Crystal and stones » amethyst

Amethyst as talisman

precious stones — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 15:01:44 +0000

Amethyst was originally regarded as a very precious stone until the immense quantities received from Brazil reduced its value generally.

From the earliest dawn of history the occult properties of the amethyst as an antidote to inebriety have been recognised, by all writers, the name originating from a Greek word meaning “without intoxication” and [...]

Healing stones

precious stones — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 17:37:36 +0000

In the sixteenth century sapphires, emeralds, rubies, garnets, jacinths, coral and sardonyxes were used in all tonics prescribed to protect the heart against the effects of poison and of the plague. As it was noted that these remedies were frequently ineffectual, an explanation was sought in the fact that spurious stones were often used, the [...]

Birthstone

precious stones — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 14:23:24 +0000

Birthstones have their roots in ancient astrology, and there have been many birthstone lists used over the years. The most common one today is based on a list first publicized by the U.S. jewelry industry in the 1950s.

This list assign birthstones as follows:

* January – Garnet * February – Amethyst * [...]

Chrysoberyl

precious stones — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 15:54:00 +0000

There are certain stones and other minerals which, owing to their possession of numerous microscopically fine cavities, of a globular or tubular shape, have the appearance of “rays” or “stars,” and these are called “asteriated.”

Several of such stones have been discussed already in the last chapter, and in addition to these star-like rays, [...]

Sapphire

precious stones — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 15:48:37 +0000

The Sapphire is not so easy to imitate, as its hardness exceeds that of the ruby, and imitations containing its known constituents, or of glass, are invariably softer than the natural stone.

As before remarked, almost any form of corundum other than red is, broadly, called sapphire, but giving them their strictly correct designations, [...]

Violet gemstones

precious stones — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 15:22:28 +0000

Violet gemstones

Hardness. Specific Gravity.

Amethyst 7 2.661 Diamond 10 3.502-3.564 Quartz (Amethyst) 7 2.670 Sapphire 9 4.049-4.060 Spinel 8 3.614-3.654 Tourmaline 7-1/4 3.160

Phenakite to Rock-crystal

precious stones — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 14:17:44 +0000

Group E. -Stones whose specific gravity lies between 2.50 and under 3.000.

Phenakite 2.965 Turquoise 2.800 Beryl 2.709 and occasionally to 2.81 Aquamarine 2.701 ” 2.80 Labradorite 2.700 Emerald 2.690 Quartz 2.670 Chrysoprase 2.670 Jasper 2.668 Amethyst 2.661 Hornstone 2.658 Citrine 2.658 Cordierite 2.641 Agate 2.610 Chalcedony 2.598 and occasionally to 2.610 Adularia 2.567 Rock-crystal [...]

Specific gravity of gemstones

precious stones — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 13:53:09 +0000

The fixing of the specific gravity of a stone also determines its group position with regard to weight; its colour and other characteristics defining the actual stone.

This is a safe and very common method of proving a stone, since its specific gravity does not vary more than a point or so in different [...]

Origin of precious stones

precious stones — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 12:45:01 +0000

Though the origin, formation, composition, characteristics and tests of each stone will be examined in detail when dealing with the stones seriatim, it is necessary to enquire into those particulars of origin which are common to all, in order thoroughly to understand why they differ from other non-metallic and metallic minerals.

At the very commencement [...]

Precious stones

precious stones — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 11:09:08 +0000

What constitutes a precious stone is the question which, at the onset, rises in the mind, and this question, simple as it seems, is one by no means easy to answer, since what may be considered precious at one time, may cease to be so at another.

There are, however, certain minerals which possess distinctive [...]