More than you ever wanted to know about Chrysoberyl

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

Known since antiquity The word chrysoberyl comes from the Greek - gold. The varieties alexandrite and cat's eye chrysoberyl are rare and very highly valued.

"Chrysoberyl crystallizes in and around pegmatites rich in beryllium, but deposits commonly form as alluvial concentrations from weathered pegmatites" 1

Lore

Chrysoberyl " . . . is a 'stone of immortality', assisting one to both overcome and to progress toward excellence. It elevates ones sense of self-worth and helps one to understand and to actualize the intrinsic state of perfection which is available." 2

Chrysoberyl ". . . is said to bring forgiveness among family and friends, bring generosity and charitability and promote understanding" 3

"Recommended for those recovering from surgery or a prolonged illness. It's ability to aid the system in restoring internal and physical energy may also be of value to those who face chronic disorders." 4


1) Anna S. Sofianides "Gems and Crystals: From the American Museum of Natural History" pg. 75

2) A. Melody "Love is in the Earth- A Kaleidoscope of Crystals" pg. 111

3) Bruce G. Knuth "Gems in Myth, Legend and Lore" pg. 66

4) Paul Beyerl "Gem and Mineral Lore" pg. 6

More than you ever wanted to know about Charoite

This edition of my ongoing series of blog posts about gem and mineral fact, fiction and lore, features charoite.  One of my favorite Russian gemstones.

"Charoite crystallizes in the form of masses and as druse on a host mineral. The major discovery location is Russia and has only recently become available in the west in more than very small amounts. The name is a reference to a river in Siberia. The color ranges from pink to purple, often with inclusions of quartz and manganese." 1

Charoite was recognized to be an independent mineral in 1978.

Lore

This is a stone of transformation. Some believe charoite has the power to reverse the symptoms of sickness and disease to good health. Many say that it aids in detoxifying the liver.

Additionally, it is supposed that charoite assists in attaining the power of second sight. It is known to bring one's fears into consciousness so that they may be confronted and healed.

Charoite ". . . stimulates intuitive and psychic ability, clears negativity and assists one in being a more effective healer." 2

When used on the third eye; charoite is said to help fade fears, both known and unknown.


1) A. Melody "Love is in the Earth- A Kaleidoscope of Crystals" pg. 111

2) Naisha Ahsian "The Book of Stones: Who They Are & What They Teach" pg. 108

More than you ever wanted to know about Chalcedony

This edition of my ongoing series of blog posts about gem and mineral fact, fiction and lore, feature chalcedony; a silica minerial.

The name chalcedony is derived from Chalcedon, an ancient Greek city of Asia Minor. It is a variety of quartz that comes in many colors and patterns. It’s composed of microcrystaline quartz crystals and hydrated silica (opal). Chalcedony is an excellent stone for jewelry because it is durable and takes a good polish.


Chalcedony is generally formed near the surface of the earth where temperatures and pressures are relatively low.

Lore

Chalcedony is thought to bolster emotional balance and increase physical energy. It was once believed that those wearing this stone would be kinder, more charitable, and friendlier.

"A man with his right hand raised aloft, if engraved on a chalcedony, gives success in lawsuits, renders the wearer healthy, gives him safety in his travels and preserves him from all evil chances." 1

"There was never a stone which stood for so many and such virtues. In the worldly sense, it confers riches and honors; it inspires horror of blood, expels sadness and melancholy - like the anti-toxic virtue, a recurring office of stones - and preserves from sudden death, almost a unique quality. It is said also that it calms troubled waters, as if it were a talisman for the macrocosmic world, but perhaps this may be taken in the sense of stilling the waters of the human soul, because it is claimed otherwise that it appeases angry passions. Finally, as the Divining Rod is held to indicate the place of hidden springs and wells of water, so the Topaz is a Magnet for Gold, attracting the precious metal, indicating buried treasures and revealing lodes and veins of gold beneath the earth." 2

Chrysoprase, heliotrope (blood stone), carnelian, sardonyx, onyx, jasper and agate are all forms of chalcedony. Each with it's own properties.


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

2) Lauron William De Laurence "Great Book of Magical Art, Hindu Magic and East Indian Occultism" 1915

More than you ever wanted to know about Cat's Eye

This edition of my ongoing series of blog posts about gem and mineral fact, fiction and lore, features cat’s eye chrysoberyl.

Cat’s eye chrysoberyl, also called cymophane, gets the cat’s eye description from the resemblance of the stone’s eye to the narrow iris of a cat’s eye. The name chrysoberyl comes form the Greek chrysos (a reference to the golden color).

Lore

Cat's eyes are thought to protect against witchcraft and assaults of the devil upon the soul. Once believed to guard the wearer against physical danger and enable one to weather all storms.

"No gems have afforded more interest to the Oriental peoples than those that are known as phenomenal gems; that is, such as exhibit a phenomenal quality, either as a moving line as in the chrysoberyl cat's-eye, or the quartz cat's-eye, or as a star, a class represented by the star-sapphire and the star-ruby, all these being considered to bring good fortune to the wearer." 1

"Yellow chrysoberyl prevents others form manipulating you, whether psychically or psychologically. It fosters a strong work ethos in a workplace and is good to set near a colleague who is idle or constantly chatters." 2

"Cat's-eye is also used in wealth and money spells. Possession of the stone guards the owner's wealth and will increase it as long as the stone is retained. It is often kept with money for this purpose. Not only does the stone prevent financial ruin, it will also restore wealth lost prior to ownership of the stone. Cat's-eye brings riches and is an excellent talisman for gamblers. 3


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

2) Cassandra Eason "The Illustrated Directory of Healing Crystals"

3) Scott Cunningham "Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Crystal, Gem, and Metal Magic"

More than you ever wanted to know about Cassiterite

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

 Cassiterite is tin oxide; an ore of tin. Crystals generally form as short prismatic twinned crystals; with a hardness of between 6 and 7. It comes in green-yellow, brown, red and black.

The name, cassiterite, comes from the Greek kassiteros – tin. It is also called tin stone. Without tin there would not have been a Bronze Age, bronze being made from copper and tin.

Lore

There was trade in tin from the Cornwall area of Britain from at least the fourth century B.C. In those times “Smelting was as much an art as a science and depended upon the skill of the smelter who judged from experience when the molten tin was ready for casting into ingots. Thus it was that the aid of Joseph of Arimathea, who later became the patron saint of tin miners, was invoked at this crucial point in the process.” 1

“Cassiterite assists in the manifestation of new forms and the destruction of past forms. It acts as a dimensions doorway between the manifest and unmanifest realms and assists with passages of the soul from the Light into body and back into Light.” 2

“It helps to eliminate feelings of separateness and prejudice. It can be used to ameliorate rejection, to dispel energy related to disapproval, and to encourage optimism.” 3

“Native tin can be used to ease passive-aggressive behavior patterns, and to bring about material, emotional, mental, and spiritual increase.” 4

“This is a great stone for grounding and protecting against negativity. It is said to reflect negativity back to the sender.” 5


1) Glyn S. Lewis “Did Jesus Come to Britain-- An Investigation into the Traditions That Christ Visited Cornwall and Somerset“ pg. 21

2) Naisha Ahsian “The Book of Stones- Who They Are & What They Teach“ pg. 94

3)Melody “Love is in the Earth- A Kaleidoscope of Crystals” pg. 104

4) Marguerite Elsbeth “Crystal Medicine (More Crystals and New Age) pg. 76

5) Dragons Crystal Reverie http://www.dragonsreverie.com/UnpolAC.html

More than you ever wanted to know about Bloodstone

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

Heliotrope is sometimes called bloodstone or blood jasper in the jewelry trades. However, heliotrope is not jasper at all. It is a dark green chalcedony with red spots. Hornblende needles impart the green color and the red spots are colored by iron oxide. Hematite is often called blood stone as well because when its being cut it turns the lubricant bright red.

Lore

“Because it is green, it is utilized in wealth, money, and business spells. A bloodstone kept in the cash register draws money. Carried in the pocket or purse, or worn, it also attracts wealth. In this regard, since food and money are magically connected, it was a farmer’s talisman in the Middle Ages, worn during planting to increase the yield of crops.” 1

“Other beliefs concerning this common stone abounded in the Middle Ages. Rubbed with the juice of the herb heliotrope, the stone would make the wearer invisible.” 2

“A bat, represented on a heliotrope or blood stone, gives the wearer power over demons and helps incantations.” 3

“[Bloodstone]. . . is a general healing stone and stimulant. Carry it to enrich iron-poor, tired blood or to help balance other blood-related disorders. Hold bloodstone against a bleeding would to staunch the flow of blood.” 4

In ancient times stones with the color red in them were thought to work as antidotes to poison.

Blood stone is a birth stone under the sign of Aries; and is a birthstone for the month of March.

1) Bruce G. Knuth “Gems in Myth Legend and Lore“ pg. 53

2) George Frederick Kunz “The Curious Lore of Precious Stones” pg. 133

3) Marguerite Elsbeth “Crystal Medicine (More Crystals and New Age)“ pg. 153

4) Scott Cunningham “Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Crystal, Gem & Metal Magic“ pg. 92

More than you ever wanted to know about Bertrandite

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

Bertrandite, sometimes called tiffany stone or ice cream opalite, is beryllium silicate hydroxide, in everyday language you’d call it opalized fluorite. It is only recently that it has come on scene in the mainstream jewelry industry. Once you have seen it’s easy to see why it is gaining in popularity. Bertrandite does look like ice cream, blueberry. I don’t think I’d take a bite though; it’s an ore of beryllium.

I do not know the date of its discovery; however, it is not listed in my 1915 copy of “Dana’s Manual of Mineralogy”, the standard mineralogy text of its day. Scanty information is available on the internet.

Bertrandite’s hardness is about 4; which makes it unacceptable for use in rings but fine for pendants and earrings.

Lore

Said to be called tiffany stone because some stones look like the patterns in tiffany glass. Some think that it is a reference to Tiffany Co., the New York jewelry store.

Because of its recent (in historical terms) discovery one has to look to the minerals that combine to make bertrandite to better understand its metaphysical properties.

Bertrandite “. . . can assist one in conservatism in judgment, in generosity with respect to favour, and in stimulating the growth of appreciation” 1

A number of the references say that bertrandite is a stone for business and business success. Most agree that it has a beneficial effect on the third eye chakra. It is also said that bertrandite can boost the sex drive and enhance sexual experience.

1) A. Melody "Love is in the Earth- A Kaleidoscope of Crystals" pg. 79