Amazingly beautiful Variscite stone: facts from the history, varieties and excellent photos of the mineral

Variscite is an incredibly beautiful stone that got its name many millennia after it was mined. Modern connoisseurs of gems attribute to him exceptional healing and magical abilities.

History and origin of the name

The stone was named after the district of Variscia in Saxony by the mineralogist Johan Breithaupt in 1837. The area where the mineral was discovered is called “Vogtland” in German, but the scientist who described the mineral chose the Latin name for this area “Variscia”.

This was far from the first find of a brightly colored gem. Even Pliny the Elder in the 1st century in his "Natural History" recorded that in Catalonia the local population is happy to wear necklaces, which they make from green stone mined in local mines.

This information is confirmed by modern archaeological science. Excavations near the Gava deposit in the vicinity of Barcelona have confirmed that variscite was mined here as far back as the Neolithic era. Already in the 5th millennium BC, a complex system of mines was created, in which the ancient Europeans mined the gem and made beads and necklaces from it.These necklaces were found in the south of Spain and France, as well as in Italy, from which archaeologists concluded that they served as the equivalent of money.

In Spain, the stone is called peganite (from the Greek "peganon" - "grass") and spherite for the shape of the stones. The same names are preserved in Germany. So the question of what name the gem had before it received a scientific name remains open.

Variscite jewelry was also found in Britain in ancient Celtic burials. Apparently, the druids have already appreciated it as a powerful talisman. But the color of the British variscite was bluish, not green, as in mainland Europe. Apparently the Celts knew the local deposits.

Place of Birth

The largest deposits of this mineral were discovered in the United States in the states of Utah and Nevada. Huge quantities of the extremely popular "California turquoise" or "eutalite" were mined here. To date, these deposits have been almost completely developed.

Then came the turn of Brazil and Australia, where not only green, but also much rarer red variscites are found. The Australian state of Queensland is currently the main supplier of variscite to the world market. Therefore, such brand names as "Australian jade", "Australian jade" and "Australian turquoise" are also common.

European deposits in Spain, Germany, Poland and Sweden also retained their importance.

In Tajikistan, it is mined together with turquoise at the Biryuzakan deposit, and in Kazakhstan, at the Sarysai deposit.

It was also found in Russia in the Middle Urals in the Upper Sysert region near Yekaterinburg, in Chukotka at the Ichuveem deposit.

On the island of Redond from the Lesser Antilles group, redontite is mined, which is nothing more than the same variscite. In Tanzania, from Tang he received the name tangait.

It is found most often in caves, where it is a product of low-temperature hydrothermal processes. Sometimes forms stalactites. It also occurs in the form of drusen, consisting of very small crystals no larger than 2 mm in size, as well as spherical nodules.

Physical Properties

Variscite has a hardness of 4 to 5 and a vitreous to waxy luster. The color can be green in various shades from light grassy to deep emerald green, light brown or yellow, rarely red. Translucent, there are translucent and completely opaque varieties.

Density 2.6 g/cm3. Well polished. Fragile. The syngony is rhombic. The fracture is most often uneven.

Chemical properties and composition

Variscite is an aqueous aluminum phosphate with iron and arsenic impurities that determine the color of the stone. Sometimes it also contains vanadium.

The chemical formula is AlPO4x2H2O.

Varieties

Variscite forms many transitional forms with other minerals, primarily with:

• shtengit containing iron instead of aluminum;
• evansite, including hydroxyl ions;
• wavelite, which differs in the amount of crystallization water;
• planite, which is a basic aluminum phosphate.

Minerals that include these inclusions or solid solutions have independent names:

• Amatrix - intergrowths of variscite with quartz or chalcedony;
• Barrandite is a solid solution with pink sprentite;
• Bolivarite is a solid solution with white, yellow or blue evansite;
• Ceruleolactite is a solid solution with pale green or greenish-blue planite and white wavellite;
• The bright green stones from Utah contain chlorine and are called chloreutalite.

Spheroidal aggregates are called spherite, and variscite with a monoclinic system is called metavariscite.

Such a wealth of composition determines an unusually rich range of coloring stones, united by the common name "variscite".

fakes

Fake variscites are very common. This is especially true for collection samples, for which they try to pass off artificially colored stones of a different composition. Often glass or plastic is used with the addition of other stones and dyes.

It is easy to distinguish natural stone from plastic by simply holding it in your hand. The plastic feels warm to the touch, while the stone feels cold. Stone can be distinguished from glass by scratching an inconspicuous place with a needle. Variscite is soft and scratches easily, unlike glass.

But the most reliable is your aesthetic sense. If the stone has a poisonous-bright color scheme, then it is better to refuse the purchase.

magical properties

Variscite is a stone whose magical properties will become a faithful assistant to a person who has chosen the path of spiritual development for himself. It will help you enter a state of meditation and even remember your past incarnations.

But for those who are focused on ordinary earthly life, this rare stone inspires optimism, brings an improvement in mood, and protects from damage and curses. Variscite extinguishes conflicts, suppresses aggressiveness and anger.

He makes his master friendly and good-natured, teaches to understand others. The best spiritual traits of a person are manifested, hidden abilities are revealed. Therefore, this magical stone is recommended to be worn as a talisman by doctors, teachers, artists, musicians and writers.

It also brings prosperity to the family.True, those who want to get rich a lot should not wear this stone. He does not like vanity and pride and can even punish. But to benevolent people he is supportive and will help the implementation of plans.

Medicinal properties

There are legends about the healing properties of the stone. It is said that it even acts at the DNA level, correcting its defects.

Variscite has the ability to heal mental ailments. Upon contact with him, depression, tearfulness, suspiciousness and irritability disappear, phobias and fears disappear.

It strengthens sleep and protects from nightmares, perfectly restores strength, including men's.

In addition, it relieves children and adults from bedwetting.

But still, most of all, variscite is valued for the calm that it brings to the human soul and the environment. Next to it there is no place for conflicts and irritation, so it is very useful to keep it on the desktop.

Zodiac signs

Regarding the signs of the zodiac, it is easy to determine for whom it is suitable for variscite. These are all signs of the fire element: Aries, Leo and Sagittarius.

• Aries will be able to establish harmonious relationships in the family and at work.
• Leos will become more attentive to the wants and needs of others.
• He will save Sagittarius from unreasonable investments and purchases and give prosperity.

This stone is absolutely contraindicated for Cancers and Pisces. They may become obtrusively caring under his influence, or others will use their location for their own purposes.

stone care

This stone is very soft and fragile, so it should be stored in a box lined with velvet on the inside. Protect it from bumps and falls, sudden changes in temperature.

If you decide to wash the stone with soapy water, then hold it for several minutes after that in salted water, rinse in running water and wipe dry with a soft cloth or napkin.

If you are lucky enough to find this rather rare stone, then you can consider yourself very lucky. It will give you health, good luck and considerable aesthetic pleasure.

Photo of the mineral Variscite