Dumortierite.............the "Learning Stone"

Deep blue dumortierite was first described in 1881 for an occurrence in Chaponost, in the Rhône-Alps of France and named for the French paleontologist Eugène Dumortier (1803–1873). It typically occurs in high temperature aluminium rich regional metamorphic rocks, those resulting from contact metamorphism and also in boron rich pegmatites. It's often mistaken for lapis lazuli and s used in the manufacture of high grade porcelain. Sources of Dumortierite include Austria, Brazil, Canada, France, Italy, Madagascar, Namibia, Nevada, Norway, Poland, Russia and Sri Lanka.  In this country it's found in the Yuma, Arizona and San Diego, California areas. But the best source is Brazil, where these beads come from. 

Mineral Information - Aluminum borate silicate
Chemical Composition - Al7(O3(BO3)(SiO4)3)
Color - Dark blue to violet blue
Hardness - 7
Specific Gravity - 3.26-3.41
Refractive Index - 1.686-1.723

Dumortierite is said to promote a positive attitude to life and to help you to stay 'young at heart'. It is also said to increase assertiveness and self-confidence encouraging you to speak out when you feel you are being treated unfairly. In addition Dumortierite is said to calm and focus you in traumatic situations giving you the tools to cope with a crisis. Also known as the "Learning Stone" dumortierite promotes mental discipline especially in regard to learning new things. Students find it useful when they are required to take in large amounts of data over short periods of time, because it aids memory.

What do you think the world needs more of?

For World Humanitarian Day- 19 August, your answers can be made into reality. 

19 August is World Humanitarian Day and the beginning of a month-long project that turns words into aid. Sponsor a word and turn your voice to help millions of people worldwide affected by disasters. Tell the United Nations Foundation what the world needs more of on twitter #theworldneedsmore #yourword

Twitter: 
https://twitter.com/UN_WHD
the 
Facebook:
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Instagram:
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Check out the month long campaign to turn words into aid: World Humanitarian Day 2013 Message


The UN Foundation, a public charity, was created in 1998 with entrepreneur and philanthropist Ted Turner’s historic $1 billion gift to support UN causes and activities. We build and implement public/private partnerships to address the world’s most pressing problems, and work to broaden support for the UN through advocacy and public outreach. Through our campaigns and partnerships, we connect people, ideas, and resources to help the UN solve global problems. These campaigns focus on reducing child mortality, empowering women and girls, creating a new energy future, securing peace and human rights, and promoting technology innovation to improve health outcomes. These solutions are helping the UN advance the eight global targets known as the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). For more information, visit www.unfoundation.org.

Azurite-Malachite................ a Stone of Transformation

Azurite-Malachite is a combination of Azurite and Malachite and as such brings together the properties of both stones. It often occurs with malachite, chrysocolla or turquoise in areas with copper deposits. They are found blended together in or near copper deposits, which give them their colors.  In this "marriage" of two vibrant colored gemstones, the electric blue of azurite and malachite's rich green shades are intermingled.  Sometimes malachite's "leafy" green swirls through azurite's deep bright blue or the blue of azurite flashes in malachite's rich green background either way, their colors and unique patterns are so striking. 

The word azurite comes from the Persian word “lazhward” meaning blue.  Specimens contain divers blue hues ranging from azure-blue to very dark blue, and in larger crystals almost black. It can also be found in small crystals or crusts.  Its luster can be dull, pearly to velvet like, or waxy to subvitreous.  

Mineral Information - Azurite Copper carbonate, aragonite group
Chemical Composition - Cu3((OH)2/(CO3)2
Color - Dark blue (sky blue streak)
Hardness - 3 1/2-4
Specific Gravity - 3.7-3.9
Refractive Index - 1.730-1.838

Azurite is said to encourage new perspectives and clear understanding, expanding the mind and helping you to let go of old unhelpful beliefs.

The word malachite is derived from the Greek word “moloche” which means mallow, a reference to the minerals leaf-green color. It has divers green hues, some dark and typically banded. Its luster can be dull, earthy, pearly to velvet like, silky, or waxy to subvitreous. 

Mineral Information - Malachite Copper carbonate, aragonite group
Chemical Composition - Cu2((OH)2CO3)
Color - Light green, emerald green, black-green (lt. green streak) 
Hardness - 3 1/2-4
Specific Gravity - 3.75-3.95
Refractive Index - 1.655-1.909

Malachite is thought to be a powerful emotional cleanser helping to remove past traumas, and negative emotions to bring peace and harmony into your life.

Azurite-Malachite, in its combined form, is a powerful conductor of energy with the ability to reveal deeply hidden negative emotional thought patterns and to cleanse and heal them. Many believe that this stone helps to reduce anger and to increase psychic awareness. It is also thought to reduce abnormal cell growth, promote wisdom, and is used as an aid to relieve the paid of rheumatism.

For thousands of years this stone has been used in jewelry and ornamental objects. During the Middle Ages and Renaissance it was ground into pigment for use in paint and eye shadow . Specimens of azurite and malachite have been obtained from numerous locations world wide and throughout the centuries; from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly know as Zaire), to New Wales, Australia.

Please note that all metaphysical or healing properties listed are collected from various sources. This information is offered as a service and not meant to treat medical conditions.

Aragonite.......often called Flos-Ferri (Iron Flowers)

Gemstone aragonite is a form of stalactite deposit, coming from the encrustations from cave interiors. It was originally found along the Aragon River in the Aragon province of Spain. The most famous and best quality aragonite comes from Karlsbad, Czechoslovakia. 

The city of Karlsbad is a city that's been known for its medicinal sulfur springs since the 14th century, but aragonite is also found in France, UK, Austria, Germany, Italy, Mexico, Namibia, Poland and the U.S.A.

Mineral Information - Carbonate, aragonite group

Chemical Composition - CaCO3

Color - White, yellow, brown, reddish

Hardness - 3 1/2 - 4

Specific Gravity - 2.94

Refractive Index - 1.530-1.685

Also known as tufa and tchazar crystal. It is a mellow, orange or straw yellow-colored carbonate gemstone that has come to symbolize truth and understanding. The Aragon River in Spain, where it was first discovered in 1788, and is what the mineral is named after. 

Aragonite is a carbonated metamorphous gemstone naturally found in stalactites or around natural hot springs. This form of aragonite is often called flos-ferri, meaning iron flowers, due to its thin, entwined branch-like crystal formations. Another source of aragonite can be found in the mother-of-pearl lining of mollusk shells. It is secreted by the mantle tissue of mollusks, specifically in pearl oysters and makes up the layers of nacre that the oyster uses to create the pearl itself. The multiple thin layers of aragonite give the abalone shell its pearl-like luster and beauty that is much loved for sage smudging by Native Americans. 

The crystal structure of aragonite acts like a prism because it is orthorhombic, meaning it has three triangular sides. This prismatic quality, commonly referred to as "orient" in pearls, breaks light into a diffracted spectrum of shimmering color. A Tahitian pearl has the most notorious orient due to the many thousands of layers of aragonite that coats the pearl seed. 

Aragonite, with its gentle yellow and warm orange colors, has been traditionally used to make jewelry for young adults to help them learn patience, instill them with responsibility, generate the ability to be punctual and to stave off the habits of procrastination. Through these attributes, aragonite it is said to bring stability and empowerment to the turbulent enthusiasms of adolescence and helps teens channel their energy constructively. For all these edifying and pious qualities, aragonite was also favored by Spanish monks for use in their rosaries. 

The ancient fossilizing qualities of aragonite are especially interesting. Its soluble calcium-like qualities are found to be a key factor in the preservation of many shell, snail and coral fossils. Over time, the aragonite will re-crystallize into a more stable form of calcite to forever preserve the hard materials until their beauty is rediscovered and enjoyed millennia later.

Aragonite is said to foster truth, understanding and an unclouded perception of reality. Believed to be a stone of nurturing, it uplifts your feelings from stressful oppression into freedom and clarity through its ability to enhance tolerance, trust and insight by providing understanding into the root of problems. 

Aragonite increases energy, boost self-confidence and feelings of self-worth as you learn to place trust in yourself. A wonderful stone for parents and people in tense relationships that test the nerves, aragonite relieves stress, emotional fatigue and anger, bringing patience when it is needed most! 

Indeed, aragonite jewelry can improve the time keeping abilities for the whole family as well as in the workplace. Amazing aragonite can also be used to help motivate procrastinating family members who regularly put off important tasks until tomorrow. 

Aragonite also promotes reliability and discipline in people, providing insight into difficult issues, especially in business. At work, aragonite helps clear the mind, stimulates motivation and provides mental energy required to meet professional challenges.

Please note that all Metaphysical/Healing Properties listed are collected from various sources. This information is offered as a service and not meant to treat varied conditions within one's life.

Amazonite ........sometimes called "Amazon stone" and "Amazon Jade"

Amazonite is named after the Amazon area in Brazil, where it was originally discovered. It is associated with deposits of granite and quartz and is found in parts of Colorado, USA, Norway, Canada, Russia, India, Madagascar, Nambia and Tanzania. The coloration varies from light green to a darker ''emerald'' green, depending on the region it comes from. 

Amazonite (also called Amazon Stone and Amazon Jade) is microcline feldspar composed of potassium aluminum silicate (K Al Si3 O8). Its color is due to lead impurities, and the stone can also include cloudy white streaks and patches. Because of its color, Amazonite is sometimes confused with Jade and Turquoise. 

Mineral Information -Tektosilicate, microcline (feldspar group)
Chemical Composition - KAlSi3O8
Color - Pastel blue-green, Deep green/blue (Russian)
Hardness - 6
Specific Gravity - 2.5-2.6
Refractive Index - 1.522-1.530

Amazonite is said to have a soothing effect on the nervous system. Since the nervous system controls our emotions a great deal, this stone is said to soothe tense and aggravated situations and enhance love. Since this stone is associated with the throat and heart, it is best when worn as a necklace near these areas. Amazonite is said to bestow truth, honor and integrity to its wearer.

Please note that all Metaphysical/Healing Properties listed are collected from various sources. This information is offered as a service and not meant to treat varied conditions within one's life.

Happy International Youth Day!

Botswana Agate........Thinking man's stone

Think intrigue! Think distinction! Think southern Africa--the subtropics, Kalahari-lion, elephant, hippopotamus, crocodile country. Mix them together and you've got Botswana agate. 

Agates were used in ancient times as talismans to protect the wearer from storms, to quench thirst and to bring good luck--all important things for surviving in the subtropics. Botswana agate, in particular, has been used traditionally to sustain attentiveness to detail. It's an ability needed by every successful person in today's changing but nonetheless difficult world, regardless of what kind of jungle that person goes off to each morning (or returns to in the evening).


Mineral Information - Microcrystalline quartz, banded chalcedony
Chemical Composition - SiO2
Color - Grey background, brown, light grey, white bands
Hardness - 6-1/2 - 7
Specific Gravity - 2.60-2.65
Refractive Index - 1.544-1.553

Please note that all metaphysical or healing properties listed are collected from various sources. This information is offered as a service and not meant to treat medical conditions.

Blue Agate....Truth, Loyalty and Reliability

In its natural form, agate--especially South American agate--is often grey. The art of dyeing agate has been a closely guarded secret that's been perfected in Idar-Oberstein, Germany, one of the most important centers for cutting and dyeing since the early 16th century. With this brilliant blue, they've outdone themselves.

Blue is associated with truth, loyalty and reliability. Its importance for healing has been recognized since the Golden Age of Greece. It was revered in ancient Indian and Chinese civilizations. Today, healers who work with color use blue stones for diagnosing and treating throat-related problems. And poise and serenity have always been associated with blue light. Even the expression "feeling blue" comes from blue's cool, sedative effect. No wonder even people who don't "love blue" are drawn to people who do.

Mineral Information - Microcrystalline quartz, banded chalcedony, infused with iron

Chemical Composition - SiO2

Color - Blue

Hardness - 6-1/2 - 7

Specific Gravity - 2.60-2.65

Please note that all metaphysical or healing properties listed are collected from various sources. This information is offered as a service and not meant to treat medical conditions.

COPPER………….Energy and Healing

 


Copper comes from the Greek word "kyprios", which refers to the location of the ancient copper mines of Cyprus; it also has a Latin reference of "cuprum".  Copper is known for its distinctive reddish brown color. Copper is an ancient metal; ornaments, coins, and statues were fashioned from it since ancient times. The United States is one of the world's largest producers of copper, second only to Chile. Other countries that mine significant amounts of copper include Australia, China, Indonesia, Kazakstan, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Russia, Zaire, and Zambia.  In the United States Arizona is one of the largest copper producing states, with lesser amounts being mined in Utah, New Mexico, Nevada, and Montana.  Native copper is found only in small quantities throughout the world, but there are a few areas that are rich in findings, such as the Keweenaw Peninsula in Michigan. The interlocking Copper and Silver masses that are commonly found in the Keweenaw Peninsula are known as "Halfbreeds"

 








Copper bands placed around the wrist and ankles have been used as far back as ancient Egyptian times to help in the treatment of arthritis and rheumatism.  Folklore states Copper works for exhaustion recovery and improving circulation due to the fact that it influences the flow of blood. This mineral is known to be an excellent energy conductor! Sends and amplifies thoughts, healing energy, and gemstone energy into the   wearer's energy field. Because of this, it encourages the physical/emotional bodies to find alignment. The result is clearer thinking, less aggressive behavior, a more calming persona and a boost to self-esteem.  Its mineral make up encourages the balance between warm sun energy and cool lunar energy making it an excellent assistant for increasing your ability to express and accept your true feelings. Copper will balance your personal energy reserve and confidence.

Fall 2O13: A Palette of Many Moods

This season, designers express the many moods of fall with skillfully arranged collections that will enhance and enliven customers' outlooks as the colder months set in. Similarly, colors come together to create moods that range from sophisticated and structured to lively and vivid, encapsulating our inherent need for wardrobe variety to reflect emotions that run from thoughtfully introspective to irrepressibly elated.

"Just as the leaves change in autumn, the consumer will enjoy the ability to change their 'look' and try a new approach to their wardrobe for brisk days ahead," said Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute®. "The fall 2013 palette allows for that versatility and experimentation."

With the changing season, the greens from spring evolve and develop. MultifacetedEmerald continues to sparkle and fascinate, bringing luxury and elegance to the palette, while yellow-toned Linden Green brings a lightness and brightness to the deeper shades of fall. Try pairing both with Mykonos Blue, a bold, meditative blue, for a classic and relaxed fall look.

Exotic Acai adds mystery and richness to the palette, and can be incorporated with the other colors to create a number of powerful fall combinations. Pair the elegant shade of purple with Emerald for a regal disposition, or spirited Samba red for an expressive and dramatic look. Koi, a decorative orange with dazzling and shimmering qualities, is a statement color that serves as a pick-me-up for your wardrobe.Vivacious, an unruly and wildly deep fuchsia, adds an ebullient sensuality to the palette.

Pair Vivacious with anchoring Deep Lichen Green, a naturally lush shade of green, for a dynamic juxtaposition that captures both ends of the seasonal spectrum. Rounding out this season's cornerstone colors, Turbulence, a dark mercurial gray, and Carafe, a rich, glamorous brown, provide more interesting and sophisticated alternatives to the black basics usually worn in colder months. Both staple neutrals pair gracefully with more expressive colors within the palette, such as Samba, Koi and Vivacious.

For more than 20 years, Pantone, the global authority on color, has surveyed the designers of New York Fashion Week and beyond to bring you the season's most important color trends. This report previews the most prominent hues for fall 2013.

Read more at http://www.pantone.com/pages/fcr.aspx?pg=21058&ca=4

Download Full Report at http://www.pantone.com/downloads/support/FCR/PANTONE_FCR_Fall_2013.pdf

Gemstone Optical Properties

Optical properties refer to the way gemstones interact with light. Color, interference and inclusions are all examples of optical properties. The first optical property is also the most obvious--color. 

Color 

Color happens when light hits a stone and some spectral (think of the rainbow) colors are absorbed, and some are passed through the stone or reflected back. A ruby, which appears red to our eyes, reflects red light, and all other colors are absorbed. So what causes a ruby to be red and a sapphire to be blue (or yellow or pink) is based on which colors of light are reflected or absorbed. 

Color variations are caused by impurities within the stone, typically other minerals alone or in combination. 

There are different categories of colored stones. 

Idiochromatic: Some gemstones are called idiochromatic, or self-colored. These stones are colored by an essential part of their chemical composition. For instance, you cannot have peridot without iron--it is an essential part of the gemstone. Iron is also what makes peridot green. Therefore, all peridot is green. An idiochromatic stone will ALWAYS be a particular color since there is no way to remove the impurity that lends the stone its color without changing the nature of the stone.

Pleochroic: Pleochroic stones appear to be one color when viewed from one direction, but a different color when viewed from a different angle. Iolite is a terrific example of this; blue when looked at straight on, but when rotated 90 degrees, it appears grey. Another great example is alexandrite. Under incandescent light, the stone appears pinkish red, but in natural light, it is a bluish green color. 

Multicolored: Tourmaline is a fine example of a multicolored stone. Within one crystal, different levels of impurities will produce a wide variety of shades and colors. 

Color is one of the most appealing aspects of gemstones, and an important factor to consider when designing jewelry.

Interference 

Interference happens when light reflects off of structures within a gemstone. Iridescence, such as seen in opal and labradorite, is an example of interference. The play of color seen in moonstone is referred to as adularesence or schiller.

Chatoyancy (cat's eye effect) and asterism (star effect) are also caused by the interference of light.

Inclusions 

Some people might consider any inclusion to compromise the value of a stone. However, sometimes inclusions will add interest and uniqueness to an otherwise humdrum gem. 

Anything can be an inclusion. Think of a dragonfly trapped in amber--that's an inclusion! Rutiles in quartz and prehnite are also inclusions. Some particularly interesting inclusions are actually gemstones within gemstones. 

Inclusions can also be invaluable in identifying a gemstone since some kinds of inclusions only occur in certain gemstones and others occur only in stones from a particular location, such as a distinct water-lily like inclusion found in peridot from Arizona. There are even certain inclusions that can help identify whether a stone is natural or synthetic. An example would be veil and feather patterns that occur in flux-melt emeralds.

Application 

All of these optical properties are important when choosing a particular stone. For instance, sapphires look best under natural light--in incandescent lighting, they tend to look dull and unsaturated. If a jewelry artist wants to design a beautiful necklace, but their intended audience will wear it only while bathed in incandescent light sources, sapphire might not be the best choice. Alternatively, iolite is a beautiful stone, but because of its pleochroic nature, it might not be suited to being set in a way that it is always rotating, showing its grey tones. 

Inclusions can add interest and depth to a design. Some designers will actually highlight an area with an inclusion in a stone. And if a person had a cabochon with a star, they may not want to put it in a pair of earrings that wouldn't catch the light in the same way as a ring or a pendant. 

Being aware of a gemstone's optical properties can take your design to the next level of beauty, and possibly price point! 

Source: http://www.firemountaingems.com/encyclobeadia/beading_resources.asp?docid=d40l&doccat=articles&WT.fmg_linksection=21WP6WSKLWNX4&cid=547411164140881430&_rid=247438.1706.649225&WT.mc_id=NL130806