Magical, bewitching stone Rock crystal - historical background, characteristics and unique properties of the stone, medicine and magic, photo of the stone

Do you think that crystal cellars are only in fairy tales about Cinderella and glass shoes? The stone "rock crystal" - magical, bewitching - is a natural miracle. But first things first.

Let's touch history

Rock crystal, unlike precious rubies, sapphires and diamonds, was not attributed to a divine origin. Aristotle (4th century BC) considered cold, colorless crystals to be petrified ice. After the campaigns of Alexander the Great (1st century BC) to India, the idea of ​​the origin of the stone changed. Now they decided that rock crystal can be obtained not by severe cold, but by a combination of cold and sun (heating).

This was considered until the 18th century, until the English physicist R. Boyle guessed to compare the density of crystal and ice. (But one can argue here. Who knows what results the experimenter would get if he increased the pressure when the water solidified.) After the experiments, it became clear that the transparency and tactile sensation of coolness from the stone are original. Mineral is not the next form of water transformation.

In nature, rock crystal is formed after molten magma cools down to 700 ^O FROM.Water vapor and hot gases saturated with ions form crystals. Underground rivers of molten mineral fill voids, forming crystal cellars.

Mineralogical characteristics

Rock crystal, a colorless variety of quartz, is silicon dioxide SiO₂ (The names silicon dioxide, silica are also common).

Mineralogical description:

Please note: rock crystal, amethyst, smoky quartz, citrine, morion, etc. - all belong to the quartz group, and are not a subgroup of rock crystal.

Large crystals of rock crystal in the form of a hexagonal shape with rhombohedral end faces, with a regular crystal lattice. On the edges, transverse hatching is noticeable.

In the Alps of France and Switzerland, there are frozen rivers with characteristic large cavities "crystal cellars". The same crystal caves are found in the Urals, Pamirs, and Siberia.

The main industrial deposits of rock crystal are located in Yakutia, in the Urals, Primorye, and the Alps.

It was possible to get rich on rock crystal in the Russian Empire in the 18th century (the Ural deposits have not yet been found). Then the mineral and products from it literally flocked from all over the world along the sea and mountain paths. Today, the stone has become common, in jewelry fashion preference is given to colored stones.

Watch your hands

The properties of the "rock crystal" stone - when mirror polished, focus the beam and be invisible under special lighting - were used by the priests. In front of the crowd:

• From nothing, only by raising a hand, they kindled a fire;
• Seen at a great distance (hemispheres were used).

There is also a ritual crystal skull found in 1927 during excavations of a Mayan fortress. Suspended from the ceiling, obedient to the vibrations of the air, the terrible statue seemed to move its jaw.

The crystal skull was used by the priests to cast a curse, to exterminate the enemy. Occasionally, to strengthen his power, he was taken out by believers.

When there were no welding machines, metal was melted with the help of rock crystal lenses, connecting individual parts.

In the 11th-15th century. the mineral is "domesticated":

• decorative dishes and incense bottles;
• lamps and figurines;
• traditional jewelry (they learned to give crystal a different cut)

In the 19th century rock crystal was touched by the fashion for mechanical knick-knacks. In the photo of rock crystal, or rather a vase "with a secret" with pansies from it, the illusion of water inside is visible (Kremlin Armory). When the button was pressed, the petals opened, and portraits of the Tsar's children became visible.

At the same time, rock crystal became not just a stone for jewelry, but a "specialist in electronics." The Curie brothers discovered the piezo effect:

• during compression and stretching, rock crystal crystals became electrified;
• when electrified spontaneously contracted.

This is already a groundwork for today: if the crystal is treated with an electric current, we will get an eternal storage of information. An unresolved problem so far is to write "floors" into a layer without breaking the structure.

Crystal plates are used in technology as a frequency stabilizer, resonators, filters.They are used to make parts for instruments that measure enormous pressure.

But what are we all about technology. Rock crystal is a gemstone from the quartz group. Transparent miniature double-headed stones with a perfect cut are outwardly indistinguishable from diamonds. Therefore, they are called diamonds (and ignorant buyers are "led").

We are treated with crystal

Crystal balls for treatment are known in Asia, the Mediterranean and the Arab East. In Rus' they were called "fatis" (from the Indian "patik" - crystal). The beam passed through the ball heated up medical instruments, cauterized festering wounds. In fact, this is the prototype of modern ultraviolet treatment.

Lithotherapy (treatment with precious stones) there is no recommendation to use rock crystal powder (the stone is too hard to grind). They use either rock crystal found in the river and polished to river pebbles. Either they independently chip a large crystal to a spherical surface, and then roll it in the sand with water for a long time (or place a grid with a shape and large pebbles in a mountain river).

The property of crystal to cool the skin is used in therapeutic stone therapy for inflammation (when heating is contraindicated). But if you need to warm up the area, additionally use the sun or a table lamp.

Lithotherapy (treatment with precious stones) there is no recommendation to use rock crystal powder (the stone is too hard to grind).

And a little magic

Magic rock crystal for its transparency and purity is dedicated to the Moon. Therefore, it is used in female rituals for the full moon.

Since the growing moon helps to increase income, there are rituals using rock crystal for “money growth”.You just need to catch the beam of the growing moon in a mirror-polished ball and direct it to the banknotes. With a conspiracy, naturally J

Pyramids and "pencils" of rock crystal are a traditional object for meditation and work with chakras. The stone “absorbs” the energy program well, therefore it is ideal for “animating” objects, creating “self-learning” talismans.

Astrologers recommend rhinestone to fiery water signs - the stone extinguishes irascibility, helps control emotions and restrains impulsive actions.

Jewelry little things that create a mood

As early as 3000 BC, people adorned themselves with rock crystal products. This is evidenced by a mace with a crystal pommel in the form of a lion's head, found during excavations of the temple of Athena in ancient Troy.

The mineral is combined with gold, enamel and precious stones. Thanks to the cut, it highlights the entire composition, adding brilliance. But if somewhere in the oriental bazaar they offer jewelry with crystal - check:

• rock crystal cools the hand (and the glass heats up quickly);
• the stone is dense, so the massive ring is heavy (an insert made of glass and plastic makes the product lighter);
• the stone is hard to scratch.

Small crystals of rock crystal with a strong brilliance and without developed prism faces are very similar to diamonds. They are still sold today:

• Crimean diamonds in Crimea;
• Alencon diamonds in France;
• Marmarosh diamonds in the Carpathians.

Only the cost of one carat diamond is several times higher than the same size rock crystal.

Nevertheless, rock crystal jewelry is very beautiful. In addition, a ring with such a “diamond” can be worn every day with pleasure. Pendants with stone - larger ones, necklaces and pendants - amaze with brilliance and play of light.

For a long time, rock crystal products were available only to the nobility. Today, figurines and jewelry are available, delighting with the perfection of forms and the play of colors of the owner. It is only necessary to occasionally wipe with a dry, soft flannel (a barely visible coating from water dulls the shine).

Beautiful photo selection of the mineral Rock crystal