Azurite (copper azure, mountain blue) is suitable for lovers of something unusual. It is also called chessilite after the name of the place in France, Chessy, a famous deposit. The peculiarity of this mineral is its blue tint: from cornflower blue to dark blue.
This color is due to the presence of aqueous copper carbonate in the structure. The stone is popular among collectors due to its rarity and originality. The best and most valuable specimens are mined in Namibia.
There are deposits in Australia, Brazil, Mexico and the USA. We have deposits in Russia southern Urals The size of the mineral can reach 25 cm. Azurite is distinguished by its glassy luster and smooth edges. Over time, the mineral turns into malachite.
Application in jewelry
Azurite is rarely used in jewelry due to its fragility and color instability. In the absence of experience in mineralogy, this stone can be confused with lapis lazuli stone. It is easily identified by its ability to boil in hydrochloric acid. Azurite itself is not a high-value stone. At the same time, it is sometimes used in the manufacture of cufflinks, beads, pendants, and earrings.
The mineral splits even with gentle mechanical impact. A more durable stone is azure-malachite, which is more often used in the jewelry industry. In addition to malachite, compounds of azurite with cuprite (burnite) and chrysocolla (blue copper) are found in nature.
Magical properties of azurite
Since ancient times, azurite has been revered in Egypt as a stone that enhances the spiritual essence of a person, raising consciousness to a level close to cosmic forces and subtle energies. Lithotherapists believe that the mineral stimulates the appearance and activity of the “third eye.” In their opinion, azurite has healing energy at all levels of human existence. Starting from the physical component and ending with the subtle matters of the soul. The stone normalizes energy flows and removes blocks. It helps to transfer a person’s thoughts from the subconscious into the field of consciousness.
Indian yogis believe that the main chakras influenced by azurite are the frontal (Ajna) and throat (Vishuddha). According to some reports, the stone has a beneficial effect on the head chakra Sahasrara.
In Ireland, this stone was used by the Druids to put young men into a state of hypnosis in order to make them experience specific experiences, sensations, and feelings. This process is called the ritual of visualization. It was carried out to test young man for courage, rage, strength. The young man clearly imagined himself in the role of a warrior and decided whether he could cope with the responsibilities assigned to him.
The healing properties of the mineral
Azurite has many beneficial properties. There is evidence that it has a beneficial effect on the condition of asthmatics. It is believed that the mineral helps normalize blood pressure and the state of the nervous system, for example, relieves melancholy, hallucinations, epilepsy, etc. The presence of azurite nearby promotes calm, allows you to overcome stress, fear, anger, and excessive excitement.
It is believed that the stone helps with infectious skin diseases and problems with the eyes, intestines, bladder, and liver. The mineral accelerates the healing of wounds, various injuries, bruises, abrasions, burns. In addition, the stone increases the activity of the thyroid gland and helps cleanse the blood and bile.
Methods of treatment with azurite
To enhance the healing effect, it is recommended to meditate with the stone. Preferably this procedure carry out twice a day in the morning and evening.
This process is carried out as follows:
- The stone is applied to the sore spot, in the area where the unhealthy organ is located.
- You need to close your eyes and feel the aura of the stone.
- Mentally say a request for healing.
- Imagine how the field of the mineral penetrates the diseased organ and “cleanses” it, getting rid of the disease.
- It is necessary to visualize the process, that is, for example, the black affected area in the body brightens and becomes blue or white.
This mineral is important for enhancing psychic abilities. It is used by those who practice fortune telling and predictions. Special balls for meditation and entering trance are made from Azurite.
The meaning of azurite in zodiac signs
Azurite has feminine Yin energy. It is recommended for air signs such as Libra and Aquarius. Some sources indicate that it is suitable for Sagittarius and Taurus. It is believed that this mineral will be especially useful for people involved in law, judicial and advocacy practice, and journalism. There is one feature of azurite - “help” in establishing justice.
This stone can cause significant harm to the owner when trying to slander someone or deliberately harm a person. Therefore, the mineral is not suitable for scammers and helps to quickly expose them. Azurite helps to correctly assess the situation, weigh all the facts, and make the right and objective decision. Azurite allows motorists to maintain composure while driving and composure when stuck in traffic. The element of this stone is water, the planet is Jupiter.
It should be noted that this stone helps Libra even if you do not carry it with you, but keep it at home. Others who want to use it need to constantly work with it and not forget about it. Its magical origin and energy may dry out if it is not used.
How to handle stone
About once a month, Azurite is discharged using hematites. It is enough to put them together overnight. To charge the stone, dark rocks are laid out in the sun. Light species are placed next to them, but not separately. The latter can be placed overnight along with rock crystal. It is best to buy Azurite on Thursday or Friday; these days are considered optimal for wearing the mineral on the body.
Heavenly blue spread over the surface of this magnificent mineral, surrounded by many legends. Its beauty seduces many, attracting with its brilliance and genuine purity. What is lapis lazuli stone, and what properties are hidden in this enchanting shine?
One of the legends says that when the Lord created the earth, he was confused by the dark and gray surface. Looking at the blue sky and water, the creator decided to splash this amazing blue on the ground. Having become solid, it was absorbed into the stone, resulting in blue lapis lazuli. There is also a legend in ancient Egyptian mythology about the connection of the stone with the gods. It was considered sacred and was often used to decorate statues of pharaohs. Figurines of the goddess Maat were carved from lapis lazuli, serving as a talisman for the high priests. Scarab figurines were also made from it, which were placed in sarcophagi for mummies. It was believed that it represented a symbol that could help the deceased to be reborn again. In addition, it was even mentioned in the Bible, where it was said that the laws of Moses were engraved on slabs made of this mineral. There is also honeysuckle lapis lazuli - berries growing in the northwestern regions of Russia.
What properties does this stone have?
If its name is translated from Persian, it means two words “blue” and “blue”. There are several other names for the mineral, which include lapis lazuli and lapis lazuli. In the ancient East it was often called the stone of heaven or Bukhara lapis lazuli. Its incredible beauty has caused the popularity of the stone, making it one of the most popular in the production of jewelry and souvenirs.
What does this unique mineral look like? It has a glassy, slightly greasy luster and has light blue stripes that shimmer in the sun. The most expensive stones are considered to be minerals that have a violet tint, shining like silk. Not always azure; lapis lazuli has only blue shades. It can surprise with a green-blue tint, have purple and white inclusions, and be indigo color.
Magic properties
This mineral has always been used only in white magic. If you know the true meaning of the stone, it can give its owner success and prosperity. It is a symbol of sincerity, symbolizes purity of thoughts and soul. Many centuries ago, people gave lapis lazuli to prove their good attitude. What magical properties stones known to us today?
- Lapis lazuli is able to cleanse the aura and give its owner purity of thoughts.
- Thanks to it, you can get rid of bad memories and heaviness in your heart.
- If you set the stone with silver, it will become a magnificent amulet and can protect against negative influence. Many monarchs used it as protection and actively used it at all times.
- If a person cannot decide to change, then lapis lazuli jewelry will suit him, especially in the form of beads and bracelets. The stone has a strong influence on everything new that happens in the life of the owner, accelerating this process.
- The mineral lapis lazuli set in gold will attract good luck and give success in love relationships.
- A woman who wears earrings with him will be protected from enemies bad people. Men who choose this stone as a talisman can hope for success in work and career, since the magical properties of lapis lazuli contribute to success in all endeavors.
Medicinal properties
According to traditional healers, the mineral helps restore lost vision if you look at it for five minutes several times a day. It also has a positive effect on the condition of the hair, helping to make the hair thicker and fuller.
If you wear a necklace made of lapis lazuli, you can get rid of insomnia, diseases of the nervous system and other mental disorders.
The mineral must be worn by people who have problems with the respiratory system. It eliminates allergies, cleanses the respiratory tract, and also promotes rapid healing of wounds of all types.
Lapis lazuli and the signs of the Zodiac
Many astrologers consider him incredible a strong amulet. Who is the celestial stone suitable for according to their zodiac sign?
- Fish;
- Aries;
- Scales;
- Aquarius.
It is for these signs that lapis lazuli can become a real miracle and have the most beneficial effect on its owner. If the bearer's zodiac sign is Cancer or Capricorn, then it is better to avoid this stone. It is perfect for librarians, doctors, psychologists, helping them achieve success in their work. If a person’s horoscope was taken into account when purchasing a mineral, he can count on the help of a stone that will help change his life for the better and expand the boundaries of consciousness. Not suitable for all signs, however, it is quite popular and famous among mineral lovers.
Where is this stone mined?
The largest deposits of lapis lazuli are located in countries such as:
- Russia
- Tajikistan
- Brazil
One of the most ancient stone deposits is located in Badakhshan. Until the nineteenth century, it was the only place where lapis lazuli was mined. It is here that the purest mineral, valued throughout the world, is mined to this day. Thanks to small golden inclusions, this stone becomes even more valuable and expensive. Looking like a starry sky, it is incredibly beautiful. This type of lapis lazuli can only be found in Badakhshan mines. Stones from other countries are not as expensive, they cost much less and are less valuable. Also, do not confuse azurite and lapis lazuli, which are completely different stones. Azurite has a deep blue color, including malachite stains, which are not characteristic of lapis lazuli. These minerals have completely different origins and belong to different groups. Also, lapis lazuli is not similar to azurmalachite.
Chemical and physical properties of lapis lazuli
This mineral belongs to the group of silicates. It contains sulfur, which affects the color of the stone. If you dissolve it in hydrochloric acid, it will begin to release hydrogen. The chemical and physical properties of lapis lazuli are as follows:
- Has a frame structure
- Its mass is granular.
- Hardness on the Moss scale is 5.5
- Has strong white fluorescence
- Is fragile
- Becomes brighter after heating
- Dissolves in hydrochloric acid
- Features a glassy sheen
- Opaque
- Has an uneven break
How to cast a genuine stone from a fake?
Lapis lazuli has no other mineralogical varieties. The higher the grade of the stone, the more intense the blue color it has. The actual color of a stone depends on the impurities and its structure. If you rub it carefully, when heated strongly, it will change color and become darker. Synthetic lapis lazuli is used as a fake, which is easy to distinguish from a natural mineral. To do this, you need to examine it through a magnifying glass. The difference between real stone is the admixtures of calcite, feldspar and pyrite.
Another way to distinguish a fake is to lower a stone into water. The real mineral will be uniformly wet, while the fake will be in small droplets. Lapis lazuli is quite fragile, so you should care for it very carefully. If handled carelessly, its structure can be damaged; it does not tolerate mechanical shocks, sudden temperature changes and direct rays of the sun. Under no circumstances should it be subjected to ultrasonic cleaning; it should be protected from acids and alkalis. You can clean lapis lazuli clean water, then wipe with a soft cloth.
Video on the topic: Lapis lazuli Properties of the stone
Conclusions
The characteristics of this stone are incredibly interesting and educational. Lapis lazuli is a stone of honesty, luck and love. With it, you can completely change your life and get rid of everything that closes new paths. The magic of this mineral is incredibly strong, which is why it is often chosen as an amulet. The true beauty of a stone can only be seen in bright color, when its brilliance is revealed to its maximum, like the petals of a magic flower.
The ancient Egyptians believed that with its help you could communicate with higher beings and develop spiritually. This magnificent stone will cleanse your aura and thoughts, and also help you find family happiness. It is easy to process, which is why lapis lazuli has been used as an ornamental stone for many centuries. The blue color of the mineral symbolizes the sky, a piece of which you can always carry with you.
Bright blue, sky blue, cornflower blue, violet lilac, gray-green - lapis lazuli comes in a dozen or so shades. Jewelers all over the world work only with blue or bright blue. These are the colors of the stone that are considered “correct.”
Known since ancient times, lapis lazuli was the stone of priests, sorcerers, judges and rulers. The heavenly color of this mineral was used to create the most expensive paint for icon painting. Even gold leaf was not so valued.
In China, the mineral was the most honorable gift from the emperor. In Egypt, a lapis lazuli figurine of a scarab was placed in the hand of the deceased, so that this particular object would become an offering to Osiris as proof of purity of thoughts and righteous life.
The stone was also valued in the East. Lapis lazuli rosary has always been a sign of sincere faith and self-denial. Especially rich editions of the Koran were decorated with the mineral and decorated mosques. Maghreb sorcerers wore jewelry made of lapis lazuli, considering it the most powerful amulet given by heaven itself.
Lapis lazuli in the form of crystals is extremely rare. The size of such stones is no larger than an average pea, and the cost is unusually high. Most often, lapis lazuli is a rock with a variety of inclusions: spar or pyrite. Golden fragments of pyrite give the stone a special shine, increasing its attractiveness for jewelers, and spars often “wash out” the color.
The complex composition of the mineral (sodium, calcium, aluminum and silicon oxide, sulfur) makes it vulnerable - it easily dissolves in acid. It must be protected from water and dampness. The composition also affects appearance mineral. What lapis lazuli looks like depends on its origin and composition. In most cases it is saturated blue an opaque stone with white or golden inclusions.
The gem is often used not in jewelry, but in amulets, amulets and talismans. Graceful figures in the form of a butterfly, a gnome, a sphere - not only “work” perfectly as magical protectors and helpers, but also decorate the interior.
The magic of the “heavenly” stone
The magical properties of lapis lazuli stone have been known since ancient times. They were used as representative gifts. He helped diplomats achieve agreement or concessions, lawyers - find right decisions, keeping your conscience clear.
Products made from lapis lazuli help a person to resist weaknesses, find the strength to realize his mistakes, and repent of his sins.
The stone protects love, protects it from destruction under the influence of external circumstances. Lapis lazuli will protect you from poison and help a person to know the truth. The meaning of the lapis lazuli stone has always been associated with the belief in strengthening connections with the heavenly and divine world. Protective properties minerals are strongly associated with the belief that the stone is, in its essence, a piece of heaven on Earth.
The properties of the mineral to make a person spiritually purer, to protect against slander and slander, were so well known that in many countries it was customary to take talismans or jewelry made from the stone with you to court.
Lapis lazuli - healer
In Buddhist mythology, one of the avatars of the most “enlightened” is described as sitting on a lapis lazuli throne. The radiance of the stone heals all diseases.
In modern medicine, a number of products are used with the addition of lapis lazuli powder. These remedies help cope with eczema and lichen. And jewelry made from “heavenly” stone improves blood circulation, relieves asthma attacks, and calms frayed nerves.
Contemplating lapis lazuli for a few minutes daily can improve vision. Sources contain descriptions of cases where “blue tears” cured epilepsy.
Who is lapis lazuli suitable for, how to wear and store it
The lapis lazuli stone is absolutely not suitable for the zodiac sign. All other zodiac signs can wear it. The stone provides special assistance. wearing lapis lazuli receives help from him in her noble deeds.
The mineral goes well with gold and white pearls. The stone “works” more actively for brunettes.
There are several rules for wearing and storing lapis lazuli:
- Protect the stone from water and chemicals;
- Store jewelry in a velvet or corduroy bag;
- Periodically leaving the stone in sunlight will “charge” it;
- Those who are planning an unseemly deed should not wear lapis lazuli.
Mascot shapes
History knows many of the most different forms talismans made of “heavenly stone”. An amulet in the form of a cat will bring wealth and harmony to life. The traditional amulet is a lapis lazuli scarab or “eye of Horus”. Such figures on the desktop will make partners more accommodating and help overcome the crisis.
For women, both rings in a gold frame and necklaces, earrings, and brooches are suitable. Bracelets with lapis lazuli protect against dishonest attacks on honor.
One of the most “powerful” money magnets is the lapis lazuli gnome. This talisman is most often found in the arsenal of very wealthy people. Women's success in family life will bring an amulet in the form of a feather from the bird Maat.
Creative people who have an amulet in the form of a lapis lazuli lotus flower never experience creative crises.
The “heavenly” stone lapis lazuli brings joy, happiness and harmony to the lives of those people who strive for perfection and live in harmony with their conscience. In this case, lapis lazuli is the most faithful assistant.
It seems that lapis lazuli reflects the entire endless blue of the heavens, which has been attracting the human gaze from time immemorial. In the old days, this stone was literally worth its weight in gold. Although lapis lazuli, in all its objective characteristics, is the most “ordinary” ornamental mineral: hardness - only 5.5; it has no transparency, no “game”, no bright shine. But one is incredible beautiful color made it truly a gem.
The best lapis lazuli is mined in the snow-capped mountains of northern Afghanistan, in the Badakhshan province. Here, near the sky, at an altitude of 4-5 thousand meters above sea level, in the oldest Precambrian rocks, there is a unique ancient Sar-e-Sang deposit, which served as a source of precious blue stone back in the 4th millennium BC. It is believed that until the end of the 18th century this place was the only source of lapis lazuli in the world.
The first written mention of Afghan lapis lazuli dates back to the 13th century and belongs to the great traveler Marco Polo, who, talking about the ruby mines of Badakhshan, wrote:
“In this country, know that there are also other mountains where there is a stone from which azure is mined; azure is beautiful, blue, the best in the world, and the stones from which it is mined are found in mines, like other stones.”
In ancient sources, the place from which lapis lazuli came was described very vaguely. A variety of countries were called the birthplace of the stone: Turkestan, Persia, Bukhara, Tibet, China, in which lapis lazuli was sold but not mined. Probably, the confusion is explained by the fact that in ancient times caravan routes passed through Badakhshan, along which the stone became widespread throughout the countries of the East. True, geographically exact location deposits were established by scientific expeditions only at the beginning of the 19th century: Afghanistan, 70 km southeast of the adm. the center of Badakhshan province, the city of Fayzabad.
Afghan lapis lazuli. Photo by Gery Parent.
Afghan lapis lazuli is rightfully considered the most beautiful in the world. His best samples look luxurious and noble. The Belgian naturalist and scientist Boethius de Boot compared lapis lazuli from Badakhshan, strewn with golden shiny inclusions, to cold fire. In ancient times, all the blue stone mined in Sar-e-Sang belonged personally to the emir, and later, to the king of Afghanistan. Lapis lazuli is one of the symbols of this state.
Since ancient times Afghan lapis lazuli used to prepare ultramarine paints. To do this, the mineral was calcined and crushed into crumbs, which were then mixed with wax or resin and washed. The tiny blue powder that precipitated after drying was a ready-to-use mineral dye. Ultramarine from lapis lazuli was used by such famous masters as Michelangelo Buonarotti and Raphael. Until the 18th century, when new natural springs and artificial coloring pigments were invented, artists bought this blue powder for the price of gold.
Even in ancient times, lapis lazuli was one of the most sought-after minerals in glyptics. IN Ancient Egypt Various figures and relief images were made from it. The stone was also very popular in Eastern countries. If in Ancient China figurines, bowls, boxes and amulets were more often carved from lapis lazuli, then in the countries of the Middle East this stone was mainly used in mosaic work.
Best Afghan lapis lazuli deep blue color with inclusions of white calcite and golden pyrite after polishing, it resembles a starry sky. There are samples of the mineral pressed with snow-white marble. Many of the most famous works of art of ancient Egypt and antiquity were made from this stone. Magnificent vases and tabletops made from the famous Afghan lapis lazuli are presented in the Hermitage. In Russia in the 17th-19th centuries, blue stone from Badakhshan was equal in value to silver. Nevertheless, during the construction of St. Isaac's Cathedral in St. Petersburg, 1248 kg of Afghan lapis lazuli were used to line the columns of the altar.
Now lapis lazuli in Afghanistan is mined not only at the ancient Sar-e-Sang, but also at several other deposits in Badakhshan, the largest of which are: Jangalak, Pitawak and Chandak. Until recently, annual production was only a few tons. But in recent years volumes have increased significantly and amount to over 500 tons of lapis lazuli per year. Heavy work is carried out in difficult high mountain conditions, mainly in winter and, of course, the most the old ways. Obviously, this has nothing to do with the fact that Afghanistan is not, today, an industrialized state. After all gems Around the world, traditionally, they are almost always mined by hand.
Nowadays, lapis lazuli is not considered, although besides Badakhshan, there are only three places on the planet where significant deposits of this mineral are located: near Lake Baikal, in the Pamir Mountains in Tajikistan and in the Chilean Andes. Stones from these regions are undoubtedly also very beautiful, but Afghan lapis lazuli is still valued above all others.
Flint
There are opal-chalcedony and chalcedony-quartz varieties of flint. The color of the mineral can be white, light brown and dark brown (almost black) with various shades. The shine is glass. The mineral's hardness is 7.0 on the Mohs scale, and its density is only 2.6 g/cm3. Flint mining sites are scattered throughout the world and are among the most widespread mineral deposits.
The name “flint” comes from the Latin word “cremare”, which means “to burn”, because in addition to its strength, this mineral was used to strike sparks and ignite fire.
The shape of these stones is very diverse. There are round, finger-shaped, lamellar and other shaped specimens. It is interesting that flint appears in nature like a pearl around some pebble or grain of sand. This black pearl often has growths, holes and voids filled with small quartz crystals.
The main consumer of flint is the abrasive and ceramics industries. Sandpapers are made from this mineral and are also used in road construction.
Besides household services For humans, flint also performs medicinal functions. Traditional healers believe that water infused with opal-chalcedony flint has amazing healing properties. This water has antimicrobial, hemostatic and antiseptic effects; in some countries it is used in the treatment and prevention of various infections. Preparing flint water is not difficult. Before first use, just rinse the flint running water and leave for 2-3 days. It is advisable to drain the lower layer of water covering the stones. Periodically, the stones must be washed with running water to remove any impurities that have settled on them. For full effect, it is advisable to change silicon every 6-8 months.
Mongolian healers believed that if you apply a flint product to the solar plexus area, you can cure some gastrointestinal diseases. Therefore, if you suffer from digestive problems, wear something made of flint around your neck, the main thing is to make sure that the product hangs at the right level. In European countries, amulets and pendants made of flint were worn to prevent colds.
Perhaps due to its ability to turn into fire, flint is a stone with very strong energy. Having such an energy reserve, it makes its owner courageous, strong and enterprising. Remember, primitive men had no other friends among the stones, and boldly went into battle with animals, which were sometimes several times larger than the hunters themselves. Flint will also help if you have depression or blues, because... in these states people are most often lethargic and lazy. The stone will make a person feel a surge of strength, activity and efficiency. These qualities will quickly disperse gloomy moods.
Since ancient times, flint has been considered a faithful assistant to travelers. It is believed that it protects a person from any obstacles that come along the way, protects against possible violence, and warns against fraud and deception. If you remember to take the flint with you on the road, then put it in your pocket on the left side. In addition to its protective effect, the mineral will have a positive effect on your heart and help you restore strength faster.
There is one more little trick that may be useful to you in life. If someone is negatively disposed towards you, then approach this person so that the stone lying in your pocket is on his side, and the stone will force him to change his anger to mercy.
Wearing a flint around the neck also has its own positive aspects. Located in this way, it gives a person the ability to firmly defend his opinion, convince people that he is right, and also develops the gift of eloquence, enlightens the mind and helps to make faster decisions. right decisions even in the most difficult situations.
It is also irreplaceable as a talisman for the home. This seemingly simple stone is an excellent keeper of the hearth. It draws out all the negative energy that enters the house and keeps it within itself. Therefore, do not forget to occasionally rinse the stone with cold running water so that it has a chance to clean itself.
Astrologers believe that this stone has a good effect on all signs of the Zodiac, but only Pisces should be careful. If you were born under this sign and carry a flint amulet with you, watch yourself to see if you have become overly irritable and aggressive. If this is the case, then try removing the stone from yourself for a while. And if we are talking about talismans, then flint is most suitable for people in military professions, as well as lawyers, teachers, doctors and politicians. It helps improve professional skills, makes them honest, fair and courageous.
Everyone knows that appearances can sometimes be deceiving. That the bird with the bushiest tail sings disgustingly, and the nightingale is gray and homely. Perhaps, nature sometimes jokes with us in the same way. Flint good for that proof. An inconspicuous, commonly found mineral has very useful properties. medicinal properties, and can have a very positive impact on a person’s entire life.
Labrador
Labradorite is a mineral from the group of calc-sodium feldspars. Gloss - from matte to glassy. Hardness 6.0-6.5 on the Mohs scale. Density 2.7 g/cm3. Other names: black moonstone, bull's eye, spectrolite, caryatite.
Whether the ancient legends and occult scientists were right or wrong, we do not know. However, it is enough to look at Labradorite to feel how different it is from other gems. An unusual property of the bull's eye is iridescence, or the ability to shimmer from different viewing angles. different colors, – is rare in the nature of minerals, and never manifests itself so clearly and clearly: in the case of Labradorite, this quality is even highlighted by a special name - labradorization. The main color of Labradorite is, as a rule, gray, black or brownish-yellow, but on the surface of the stone it casts cold green, blue, light blue and violet tones, sometimes flaring up like fire, sometimes dissolving in the opaque black darkness with sapphire glimpses - it’s not for nothing that it is found in India called peacock stone for its resemblance to the colorful outfit of a peacock.
There are Labradorites that are milky white, fiery red, and green - but they all have in common a beautiful iridescent shimmer, accompanied by a pearlescent sheen, so that it seems as if the stone is glowing from within. Mineralogists classify Labradorite as a rare category of “solid solutions” due to its strange structure, full of voids and heterogeneous cleavage.
Labradorite has become widely known in Europe since 1770, when it was found on the island of Labrador in northern Canada - soon Parisian and London fashionistas were wearing rings, earrings and brooches with the “peacock stone” with all their might. And during the construction of the Hermitage in 1781, several blocks with labradorite eyes were suddenly discovered in the vicinity of St. Petersburg, which provoked a surge in the popularity of the gem in Russia - tabletops made of labradorite appeared in the royal residences, the St. Petersburg nobility fell in love with golden snuff boxes with rainbow stones, and even ball gowns to match the jewelry were made from iridescent “tausin silk” (in the old Russian dialect the word “tausin” meant “peacock”). The “Tausin fashion” lasted half a century - in the middle of the 19th century, the richest deposit of labradorite was found in Ukraine, and since then the stone began to be actively used in the cladding of interiors and exteriors: for example, it was used in the decoration of the Mausoleum of V. I. Lenin, some metro stations in the city . Moscow and many monumental buildings and architectural monuments. Today, labradorite is one of the most popular ornamental stones, and it is used both for inserts into jewelry - rings, bracelets, earrings, necklaces, cufflinks and much more - and for creating interior sculptures and small decorative items. Labradorite is still mined there - the deposits are still not exhausted in Burma, and in Ukraine, and on the island. Labrador is in Canada, but its availability has once again become a thing of the past - today only a person whose fortune is truly royal in wealth can afford a large statue, and especially the façade cladding made of spectrolite.
Lithotherapists consider Labradorite to be a universal healer, helping to improve the functioning of all internal organs and overall strengthening of the body - for this they not only wear it as a decoration, but also drink water infused with it. To relieve pain in the spine and joints, massage with a heated bull's eye is practiced, and a piece of stone is placed under the mattress. The gem has a powerful effect on problems with the genitourinary system - it relieves infertility and impotence, solves problems associated with the prostate gland, promotes the removal of kidney stones, increases libido and restores lost sexual functions; for such purposes it is worn in the belt area. Rings (which should be worn on the middle finger) and pendants with Labradorite can even help a drug addict get rid of a painful addiction - in addition, they can easily relieve nervous stress in their owner, calm them down during feverish excitement, lift them out of depression and restore the body after nervous exhaustion. A figurine or a piece of stone, located next to the head of the bed, will relieve obsessive nightmares and cure insomnia, and normalize the body’s “natural clock”.
The magical power of the gem has not been fully revealed - however, it is reliably known that, like no other, it enhances foresight and the ability to mystical awareness of the world, helps to develop extrasensory abilities and has long been considered a talisman of healers and sorcerers. Labrador awakens hitherto hidden talents in a person and helps to develop them, bestows bright dreams and forces its owner to try to “embrace the immensity”, to accomplish what previously seemed unattainable - this is exactly the talisman with which you will make the impossible possible. It is considered an amulet of creative people - writers, poets, musicians, artists; it brings them inspiration, the ability to “catch the wave,” and at the same time fame, recognition and patronage of patrons. The stone becomes very attached to its owner and protects him from all sorts of unpleasant situations and negative people. It is recommended as a guardian of peace and well-being in the home - but the labradorite figurine or crystal should be kept in plain sight; in no case should it be placed under the threshold, as some sources advise: when the gem “sees” the situation every day, it actively processes any negative energy into positive vibes.
Gem experts distinguish Labradors “by gender”: lighter ones with a golden-blue tint are considered male, dark ones with a brownish-green tint are considered female. It is best to purchase a “married couple” of minerals - they will not only help you run your household competently and efficiently, but will also protect your family hearth and teach you to be more careful about your “other half.” The Labrador retriever derives its strength from the moon - it is recommended to place it on the windowsill every full moon so that, having absorbed the moon's rays, it "gets to work" with new strength. It should be remembered that Labradorite cannot be carried on you all the time, and under no circumstances let strangers touch your talisman - aimless touches destroy the friendly power of the stone. Astrologers recommend it to all zodiac signs without exception, but it is especially useful for Leos, Scorpios, Aries and Virgos. Labradorite is energetically connected to the heart, sex and throat chakras.
Lapis lazuli
Lapis lazuli is a sodium and calcium aluminosilicate, a mineral from the sodalite group. Hardness 5-6 on the Mohs scale, density 2.3-2.9 g/cm3, opaque, silky, glassy luster, strong white fluorescence. Another name is lapis lazuli, lapis lazuli, Bukhara stone, Armenian stone.
Alas, in the ancient great empires the love of beauty was combined with cruelty, and precious stones were valued much higher than human lives. Our distant ancestors gave preference to gems, because they are able to survive more than one generation of people - this is what happened with lapis lazuli, which was truly the favorite stone of Egypt, Sumer, Akkad, Persia and many others greatest states, now sunk into oblivion. Thanks to the knowledge of archaeologists, we know that lapis lazuli was especially loved in Egypt, where it was called the “son of heaven” and was dedicated to the pharaoh as the viceroy of the sun god Ra on Earth. The blue stone became a measure of value; it was used to cover statues of rulers and gods, and bracelets, necklaces and rings made of lapis lazuli set in gold are constantly found in Egyptian tombs. We cannot find out the scale of the worship of lapis lazuli, because for many centuries tomb robbers were looking for items made from this mineral, especially gems with the image of a scarab beetle, because they believed that such a scarab would bring even a thief happiness and longevity; we will add that they extracted lapis lazuli beetles from the very hearts of the dead, where they were placed before burial...
So the Sumerians, who lived nearby, were not inferior to the Egyptians in their love of lapis lazuli - and perhaps even surpassed them, because lapis lazuli was a symbol of their supreme sky deity Inanna, in whose honor they even wanted to erect a temple in Mesopotamia entirely from blue stone, a temple to this day did not live, but it is reliably known that royal regalia, jewelry, clothing, hairstyles, household items and the very walls of the palaces were literally strewn with lapis lazuli, for which expeditions had to be sent to the distant Pamirs - after all, in Sumer itself there were never deposits of lapis lazuli, which is born only high in the mountains... And for the less selfless kingdoms there were Badakhshan mines, which already 7000 BC. supplied the ancient world with such a coveted gem, from which, according to some researchers, even the Tablets of Moses with the Ten Commandments were made. An ordinary person did not have the right to even approach the mines - this was punishable by death, overseers kept order, and the miners themselves were chained to the walls of the mines so that they would not be able to steal a piece of lapis lazuli, sacred in Badakhshan, which only the emir had the right to own.
However, although the Badakhshan deposit has always been the most famous and high-quality, it is by no means the only one. In addition to the Pamir mines, lapis lazuli was mined in China, where blue balls on the headdresses of mandarins were a sign of power, and in South America, where jewelry made of gold, silver and lapis lazuli were actively used in the culture of Indian civilizations. Lapis lazuli was also loved in ancient Greece and Rome, where gems, figurines, small household items were cut out of it, and even bright blue paint was made by grinding it into powder.
During the Renaissance, lapis lazuli triumphantly regained its former popularity - now large interior items began to be made from it: sets, vases, tabletops, sculpture stands could be seen throughout Europe. Particularly beautiful were the mosaic panels using lapis lazuli - the blue stone was used in almost every product of the newly invented Florentine mosaic. Lapis lazuli “reached” Russia in full only in the 18th century, and for the most part came, according to tradition, from Badakhshan. Huge vases, bowls, floor lamps made using the Russian mosaic technique, tabletops still serve as decoration for the Hermitage and other Russian palace museums, and the greatest lapis lazuli work was two five-meter high lapis lazuli columns installed in St. Isaac's Cathedral. In addition, lapis lazuli was used to make desk sets, snuff boxes, ashtrays, boxes, candlesticks and many other household items of wealthy residents of Russia. Faberge also often used lapis lazuli - it looks extremely elegant as the petals of the famous “stone flowers” - semi-precious forget-me-nots and cornflowers, which seem real to the viewer; “lapis lazuli” is also present in some of the “Easter eggs”.
The medical use of lapis lazuli began a very long time ago - back in Ancient Egypt, medicines were made from the powder of this stone to remove poisons from the body, and in the Middle Ages, tablets from crushed lapis lazuli were in use, which were prescribed for eye diseases. Of course, you shouldn’t swallow lapis lazuli chips, but just regular contemplation of its deep, soothing blue will really have a beneficial effect on your vision. For high blood pressure, insomnia, stress, and asthma, lapis lazuli beads are recommended, and a piece of stone pinned to a pregnant woman’s stomach in the form of a brooch or placed in her pocket will protect her from premature birth and alleviate attacks of toxicosis. In general, lapis lazuli has a beneficial effect on the state of the blood, as well as on the metabolism in bone tissue - therefore it is used for rheumatism, radiculitis, and joint pain. Like his " younger brother» sodalite, lapis lazuli is extremely useful for those suffering from diseases of the thyroid gland and lymphatic system. A bracelet or ring with lapis lazuli improves blood circulation and helps with diseases of the genitourinary system. Massage with lapis lazuli in lithotherapy is used to treat epilepsy.
Energetically, lapis lazuli serves as a real spiritual guide for its owner, teaches him mercy and empathy, makes him wise and fair, develops the mind and soul. This is a talisman for philosophers, scientists, judges, and those involved in charitable activities. Lapis lazuli is also useful for doctors, especially psychologists and psychotherapists - it helps to feel the pain of others. In addition, lapis lazuli “cleanses” the owner of the negativity, grievances, and bad thoughts that have accumulated over the course of his life. At the same time, lapis lazuli does not at all turn a person into a disinterested person, and nothing human is alien to him - having made this stone your assistant, you will gradually feel how your existence becomes brighter and more prosperous, because in addition to wisdom, lapis lazuli also attracts mutual love And material well-being. In family life, lapis lazuli revives faded feelings, creating a new round of relationships, and protects the couple from the interference of outsiders. Being dedicated to Jupiter, lapis lazuli, like other blue stones, is an amulet of those in power; it makes its owner a significant person, capable of penetrating the essence of things. For businessmen starting a new business, lapis lazuli will provide an unlimited supply of energy, help them react quickly but competently and make the right decisions, and contribute to the emergence of interesting ideas. Astrologically, lapis lazuli suits everyone, and most of all Taurus, Libra, Sagittarius and Capricorn.
Malachite
Malachite is an aqueous copper carbonate salt. Hardness 3.5-4.0 on the Mohs scale, density 4.0 g/cm3, silky, glassy luster. Other names: copper green, peacock stone, satin ore, murrine.
Oddly enough, malachite did not appear in Russia at all - its first steps on the planet were taken in ancient times, when among Neolithic people it was considered not decorative material, and with a craft tool: from ground malachite mixed with soda, azurite, acacia juice and other natural binders, bright green and blue paint was first of all made. The ancient Egyptians used eyeliner, painted glass, painted ritual objects and the walls of buildings; the brightness of these dyes, which have not faded after many centuries, is still legendary. However, although the oldest malachite craft is 10,500 years old, initially this stone was not considered precious - in addition to paints, they also began to mine valuable copper ore with its help and sparingly evaporated malachite to get some more expensive copper. However, despite this, beads, amulets, and mosaic ornaments were made from the green mineral. Interesting fact: in order to secretly smuggle emeralds mined in Egypt to India, they were hidden in malachite rings. In Greece during the time of Alexander the Great, malachite appeared after the latter visited the countries of the East; the result was that Greece, and then Rome, became seriously interested in both malachite jewelry and the decoration of halls and galleries with malachite plates. One of the seven wonders of the world - the Temple of Artemis-Diana in Ephesus - had giant columns lined with malachite; some sources claim that after the destruction of the temple, the columns were somehow transported to Constantinople and used for the St. Sophia Cathedral.
By the beginning of the Middle Ages, the richest reserves of malachite in eastern countries almost dried up, after which the stone quickly became rare and increased in price.
In India, already during the Middle Ages, malachite mosaics decorate the famous Taj Mahal; in Ming Dynasty China, malachite flowers marked the headdresses of empresses. In Europe, malachite rings, crosses, and earrings are rarely found. Malachite becomes an amulet, which is credited with such fantastic properties as the ability to make the owner invisible or teach him the language of animals.
But the heyday of the “malachite” history is associated with Russia, where in the 18th century, sources of the richest deposits of “copper greens” were found in the Urals, along with other gems. At first, Russian aristocrats became seriously interested in mineralogical collections, where the dominant role was occupied by various malachite crystals - entire rooms were given over to the “fashionable disease” that was causing high society fever. Then, with the opening of cutting factories, a whole range of magnificent large-scale products began to be made from malachite - floor lamps and vases, bowls and lamps, fireplaces and columns, tabletops and mosaics, not counting numerous small household items, the creation of which became one of the major sources of income in the Urals . Brooches, beads, earrings, rings, Easter eggs, boxes and candlesticks were cut in almost every home, and in big cities nobles and industrialists competed for the right to possess the most interesting collection of malachite trinkets. The most famous collection of several hundred pieces, from snuff boxes to combs, from watches to lamps, was collected by N. Demidov - a manufacturer and connoisseur of malachite in one person, it was thanks to him that a considerable amount of Russian malachite came to Europe, and France, Italy and England also became interested in green stone, inlaid with it into sets and silverware, making cameos and brooches from it, complemented with diamonds and emeralds. The interior was also lined with malachite - today in Russia only the Malachite Hall in the Hermitage has been completely preserved, richly decorated using the Russian mosaic technique, a special technique invented by Ural craftsmen specifically to save precious malachite by covering the base with thin plates of patterned stone. “Alive” and a set trimmed with malachite in personal account Alexander I in Tsarskoe Selo. However, at one time, many high-ranking houses sparkled with malachite - the Empress’s office in the Mikhailovsky Castle, the Demidov Palace and the residences of the Yusupovs and Sheremetyevs in St. Petersburg. In the Hermitage you can still see a lot of products that previously served the flower of the Russian aristocracy - mantel clocks, candlesticks, candelabra, stands for sculptures, floor vases and bowls, it was especially possible to decorate work offices with malachite - these were malachite paperweights, ink sets, writing pads, paper boxes, knife handles and much more. The church also did not abandon malachite with its attention - crosses and home lamps made of malachite, green columns, and today St. Isaac's Cathedral can boast of a huge malachite rotunda, which once stood in the Trinity Cathedral of the Alexander Nevsky Lavra, has now been moved to the Hermitage.
Of course, such a huge popularity of malachite was associated with the unique external properties of the stone - it is the only green mineral that has its own unique ornament. Its color pleasantly soothes the eye - from bluish-leafy to dense emerald, and on the surface of the stone extraordinary patterns bloom, as if painted with a thin brush by an unknown master, either landscape, or randomly diverging in a network of radial flows. It is believed that the more curls there are on a stone, and the closer it is in color to natural greenery, the more powerful its magical background. For all its beauty, malachite is quite fragile - it must be protected from falls, sudden changes in temperature, and can only be cleaned with soapy water and in no case use the popular ultrasonic or steam treatment.
Gradually, malachite became available to more modest buyers - merchants, intellectuals, and small nobles. For wide consumption, so-called large and small sets were produced - the second included a variety of rings, earrings, two necklaces, pendants, hat pins, bracelets, a powder compact and a snuff box, as well as a tiara; the first, in addition to the above, consisted of a mirror framed in malachite, candlesticks, a vase, a writing pad and a jewelry box. The most popular goods were malachite boxes, lined with velvet or satin inside, with a mirror on inside covers. A buyer who took a lot of malachite crafts at once was sure to be gifted easter egg from the same material.
Over time, malachite wealth became scarce in the 20s. malachite was already mined exclusively for export, after which the stone “ran out” altogether. Now the development of malachite mines in the Urals is sluggish - in general, there is nothing to develop, as if the owner of Copper Mountain, the patroness of the Ural miners, has once again closed her storerooms from prying eyes. Therefore, malachite is used mainly for small elegant jewelry– as a rule, pendants, earrings or rings, as well as interior items such as table sets, boxes, Florentine mosaic paintings, coffee and tea table tops, which are usually decorated in classic style, repeating the elegant products of palaces and estates of past centuries.
The healing properties of malachite have been known for a long time, and most of all it is useful for various skin diseases - allergies, urticaria, inflammation, acne. It is best to wear malachite bracelets to cleanse your skin, but green stone beads will help if your hair has become dull and split ends, or you want to speed up its growth. In addition, a pendant, pendant or necklace made of malachite is useful for asthma and colds. A green cross should be worn by women preparing to get rid of a burden - it will make childbirth safe and make it easier. Bluish varieties of malachite improve vision and serve as a preventive measure for eye diseases - malachite earrings are intended for this, and a large item or crystal on which your gaze will regularly fall throughout the day will also come in handy. And those suffering from rheumatic attacks are recommended to apply malachite plates to aching parts of the body. Stomach colic is also susceptible to the influence of malachite. Note that malachite, among other things, reduces the background radiation of the area, removes heavy elements from the body and is useful for cancerous tumors, and especially for blood cancer.
Malachite was used as a talisman even when its production dropped to almost zero. For example, he was tied to a cradle so that the baby would not be disturbed by unpleasant dreams or evil spirits. Pieces of malachite were worn by those who worked at high altitudes (for example, builders on scaffolding) - it was believed that the stone protected against unexpected loss of balance and falls; today it can also be recommended to industrial climbers, pilots, lovers of parachuting and hang gliding. The image of the sun engraved on it gives malachite special power - such a talisman becomes a barrier against everything that can cause harm to a person, including poisonous snakes and insects and witchcraft spells. For women who dream of crowds of admirers, malachite will attract them in even excessive quantities; representatives of the fair sex are advised not to set malachite in gold, otherwise male attention will be excessive and aggressive. Malachite is also good for lonely people - it will attract new and loyal friends to them, help them organically integrate into new company and establish a common language with anyone stranger. Malachite is very useful for creative individuals - artists, writers, musicians, especially if it is framed in copper. But artists, in order to achieve the heights of success in their careers, need to wear malachite framed by light metals - silver, platinum or even aluminum. Astrologically, malachite is suitable for almost everyone, especially for Capricorns, Libra, Virgos and those born in May and June.
