Jet - the dense and viscous type of fossil lignite gumolita. The hardness of 2.5-3.5 on the Mohs scale, density 1.3-1.4 g/cm3, resinous luster, sometimes electrified by friction, non-transparent. Other names: Good night, black amber, black jasper.
Jet, velvety-black solid gem, thanks to its softness and ease of processing quickly became a popular amulet in many nations. That's just his appointment was associated with sadness - "stone of sorrow and secrets" he was called, is a necessary attribute of many religious cults. For example, in Rome jade powder showered sacrifices to the gods of the underworld Hades in the Caucasus after the funeral wore ornaments of jet ancient Britons made of jet ornaments and funerary urns. In the Middle Ages, both among Christians and Muslims became popular jade beads, which are often cut out in the shape of human skulls. Very often made of black stone attributes to perform rituals in Georgia - ther
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Turquoise - water (hydrated) phosphate of copper and aluminum. Hardness of 5.6 on the Mohs scale, density of 2.6 g / cm. Silky shine, wax or glass. Other names: biryuzait (Agathius), Arabic stone Aztec stone celestial stone, Callan, azure spar kalchihyuitl.
Turquoise needs no introduction - the color of it went into the dictionary as the definition of the bright blue color. In the arsenal of any Russian ladies will certainly have jewelry with turquoise, much to our mothers and grandmothers turquoise was one of the most popular stones - the benefit of its mined in Central Asia in the set. The word itself is melodious, elegant and feminine, reminiscent of oriental beauty in a translucent dress, hiding behind the walls of the harem ... The original name - "Firyuza" stone of happiness. Indeed, just look at the wildly-blue, joyful turquoise, as the heart becomes easier. In ancient Chinese pagodas and palaces of Egyptian pharaohs, and in the tents of the nomadic
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Beryl - silicate of beryllium and aluminum, which has many kinds of different colors. Hardness - 6.5-8 on the Mohs scale, density 2,61-2,91 g/cm3, fragile, oily sheen, glass, clear plehroizm. Other names of the mineral and its varieties: emerald, emerald, aquamarine, morganite, Vorobyov, Heliodorus, Bixby, Goshen, Australian emerald Shfela, verilos, belir, chrysoberyl, alexandrite, tsimofan.
Examples of such "families", which are beryl, among transparent gems are not so many, but here beryls are radically different: if topaz or tourmaline ultimately differ only in color, wearing, as it were, a common "name" (blue tourmaline, yellow topaz), and proper names are used rarely and mainly by connoisseurs, then that beryl close to each other, on the contrary, is not easy to guess the usual jewelry connoisseur, because each has its own different from and often known name. Beryl - one of the few stones that have entered into human his
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Azurite - water copper carbonate. Hardness of 4.0 on the Mohs scale, density of 3.5-4.0 g/cm3, perfect cleavage, fragile, shiny glass, diamond. Other names: shessilit, Copper Blue, Blue Mountains
It just so happened that azurite from ancient times the most actively used as paint - however, his fate was not unique to the Neolithic period, when, and that our beloved malachite also appreciated only as a green pigment. By the way, not everyone can be a mineral paint - it is his baby should also have bright color, while the blue turquoise or red rubies when grinding becomes whitish substance unfit for the artist. azurite went on all counts - it was soft enough, you can view it does not turn into a torment, and extremely rich in lush blue, from cobalt to sky-blue hues. Being a bit cheaper than the lapis lazuli, which also served as a popular color, azurite quickly gained considerable popularity - famous Egyptian murals depicting scenes from the life of gods and
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Aquamarine - transparent variety of beryl, color is due to the presence of traces of iron (Fe). The hardness of 6.5-8 on the Mohs scale, density 2,61-2,67 g/cm3, glitter glass. Dark blue, light blue, light blue, blue-green, blue-green.
Many years later, in the XVII century. AD stone this was the final name - the words «aqua marina» became aquamarine color of the mineral recalls clear lagoons of the Southern Seas, where the water is clear and bright, though there are stones darker and dull, as if a storm surge. Aquamarine is known since the days of ancient Rome and ancient Greece, where he was considered a talisman of the god of the ocean Poseidon (Neptune) have survived carved images of emperors, gods and mythical monsters on a blue-green aquamarine gems. In the ancient world of aquamarine, like other varieties of beryl, even cut lenses for those who can not see the course was made of this stone and jewelry, and encrustation. Aquamarines are different in t
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Diamond - a mineral, crystalline carbon. 10.0 Hardness on the Mohs scale, density 3.5 g/cm3. Other names: fary, Adamas, eagle rock, royal stone adamant, diamond, king.
Diamond appeared in Europe in the 5-6 centuries BC, and his birthplace was India, where the legendary Golconda mines of gems mined a huge part of the time. Granite stones did not know how, and either treated with a cabochon, or carefully cut off all the "extra" along natural faces, getting irregular crystal. That's why the ancient diamonds usually stood at cost rubies, emeralds and pearls - because only a skillful cut to really reveal their iridescent sheen. But that did not stop the Indian rulers hoard diamonds along with other precious stones decorate their clothing, weapons, utensils and even furniture. Hindus even shared diamonds, like ourselves, the four castes - Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas and Shudras, completely giving the rock spirit.
Almandine - cherry-red with a purple hue variety of the mineral garnet. Hardness of 7.5 on the Mohs scale, density 4.3 g/cm3, transparent, shiny glass. Other names: carbuncle grenlandin, Adelaide ruby, garnet Ceylon, Siberian grenades noble Vinica, Bechet, anthrax, bidzhazi, karfukelshteyn.
Was common on the origin of these rocks is a legend: that lives by the sea viper women-snake, and instead of her eyes - like a luminous star of the huge blood-red carbuncle on his forehead. Swimming, it leaves a stone on the beach, and the brave that he could sneak up and take away gem, gain power over the demoness, which opened to him the secrets of treasures stored underground. But how many heroes may try to steal the emerald - all failed because the viper always overtake the thief, how fast he ran.
Of course, this is fiction, but there is a fairy tale and a little hint of emerald, as in the old days was called almandine, really been the subje
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