Teach” pg. 144

More than you ever wanted to know about Dioptase

This edition of my ongoing series of blog posts about gem and mineral fact, fiction and lore, features dioptase.

Emerald-green, transparent to translucent crystals of dioptase are found in the oxidized parts of copper sulfide deposits. Dioptase occurs in North America, but generally as little more than a stain on the host rock. Big luscious crystals such as those used in jewelry are found in South Africa.


When first discovered, dioptase was more expensive than diamond.

Lore

Green has long been the symbol of harmony, sympathy, creativity, health, and abundance.

A merchants stone, dioptase has long been thought to attract good fortune, promote sales, and bring good will to a business. It is a stone of prosperity and progress.

Dioptase " . . . can be used to both clear and stimulate all chakras to the higher level of awareness and action, bringing an invigoration and refreshing energy to the physical, emotional, and intellectual bodies." 1

Dioptase is said to be healing of body and mind. It is thought to sooth digestive distress and ulcers. And it has been used as an aid in attaining emotional stability and increasing self esteem. Excellent for meditation.

"Dioptase is an especially powerful healer for those who have physical diseases related to past emotional traumas from abuse. Examples of this pattern include women who have experienced sexual abuse and have manifested reproductive disease, or those who have experienced emotional abuse and have manifested heart disease. Any physical disease related to past emotional trauma can be positively affected by the healing energy of Dioptase." 2

Dioptase is the official gem of Congo.



1) A. Melody "Love is in the Earth- A Kaleidoscope of Crystals" pg. 146

2) Naisha Ahsian "The Book of Stones: Who They Are & What They Teach " pg. 141

More than you ever wanted to know about Diopside

This edition of my ongoing series of blog posts about gem and mineral fact, fiction and lore, features chrome diopside.

This member of the pyroxene family contains chromium, the element that provides its intense green color. Its name is derived from the Greek dis and opsis, "double vision", because crystals of diopside often occur with two sets of prism faces that appear to be similar.

Lore

This is a healing crystal, that helps us become more appreciative of life and love.

"This mineral can be used to stimulate the intellect and can provide assistance in mathematical and analytical pursuits. It enhances academic learning and couples the practical side of ones nature to both the sciences and arts." 1

1) A. Melody "Love is in the Earth- A Kaleidoscope of Crystals" pg. 145

More than you ever wanted to know about Diaspore

This edition of my ongoing series of blog posts about gem and mineral fact, fiction and lore, features diaspore, a color change gem stone.

Diaspore is an aluminum hydroxide mineral with an orthorhombic crystal system. Its color ranges from pink through to purple, brown, green, yellow, gray, white and colorless. Some diaspore is pleiochroic; meaning that it changes color under different types of light. Diaspore from Turkey is currently being sold under the trade name 'Zultanite'.


At a hardness of 6 1/2 - 7 diaspore is well suited for use in jewelry. However, recovery after faceting diaspore is very low because of the need to orient the stone to take best advantage of the color change property. Stones over 3 carats are exceptionally rare and fetch high prices.

"Zultanite is so rare, that few have had the pleasure to behold its exotic beauty. There is only one mine producing genuine Zultanite. Zultanite is only mined by us at a remote location in the Anatolian mountains of Turkey directly from the host rock at an altitude exceeding 1000 meters." 1

The principal aluminum ore, bauxite, is composed of a mixture of diaspore, gibbsite and boehmite.

Lore

"Diaspore crystals can sometimes appear to be different colors when viewed from different angles. This is a physical representation of one of the other aspects of its energy of adaptability. Diaspore stimulates area of the mind which enhance one's ability to see different points of view on all issues and ideas. Because of this, it is an excellent tool for engineers, mediators, scientific researchers, therapists, doctors and others who need to bring a fresh, multidimensional frame of mind to each new situation. In meditation, Diaspore helps one find and maintain the state of 'beginners mind' - the attitude of openness and acceptance, unclouded by beliefs that one already knows what to expect." 2

"Some people believe Zultanite can assist in the development of psychic power, astral force, ambition, intellect, desire and emotions based on intellect and touch." 3


1) Web site: Zultanite - Naturally Precious

2) Naisha Ahsian "The Book of Stones- Who They Are & What They Teach" pg. 137

3) Web site: GemsTV