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Translated from medieval Latin, minera means ore. A mineral is a chemically and physically independent solid, which has a relatively homogeneous composition. It arose as a result of physical and chemical processes of natural origin occurring in the bowels of the Earth and other planets. It usually refers to a constituent of rocks, meteorites or ores. Most of the well-known stones received their names in ancient times - at a time when the science of mineralogy did not yet exist, but people were already actively using many types of minerals.
The history of the use of mineral raw materials goes back many centuries: the Stone Age came long before the Bronze and Iron Ages. At this time, the main household tools and weapons were made from stone. Yes, people also used wood and bone, but the age was still called the Stone Age, and this is no coincidence, it was precisely this age that allowed them to make a much-needed leap in development.
Since ancient times, people have been attracted to minerals; their enchanting beauty and mysterious power do not leave anyone indifferent even now. The variety of shapes and colors, the splendor of shades created by nature, is mesmerizing. Ancient people worshiped precious stones, considering them symbols of immortality. And this is not surprising, because human generations fade into oblivion one after another, everything flows and changes, only stones remain forever. For a modern person, these things are not only luxury items and an excellent way to invest capital. They are a source of inspiration for poets and adornment for women, a subject of study for scientists and working material for jewelers.
People believe in magical power, which minerals conceal within themselves. Scientists know how many secrets that have not been revealed by science are hidden in the strata of rocks and in the depths of the earth’s crust. For some it is a source of healing and inner strength, for others it is an object of admiration and admiration. But they do not leave anyone indifferent. Immerse yourself in the world of these dazzlingly beautiful gifts of nature, so diverse and delightful that you can admire them endlessly. Find out more about the treasures that lie right under our feet!
So what is a mineral?
Minerals are homogeneous natural bodies that are chemical compounds of a certain composition, have a crystalline structure and are formed as a result of geological processes. They are components of rocks.
Rocks are masses or aggregates of one or more mineral species or organic matter formed as a result of natural processes.
These are the materials that make up the earth's crust. There are hard, loose, soft and consolidated rocks.
There are some other concepts related to those above. A mineral variety is a group of minerals that have slight differences in chemical composition and physical properties. A mineral individual is understood to be a mineral body isolated by an interface.
Origin of minerals
Genesis is the process of mineral formation. Such processes are divided into three groups, depending on the energy source.
1. Magmatogenic (hypogenic) processes
Formation occurs by solidification and crystallization of magma.
This melt solution, consisting predominantly of silicates (silicon compounds) and containing all the chemical elements, either overcomes the resistance of the overlying rocks and flows to the surface, or remains in the depths and cools and crystallizes there. Accordingly, products are classified into effusive and intrusive, respectively.
Since any magma has a predominantly siliceous composition, the formation of silicates (siliceous minerals) occurs there. Many of them are rock-forming minerals that form granites, syenites, diorites and other crystalline rocks. To a large extent, they are represented by feldspars, granites, micas, hornblende, olivine, etc. During their formation, Si, Al, Ca, Fe, Mg, Ti, K, Na, H2, O2 transition from magma to the residual melt.
When introduced into the earth's crust, the temperature of magma is about 1200°C. By the end of crystallization, it decreases to 500 - 600°C, and at this temperature, residual melt penetrates into rock cracks, forming pegmatite veins.
Some of the volatile substances fall through cracks into crystallized rocks. They act on the constituent minerals and transform them. This is how greisen, tungsten, molybdenum, tin and rare metal ores are formed in granites.
With a further decrease in temperature, hydrothermal solutions are released. They form deposits of gold, zinc, copper, silver, uranium, lead, antimony, mercury, tin, and arsenic.
2. Metamorphic processes (endogenous)
They imply changes in minerals in the subsurface under the influence of pressure and temperature. These phenomena occur in connection with a change in the geological situation and the original occurrence of rocks.
Regional and contact metamorphism are distinguished. Processes of the first type affect large areas and occur at significant depths. In this case, schists and gneisses are formed. Contact metamorphism consists of the influence of magma (especially granite) during the intrusion of marl and limestone into strata. As a result, they turn into marbles and skarns. Deposits of iron, tungsten, molybdenum, tin, and cobalt are sometimes associated with them.
3. Exogenous processes
These phenomena are caused by external factors related to the energy of the Sun. They occur at normal pressure and low temperature at the earth's surface. They consist in the fact that exposed rocks and minerals located at shallow depths are subject to weathering (destruction) under the mechanical and chemical influence of water, sun, wind, organisms, etc. Some of the destroyed rocks and minerals are carried away, some remain in place, forming placers of gold, platinum, zircon, diamond, garnets, tin, magnetite, tungsten derivatives, etc. Many rock-forming minerals are destroyed and dissolved. Their salts are carried by water, and in arid areas they are deposited, forming deposits of gypsum, sodium and potassium salts, and mirabilite.
That is, exogenous mineral formation occurs as a result of the mutual action of factors of the atmosphere, biosphere, and hydrosphere on minerals on the surface of the Earth. New minerals formed in this way from the original ones are called supergene.
In addition, there is a biochemical subtype of exogenous mineral formation. It consists in the transformation of the remains of organisms and their vital functions. As a result, combustible minerals, chalk, limestone, native sulfur, some brown iron ores, and phosphorites are formed. Feldspars, plagioclases, hornblende, etc. are very common.
Classification
The main ones, as a rule, are considered to be structural-chemical classification.
So, crystal chemical includes 9 types:
- Silicates. Salts of silicic acids. They are represented by the most common rock-forming minerals in the earth's crust (more than 90% of its mass), which are part of all types of rocks. They include about 800 species, divided based on the structure of the crystal lattice into 6 subtypes: island, ring, chain, ribbon, layer, frame. These are feldspars, plagioclases, hornblende, etc.
- Carbonates. About 80 items represented by salts of carbonic acid. The most common among them are magnesite, calcite, and dolomite.
- Oxides and hydroxides. This includes about 200 mineral compounds with oxygen and hydroxyl groups. They are divided into compounds with silicon (quartz, etc.) and compounds with metals (hematite, limonite, etc.). They make up about 17% of the mass of the earth's crust.
- Sulfides. About 200 compounds with sulfur (pyrite, bornite, cinnabar, etc.).
- Sulfates. Approximately 260 mineral species, represented by salts of sulfuric acid (gypsum, barite, anhydrite, etc.).
- Halides. Salts of halide acids. Includes about 100 items (halite, sylvite, fluorite, etc.).
- Phosphates. Salts of phosphoric acid, including apatite and phosphorite.
- Tungstates. Salts of tungstic acid (wolframite, scheelite, etc.).
- Native elements. Includes 45 items consisting of one element (gold, sulfur, diamond, etc.).
Structural-chemical
There is also a structural-chemical classification close to this. According to it, there are two types: inorganic and organic minerals.
The first include the following classes:
- native elements and intermetallic compounds;
- nitrides, carbides, phosphides;
- sulfides, sulfosalts and the like;
- halogen compounds and halogen salts;
- oxides;
- oxygen salts.
Based on their prevalence, minerals are divided into four types:
- 1. Rock-forming. They make up the majority of rocks.
- 2. Accessory. Often present in them, but usually constitute up to 5%.
- 3. Ore. They form significant accumulations in the form of ore deposits and contain industrially valuable components.
- 4. Rare. Few or isolated.
There are three forms of being in nature:
- Mineral individuals. These are components of aggregates, represented by crystals, grains and other precipitates, separated by interfaces.
- Mineral aggregates. Intergrowths of individuals of one or different minerals that do not have clear signs of symmetrical figures. There are single- and multi-stage ones.
- Mineral bodies- accumulations of aggregates with natural boundaries. They can range in size from microscopic to comparable to geological objects.
In addition, the genetic classification discussed above is used.
Secondary minerals
This is the name given to minerals formed during metasomatism, during the weathering of other minerals and rocks, that is, during processes that transform already formed rocks. Escala (Finnish petrographer) called these minerals posterior (in Latin - subsequent).
These minerals in igneous rocks include: epidote, zoisite, serpentine, muscovite, tourmaline, talc, calcite... In other words, all hydroacidic and carbonate compounds that cannot be released from the fiery liquid magma. But many minerals, generally formed directly during the solidification of magma, can be present in one or another rock as a secondary mineral (for example, quartz, ore minerals, and others).
The distinction between secondary and primary formations is essential in petrography. Primary constituents illuminate the conditions of rock genesis, and secondary minerals make it possible to trace the course of certain changes and transformations that the rock has undergone.
Finally, minerals are classified according to their practical significance, as follows.
Properties
Properties are divided into chemical, physical, optical, magnetic.
Chemical properties
determined by the elements included in the composition: the chemical formula of the mineral. It is also these properties that determine the solubility of minerals and acids.
Physical properties determined by the chemical composition and their crystal structure. Some of them appear depending on the crystallographic direction. Based on this parameter, they are divided into scalar and vector (the former are dependent, the latter are not). Scalar properties include density, vector properties include hardness, and crystallographic features.
Physical properties are also classified into mechanical, optical, magnetic, luminescent, thermal, electrical, and radioactivity.
Many parameters are used to determine minerals in the field (diagnostic properties). In addition to the main external characteristics, such as shape and color, hardness, separation, cleavage, fragility, shine, and fracture are used for this purpose. Some minerals are diagnosed by flexibility, malleability and elasticity.
According to mechanical properties you can find:
- fragile (main part);
- malleable;
- inflexible (among leafy and scaly ones);
- brittle and flexible (fibrous minerals).
Fragility— the strength of mineral grains, manifested by mechanical splitting.
Among the physical properties, a very important indicator of minerals is hardness. On its basis, a 10-digit Mohs scale was created. In it, each value corresponds to a mineral (from talc to diamond). It should be taken into account that for some mineral types this parameter differs for different sides (for example, for kyanite 5.5 and 7). This is explained by the unequal density of the crystal lattice.
Cleavage This is the ability to split along crystallographic directions.
Tarnish— the presence of a thin colored or multi-colored film on a weathered surface. It is the result of oxidation.
Kink This is an important diagnostic property. Thanks to it, the surface of the fragments formed upon impact is characterized, forming surface features on a non-fused fresh chip.
Density is the mass per unit volume of a substance. It is also called specific gravity. According to their density, minerals can be:
- light - up to 2500 kg per cubic meter;
- medium - from 2500 to 4000 kg per cubic meter;
- heavy - from 4000 to 8000 kg per cubic meter;
- very heavy from 8000 kg per cubic meter or more.
The density of a mineral directly depends on its composition, type of structure, number of microinclusions and their nature, as well as on phenomena such as metamictity and hydration.
Specific Gravity It is the ratio of the density of the mineral to the density of water. It is used to determine unit mass and serves as a diagnostic sign for some classes. Thus, native metals and intermetallic compounds have the highest value of this parameter (for example, for gold it is 19.3 g/cm3), among common minerals are oxides and sulfides, due to the presence of elements with high atomic mass in the composition.
Optical properties
Color. In some minerals it is definite, in others it is very variable. The latter can be explained by the presence of many modifications or polychroism. In the first case, due to the inclusion of impurities in the chemical composition, the mineral receives a different color. In the second, the crystals change color depending on the direction of light.
- White stone
- Black stones
- Red colors and gems
- Orange stone
- Yellow stone
- Green stone
- Blue stone
- Blue stone
- Purple stone
- Lilac stone
- Pink stone
- Brown stone
- Transparent stones
Trait color. Appears when scratched. Same as the color of the mineral in powder. Gloss is a light effect created by the reflection of part of the light flux. Determined by reflectivity.
Refraction, polarization, and dispersion characterize optical constants.
Magnetic properties determined by the content of divalent iron.
Deposits
Large accumulations of minerals are called deposits. There are several classifications of them.
- By state of aggregation mineral substances are divided into gas, liquid, and solid.
- By industrial use: ore, combustible, non-metallic, hydromineral.
- According to the complexity of the geological structure: simple (group 1), complex (group 2), very complex (group 3), with small bodies, disturbed bedding, variability in thickness and structure, or uneven quality (group 4).
- By location relative to the earth's surface: open, buried.
- According to the conditions of formation: magmatic, metamorphic, exogenous.
You can find out more about minerals in the section Mineral deposits. We have descriptions of more than 40,000 locations around the world.
Application
About 15 percent of minerals known today are used in industry. Some minerals are used to make various types metals and some other chemical elements.
The use of certain types of minerals for technical purposes based on their physical properties:
- hard minerals such as diamond, garnet or agate are used to make abrasive and anti-abrasive materials;
- stones with piezoelectric properties such as quartz are used in the radio-electronic industry;
- muscovite or phlogopite, related to micas, due to the presence of electrical insulating properties, are used in radio and electrical engineering;
- quartz or pyrophyllite - in the manufacture of ceramic products;
- talc - for the production of lubricants and in the medical industry;
- asbestos is used as a heat insulator;
- Iceland spar or fluorite is used in the production of optics.
Mineral raw materials are used in all industries. Depending on the possibility of application, minerals are divided into ore and non-ore. Metallic elements are extracted from the former, and non-metallic raw materials are extracted from the latter for the production of construction, medical, chemical and other products.
Separately, the aesthetic significance of minerals should be noted. The stones used in jewelry are well known. Even more of them are used as ornamental raw materials and in their original form as exhibits in museums and collections.
There are classifications based on value. In accordance with one of them (VNII Yuvelirprom), they are divided into jewelry (diamond, pyrite, pearls, etc.), jewelry and ornamental (fibrolite, aventurine, azurite, etc.) and ornamental (obsidian, onyx, alabaster, etc.) .
A similar classification is better known, according to which minerals are divided into precious, semi-precious and ornamental.
Such classifications are very conditional, since they use primarily aesthetic standards and several parameters (hardness, chemical composition, color, etc.) and there are no clear limits for any of them.
Popular minerals
Diamond is a cubic modification of carbon. In pure (transparent) form it is represented only by this element. Colored variants include various impurities. It is synthesized in several ways from carbon. It is the hardest mineral (10 on the Mohs scale). Used in glass cutters, drilling equipment, jewelry.
Emerald- modification of beryl with an admixture of Cr3+ or V and Fe oxides. It differs from it in its green color and transparency. Found in crystals and aggregates. It is of metamorphic origin. It has high hardness (7.5 - 8) and acid resistance. Artificial emeralds have a lower density and refractive index. Mainly used in the jewelry industry.
Ruby represented by a modification of corundum with an admixture of Cr3+, Fe3+, V3+. It differs from it in red color (purple, brown). Synthetic stones are obtained by growing corundum from a melt. They are characterized by uniform coloring, unlike natural ones. The second hardest mineral after diamond (9). Used in instrument making, watch production, laser technology, and jewelry industry.
Sapphire- a type of corundum, including impurities Fe3+, Fe2+, Ti. From a mineralogical point of view, only variants are considered sapphire blue, from jewelry - any colors except red. Synthetic varieties come in both pure (colorless) and mixed (various colors). Used in ophthalmology, dentistry, the production of glass and protective screens, and the jewelry industry.
Alexandrite- a variety of chrysoberyl with an admixture of Cr. It is distinguished by strong pleochroism (changes color from dark blue-green shades to purple), there are transparent options. Hardness - 8.5. It is of igneous origin. Artificial crystals are obtained by two methods. Mainly used in the jewelry industry.
Pearl- biogenic formation. Formed in mollusk shells. It is not a mineral, but it contains aragonite. It is represented by round or irregularly shaped bodies with a hardness of 3 - 4. It comes in various colors (white, black, blue, yellowish, green, pink, etc.). There are imitations made of glass and plastic. Mainly used in the jewelry industry.
Amber- a biogenic formation represented by fossilized resin of the Paleogene and Upper Cretaceous periods. It occurs in the form of amorphous formations with a hardness of 2 - 2.5. Color - from light yellow to brown, colorless, red, greenish, white. There are imitations made from natural resins and plastics. Mainly used in the jewelry industry, less in the pharmaceutical, electronic, chemical, food and perfume industries.
The depths of our planet conceal countless treasures - minerals. Their indescribable diversity and beauty have always conquered human hearts. We invite you to admire a selection of these beautiful examples of frozen natural harmony.
1. Petrified wood with opal veins
Under certain conditions, fragments of a fallen tree do not decay, but mineralize, turning into real stones of bizarre shape. This requires hundreds of years and no access of air to the material, resulting in a unique mineral that resembles fragments of icy wood, speckled with sparkling inclusions of opal or chalcedony.
etsy.com
2. Uvarovite
A stone related to garnets, discovered in the 19th century in Siberia, was popularly nicknamed the “Ural emerald.” Fascinating green gives the mineral chromium. In nature, it is extremely rare, and the few finds are of very modest size. By the way, it was this mineral that Alexander Kuprin meant in his work Garnet Bracelet.
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3. Fluorite
This mineral, which has long been used for decorative purposes and delighted the eyes of high society with graceful translucent vases and figurines that glow in the dark, has now found more practical applications in optics, becoming an excellent material for creating lenses.
roywmacdonald.com
4. Kemmererite
A very fragile fuchsia-colored stone - kemmererite - is considered a collector's item. To make a piece of jewelry out of it, the craftsman needs to apply all his scrupulousness and precision. For this reason, the cost of the processed mineral is extremely high.
exceptionalminerals.com
5. Hematite, rutile and feldspar
The ability of the black mineral hematite, when processed, to color water in a blood-red color has become the reason for many ineradicable superstitions regarding this stone. But this is not the only reason why it is popular - hematite is very common in nature and is used in addition to decorative materials in many applied areas.
mindat.org
6. Torburnite
As bewitchingly beautiful as this mineral is, it is just as deadly. Prisms of torbernite crystals contain uranium and can cause cancer in humans. In addition, when heated, these stones begin to slowly emit radon gas, which is extremely dangerous to health.
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7. Clinoclase
The rare clinoclase crystal has one little secret - when heated, this exquisitely beautiful mineral emits a garlicky smell.
mindat.org
8. White barite studded with vanadinite crystals
Vanadinite got its name in honor of Scandinavian goddess beauty Vanadis. This mineral is one of the heaviest on the planet because it has a high lead content. Vanadinite crystals should be stored away from sun rays, since they tend to darken under their influence.
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9. Fossil egg? No – geode with opal core
In places rich in minerals, you can find geodes - geological formations, which are cavities containing various minerals inside. When cut or chipped, geodes can look extremely outlandish and attractive.
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10. Silver stibnite with barite
Stibnite is a sulfide of antimony, but it appears to be composed of high-grade silver. Thanks to this similarity, one day someone decided to make luxury cutlery from this material. And this was a very bad idea... Antimony crystals cause severe poisoning, even after contact with skin it is necessary to wash it thoroughly with soap.
wikimedia.org
11. Chalcanthite
The enchanting beauty of these crystals hides a mortal danger: once in a liquid environment, the copper contained in this mineral begins to rapidly dissolve, threatening all living things that stand in its way. Just one small blue pebble can destroy an entire pond with all its flora and fauna, so you should treat it with extreme caution.
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12. Cacoxenite
Acting as an inclusion, this rare mineral is capable of giving quartz and amethyst a unique color and higher value. As a representative of needle-shaped crystals, cacoxenite is incredibly fragile.
scientificcomputing.com
13. Labradorite
Mined in the northern regions, the mineral’s appearance seems to reflect the sky under which it was found: the color tints against the background of the darkness of the stone speckled with sparkling stars are reminiscent of the northern lights blazing on a long polar night.
carionmineraux.com
14. Black opal
The most valuable type of opal. Despite the word “black” in the name, this mineral gets the highest value if it has multi-colored sparkle against a dark background. The more diverse the shades of its radiance, the higher the price.
reddit.com
15. Kuprosklodovskite
Needle-shaped crystals of kuprosklodovskite attract admiring attention with the depth and variety of their green colors, as well as their interesting shape. However, this mineral is mined in uranium deposits and is highly radioactive and should be kept away not only from living beings, but even from other minerals.
flickr.com
16. Blue halite and sylvite
Milky white or whitish sylvite is often found in volcanoes, and blue halite (sodium chloride) is often found in sedimentary rocks.
mindat.org
17. Bismuth
Artificially grown bismuth crystals have a recognizable iridescent sheen on their dark surface. This effect occurs due to the oxide film covering it. By the way, bismuth oxide chloride is used in the creation of nail polishes as a means to give them shine.
periodictable.com
18. Opal
The noble opal gemstone is picky about the humidity around it: if it stays in excessively dry conditions for a long time, it can fade and even crack. For this reason, opals should be occasionally “bathed” in clean water, and also worn more often if they are presented in the form of jewelry, so that the stones are saturated with moisture coming from the human body.
reddit.com
19. Tourmaline
Juicy red and pink colors, smooth transitions of shades with the most unexpected ranges make tourmaline one of the most popular collectible minerals. According to historians, it was these stones that crowned many of the jewelry and accessories of members of royal families and eminent persons: from Catherine the Second to Tamerlane.
saphiraminerals.com
20. Baildonite
The rare baildonite crystal owes its color to the copper it contains, and its brilliance to a high percentage of lead.
mindat.org
21. Osmium
Having the status of the densest natural substance, osmium is extremely difficult to process in any way. The widespread use of this metal in medicine, manufacturing and defense makes its demand incredibly high. And given the rarity of osmium in nature, the cost of one gram of its isotope is currently equal to twenty thousand dollars.
wikimedia.org
22. Malachite
The bizarre arrangement of copper layers in the voids of karst caves, where malachite originates, determines the future structure of its patterns. They can be represented by concentric circles, star-shaped scatterings or chaotic ribbon patterns. Age of malachite beads found in ancient city Jericho, archaeologists estimate 9 thousand years ago.
mindat.org
23. Emmonsite
A rather rare mineral emmonsite, presented in the form of small needle-shaped crystals with a glassy luster, is found in the mines of North and South America.
mindat.org
24. Aquamarine on potassium mica
For the similarity of its edges to the purest waves of the sea, the Roman thinker Pliny the Elder gave this noble stone the name “aquamarine”. Bluer aquamarines are more valuable than greenish ones. This mineral is very popular among designers and jewelry lovers, and its highest strength helps to create jewelry of any configuration.
mindat.org
25. Pallasite meteorite
In 1777, the German scientist Pallas delivered to the Kunstkamera museum samples of a rare metal discovered in Krasnoyarsk at the site of a meteorite fall. Soon the entire block of extraterrestrial origin weighing 687 kg was transported to St. Petersburg. This material was called “pallas iron” or pallasite. No substance similar to it has been found from those mined on our planet. According to experts, this meteorite is an iron-nickel base with numerous inclusions of olivine crystals.
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26. Sick
Small cubic crystals of blue color - boleites - are especially valued in the countries of South and North America. This rare mineral has not yet been seen in use in Russia.
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27. Crocoite
The name “crocoite” comes from the ancient Greek word meaning “saffron”, since the similarity of the crystal surface to this spice is noticeable to the naked eye. Red lead ore, which this mineral is, represents special value for collectors and connoisseurs.
awminerals.com
Mineralogy includes over 6 thousand minerals, and every year at least 10 new ones are added to this number, which were previously unknown to people. Their beauty can be judged by the fact that at all times there have been connoisseurs and collectors who could, without hesitation, shell out the cost of a fortune for one such specimen for their collection. The most beautiful of them were always associated with intrigue, and sometimes with crimes, to which people were pushed by greed or by the power of precious minerals that always attracted people to themselves.
It received its name from the town of Spessart, located in Bavaria. It was in this area that spessartine was first discovered, which at that time was considered the rarest mineral in the world. Later it was found in many countries of the world on various materials, but did not lose its value.
Spessartine belongs to the garnet group, in which it stands out in various shades orange color. Due to the presence of small bubbles of gas or liquid, the material looks especially mysterious.
In jewelry it is used exclusively as a collection material, so not everyone can afford to have spessartine jewelry. The largest specimen is located in the USA; it weighs 109 carats and amazes everyone who sees it with its beauty.
This copper arsenate mineral is rare enough to command a high price. It was first discovered in England at the end of the last century and immediately gained popularity for its exotic appearance. Beautiful rosettes consist of intergrown small crystals with a pearlescent or glossy sheen that resemble fantastic blue asters from other planets.
It could have become an ideal material for jewelry, if not for one property: when heated, it begins to emit an unpleasant odor, reminiscent of the smell of garlic, which is why clinoclase is not used in jewelry.
If all other minerals are found in the bowels of the earth, then pearls are born in the water element. This happens after a grain of sand gets inside the soft tissues. sea mollusk. To get rid of irritation and scratches, the body of the mollusk begins to envelop the grain of sand with mother-of-pearl. The longer this process continues, the larger and more valuable the jewelry will be.
The cost of a pearl is determined not only by its size, but also by its shape, color, and shine. Sea pearls are also expensive because under their own weight they fall to the seabed, from where it is very difficult to get them. Those pearls in products that can now be purchased in jewelry stores are of artificial origin: grains of sand are planted into the mollusk using tools. To obtain a finished pearl, you need to wait a couple of years, after which it will have a decent size.
Black pearls, which can only be obtained in Tahiti from a certain type of mollusk, are considered especially expensive. However, the most expensive 203-gram pearl was cream-colored, and the price for which it was purchased was $12 million. Its owner and connoisseur was the magnificent Elizabeth Taylor.
The life of a pearl is not as long as that of other precious items: after 100-150 years it begins to fade and loses its pristine beauty.
This gem always takes pride of place at stone exhibitions, since it is simply impossible not to notice Rhodohrasite and to pass by such beauty. Sounding name translated from Greek as painted rose. It resembles this flower not only in color, but also in its interesting structure.
At one time, Rhodohrasite amazed the Incas with its beauty. They saw in it the embodiment of the blood of their long-time rulers, which froze in this mineral. In addition, it was actively used for practical magic.
Rhodochrosite has amazing strength, so it cannot be cut. Despite this, jewelry is made from it; they simply contain unprocessed elements, which often cost even more than gold.
In order for this gem to form, a temperature above 450°C is required, which is why extensive ruby deposits are located at enormous depths: more than 10-30 km.
The cost of a ruby depends on the color and presence of inclusions. An ideal stone should not contain such inclusions, as they affect the intensity of the surface's shine. In order for a ruby to acquire its beauty, the skill of a jeweler is very important, who can make a beautiful cut, emphasizing the dignity of the mined material.
This stone has a very rich color and completely retains its color under artificial light sources, that is, it will look equally beautiful both in sunlight and indoors.
Most often, untreated emeralds contain a network of cracks and irregularities on their surface, but after processing, all defects disappear without a trace. Those gems that are initially endowed with an impeccable structure are valued very highly - from 8 thousand dollars per 1 carat. It is in this form that these unsurpassed gems end up at auctions, where collectors and connoisseurs buy them. The most expensive emerald, “Theodora,” weighing 1.87 carats, was purchased for $400 million. Before the find was processed, its weight was 28 kg.
In the 14th century, near Yekaterinburg, a gem with a unique property was discovered: it radically changed its color depending on the lighting.
Alexandrite received its name in honor of Tsar Alexander II, since it was he who was presented with such an unusual mineral as a gift on the day of the crowned person’s coming of age.
The shades and colors that a stone can exhibit cover a significant part of the spectrum: from blue-green in sunlight to purple in artificial lighting. There are very rare specimens with an olive tint.
Scientists explained that alexandrite changes color due to the presence of chromium oxide impurities in it, which refract rays differently. Since in pure form This beautiful gem is extremely rare, and people often try to fake it, which is why most of this material is fake.
Jewelry is practically not made from it, since almost all copies are sold out for collections of precious stones. In addition, alexandrite is credited with medicinal properties, such as purifying the blood and strengthening blood vessels. It is believed that a sudden change in color can indicate a spike in a person's blood sugar levels.
This stone is most often used to decorate wedding rings all over the world. Diamond consists of a single element in the periodic table – carbon. Until now, scientists cannot come to a consensus about when and how exactly this mineral was formed, since for its formation it is necessary highest pressure and temperature. These conditions are met at great depths, but the stone is found on the surface. The age of each diamond ranges from 900 million to 2.5 billion years. Their density is so high that the beam sunlight while passing crystals, its speed is halved.
Diamond is stolen more often than other jewelry in all banks in the world, and the most important thing is connected with it. large number crimes. The last high-profile robbery occurred in 2007, when a thief gained the trust of bank employees by periodically treating them to chocolate. The value of the diamond that he was able to steal from the safe is $28 million.
In addition to the usual transparent stones that have no color, there are also green, blue, yellow, red and pink diamonds, which are valued even more. The red diamond is considered the most beautiful: a couple of years ago, a specimen weighing 0.97 carats was purchased for 1 trillion. dollars.
This is one of the minerals that people mention in their oldest chronicles. Red beryl is found even in the Bible: it was part of the divine stones with which the Heavenly Jerusalem was built.
Red beryl gained particular popularity during the Middle Ages, as it was often used for inlaying icons, altars, and church items. Jewelers could not ignore the beautiful stone: it was used to make seals for royalty, massive rings, earrings, pendants, etc. The beauty of beryl can fade from frequent exposure to sunlight, so such items were stored in tight boxes and worn only in the time of the most important events and great holidays.
In the 16th century, a bloody war broke out between the Spaniards and the Indians, during which the Spaniards tried to take possession of beryl, sacred to the Indians. However, the beauty of red beryl is no less valued even now: the cost of processed material ranges from 10 thousand dollars per 1 carat.
The beauty of this gem does not lie in the way the rays of light reflect off it. On the contrary: fire opal seems to absorb light. It looks as if there is a fire burning inside the stone, which gives it a peculiar glow.
This property is ensured by an interesting structure: the material consists of special balls that are frozen in a strictly defined order. The emergence of fire opal occurs at a rate of 1 mm per 2 thousand years. The structure contains up to 1/3 of water, so when heated or over time, it may become lighter due to the evaporation of moisture.
The beauty of this gem attracted people different times: among the Romans it was associated with the tears of happiness of the gods, among the Indians - with the scatterings of the goddess of the Rainbow, among the Arabs - with fragments of lightning. The demand for fire opals has always been great, so they were hunted, they were sought out and people were ready to sacrifice their lives for the sake of possessing these minerals.
One of the most coveted pieces in any private collection is a stone with a huge range of colors and iridescences. This mineral was a favorite among crowned persons, so many representatives of royal regalia from Russian emperors and European rulers to Tamerlane were its fans.
There are single-color or polychrome forms, in which different colors are alternately combined, or there may be clumps with a colored core. When heated strongly, tourmaline becomes even more beautiful: brown specimens turn into rich pink, and dark green specimens acquire a noble emerald color. Tourmaline has interesting feature: When heated or rubbed, it becomes electrified.
This mineral became especially popular thanks to the great jeweler Faberge: when inlaying his works, he often preferred tourmaline, which can still be seen on most of the jewelry he created.
The name of the mineral was given by the philosopher Pliny the Elder. He believed that aquamarine was beautiful and pure, like sea waters, and it’s hard to disagree with this opinion.
This stone has always been used as decoration, but some of the aquamarine crystals make the best home decorations in themselves. Thus, in St. Petersburg there is a crystal that is 125 cm long, and in Brazil a specimen weighing 110 kg was discovered on the seabed.
In addition to its beauty, aquamarine also has medicinal properties: its action as a biostimulant helps strengthen the body, save from seasickness, restore vision and improve a person’s condition during allergies.
Aquamarine is not only beautiful, but also a very fragile material, so jewelry with it is not suitable for daily wear: it can simply be crushed by carelessness. But during special occasions, it will perfectly emphasize the solemnity of the moment.
The variety of beautiful stones and minerals that the bowels of our planet give us is inexhaustible. Among them you can find bright rich colors or noble, almost transparent specimens. Gems have a strange power of attraction, and anyone who once saw them can never be indifferent to such beauty.
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