There opal-chalcedony-quartz and chalcedony varieties of flint. Coloration of the mineral can be white, light brown and dark brown (almost black) with different shades. Glitter - glass. The hardness of the mineral is 7.0 on the Mohs scale, with a density of 2.6 g/cm3. The place of production of flint scattered around the world and are one of the most common mineral deposits.
The name "Flint" is derived from the Latin word «cremare», which means "to burn", because in addition to its durability, this mineral is used for carving sparks and fire-lighting.
The shape of the stones is very diverse. There are round, finger, plate and other shape instances. Interestingly, the flint appears in nature as pearls around some pebbles or sand. This black pearl often has a build-up, holes and voids filled with small crystals of quartz.
Silicon is the main consumer of the abrasive production a
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Coral - a gem of biogenic origin, hard calcareous skeleton polyps living in the Indian and Pacific Oceans, the Caribbean and the Red and other warm seas. The hardness of 3.5-4.0 on the Mohs scale, density 1.3-2.6 g/cm3, shiny satin. Color - red, pink, blue, white, black. Other names: bead, dragon.
Corals - this ancient legend come to life, because in fact they - skeletons of living creatures, the coral polyps that inhabit giant columns, and after their death remain colorful thicket of "sea of flowers" - coral. Clusters of coral reefs are called - especially famous Great Barrier Reef off the coast of Australia, which stretches more than 2,000 meters. There are both coastal and barrier reefs, located in shallow water next to the "mainland", and coral atolls and "banks" that are in the open sea. Especially beautiful is the atolls - in the blue water suddenly appear the outlines of a snow-white coral rings, inside which is a la
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Clinochlore - mineral of the chlorite group, silicate complex composition. The hardness of 2.0-2.5 on the Mohs scale, density 2.6-3.0 g/cm3, perfect cleavage. Glitter - glass, pearl at the break. Other names - clinochlore, Serafini, Sheridan leyhtenbergit, Kochubei.
Clinochlore - an extremely rare mineral that was first described in 1888 by the famous mineralogist NI Koksharov in his multi-volume work, "Materials for Mineralogy of Russia." Clinochlore unique deposit is near Lake Baikal in Siberia. Gem got its name from the Greek word "klinos", which means "bow" and "chloros" - "green." At first, he did not receive wide distribution in the jewelry business and was in demand by collectors primarily minerals - and business is up to the early 20th century, was very popular among high society in Russia. But gradually the usual deposit and "fashionable" gems - malachite, emerald, demantoid and green tourmaline - exhausted by
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Cacholong - of porcelain opaque mixture of fine-grained chalcedony and common opal white. Other names: beautiful stone, Kalmyk agate, pearl agate, petrified milk sacred cows. The hardness of 6.5-7.0 on the Mohs scale, density 2.1 g/cm3. Glitter - pearl, glass.
Name of the stone comes from the Turkish word "Cage" (river) and "Ha" (stone). Cacholong was known in ancient Egypt, where he dedicated the bull-god Apis, who represented the forces of fertility, abundance, wealth and health. Did not escape the attention white opal and Romans, who used the stone to build vessels, sculptures, wall and female ornaments, the benefit of old stocks cacholong significantly superior today. Mongolia has identified cacholong with lotus - the most sacred flower of Buddhism, the symbol of purity and innocence. In Russia and Europe 18-19 cc. cacholong was a popular material for vases, cups, bas-reliefs, table sets and figurines, home decorating
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Emerald - transparent variety of beryl, color is due to the presence of chromium (Cr). The hardness of 7.5-8 on the Mohs scale, density 2,61-2,67 g/cm3, glitter glass. Color from dark green to light grass.
The exact date of the "birth" of emerald is unknown, but this beautiful dark-green with a tinge of blue gem never went out of fashion, and in the history of ancient civilizations, we find mention of emeralds. The Bible Emerald - one of the twelve breastplate stones of the Jewish high priest. In Muslim legends paradise - beautiful garden, studded with emeralds. Stone was popular in ancient Egypt that housed the earliest emerald mines - the Egyptians believed that the green color symbolizes his eternal youth and eternal life, and the famous Cleopatra emerald-encrusted furniture and even doors unizyvala emerald rings on her fingers, one of which, the color grape leaf, read his loving mascot. Romans and Greeks were very fond
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Coil - a group of minerals of the same composition but different symmetry. Includes several mineral species: antigorite (Mg, Fe2 +) 3Si2O5 (OH) 4 chrysotile (klinohrizotil, ortohrizotil, parachrysotile) Mg3Si2O5 (OH) 4 lizardite Mg3Si2O5 (OH) 4. Crystals - opaque. Glitter - silky glass. Hardness on the Mohs scale, 2.0-3.0, density - 2.6 g/cm3.
Serpentine or serpentine (from the Latin word "serpens" - snake) - extremely popular stone: sometimes it forms a whole mountain. Serpentine stone was used by the Olmecs in Central America long before the arrival of Columbus - used to manufacture jewelry and mosaic. In Europe, it began to be used about 400 years ago, and was particularly active treatment coil in Germany - of which did apothecary vessels, baubles, toilet and desk sets. In European countries, where the church was separated from the state, a legend that Adam ate the forbidden fruit, choked and spat it out, and the appl
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Pearls - a mineral of organic origin, formed by the postponement of mineral matter around the foreign body in the mantle cavity of marine and freshwater molluscs. The hardness of 2.5-4.5 on the Mohs scale, density 2.7 g/cm3.
The unusual pearls, above all, is huge compared to other precious stones, the rate of formation. If a diamond or malachite consider their age since the dinosaurs, and in a piece of amber, scientists are finding ancient insects, the pearls appear quickly, within a few decades. This is due to the fact that pearls - an organic product that results from penetration of a conch shell external stimulus (sand or parasitic worms). Sink has no other means of defense, in addition to creating layers of nacre around the aggressor. The purpose of shellfish - immobilize the attacker, depriving it of the possibility of harm the soft tissue inside the shell. And hardly clam understands what a gem a sealed original cause anxiety in the future will be th
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