Meaning of Lapis Lazuli Healing Stone
The stone lapis lazuli is not too expensive, but infinitely precious. Paradox? The ancients did not think so. The secret knowledge was: lazurite opens its properties to everyone, but will prefer the chosen one. Only those who are not afraid to approach the mountain peaks and touch the hand of heaven will receive the highest reward. The stone of the color of the sky, extracted in the unthinkable height, will make the life of its owner flight over vanity…
Millennia passed until science surpassed superstition, and the nature of the gem was revealed to humanity in its entirety. We are aware of the chemical composition and physical properties of the mineral. Its deposits are discovered in different parts of the world. The extraction, processing and use of cornflower stone are being conducted. And yet, lapis lazuli – in every piece of it, in every bead and jewelry insert – still keeps the secret of its charm!
Heavenly blue, cured by the forces of nature, attracts, captivates and excites the imagination as if it were old. Among the dominance of the artificial sparkling of man-made crystals, the “soft” glow of the azure stone attracts attention with an artless beauty and an amazing resemblance to the depths of the sky.
Lapis lazuli then glows in the August afternoon, then it turns blue with anticipatory thunderstorm twilight, and then it is silvered by a cloudy haze over the blue of the sea. They say there are even more beautiful gems in the world. But this is the voice of envy…
Physicochemical properties of lapis lazuli
Lapis lazuli – a mineral well studied. It is distinguished by:
– color azure blue, dark blue;
– shine glass, fat;
– Opaque, can shine through;
– The line is light blue;
– Mohs hardness 5.5; fragile;
– Density of 2.38-2.42 g / cm3;
– Fractured shell;
– Cubic systemic;
– In the form of a crystal it is rare;
– Crystals of a simple cubic structure. Chlorine ions are located in the corners and center of the cube in the tetrahedral environment of sodium ions;
– The symmetry class is hex tetrahedral;
Cleavage is imperfect;
– Aggregates are dense, amorphous;
– decomposes in HCl with the liberation of hydrogen sulphide;
– Accompanying minerals – calcite, pyrite;
– Similar minerals: sodalite, nosean, gayuin.
The chemical composition of lazurite includes: sodium oxide Na2O – 16.8%, calcium oxide CaO – 8.7%, alumina Al2O3 – 27.2%, silica SiO2 – 31.8%, sulfur oxide SO3 – 34%, chlorine Cl is 0.25%.
Lapis lazuli in the history of mankind
At least seven thousand years ago, the extraction of blue stone in the mining mines of the Pamirs began. Decorating the palaces of the eastern rulers, the lapis lazuli was invariably the subject of attention of ambassadors and merchants. Western European artists have learned to triturate the mineral into powder, mix the powder with the boiled oil and thus produce ultramarine – “over the sea” – paint.
Lazurite was in love with the Pharaohs. The best of the surviving works of ancient Egyptian art bluish with a primordial density of color. It was in ancient Egypt that a tradition arose for the creation of gold jewelry with lapis lazuli insets.
The conquest of the East enabled the nobles of Europe to freely dispose of the precious gem. Rich houses were necessarily decorated with vases and fireplaces, statues and balustrades made of lapis lazuli.
True, lapis lazuli – lapis lazuli dense homogeneous color, blue or purple – was valued highly and was used only for making jewelry.
The discovery of the blue mineral in the Russian borders helped the Russian emperors decorate the grandiose buildings of the capital with beautiful azure finish. Columns of St. Isaac’s Cathedral, the halls of the Peterhof Palace complex, the Winter Palace of Imperial Russia shine with the ever-fresh blue of Russian lapis lazuli.
Worldwide deposits of precious stone
Lapis lazuli is considered an ornamental stone. At the same time, the best samples of the mineral have undoubted jewelry values. But even in this case the price of lapis lazuli does not exceed two dollars per gram!
Price availability of the most beautiful natural material is determined by the volume of extraction of blue stone. Chilean Andes – along with the Afghan Pamirs – give the lion’s share of the proceeds of lazurite raw materials to the world market.
North America, Argentina, India and Russia produce high-quality lapis lazuli from less significant deposits.
Artificial gem or how to counterfeit lapis lazuli
Counterfeits of natural lapis lazuli are numerous. There is nothing surprising in that the most expensive varieties of gem are imitated. Painting jasper and sodalite in purple, scammers give out the finished product for lapis lazuli.
Extruded synthetic spinel is often issued for a crystal of lapis lazuli. There are several ways to check it. Wetting the natural gem leads to a continuous moistening of the surface. On artificial stone water is collected in droplets.
Lazurite of natural origin is refractory. In the old days, a stone designed for cabochon cutting was poured on fire for up to ten days to reveal defects in its structure. No imitation of such a test will survive…
Decoration from lapis lazuli
A wonderful piece of interior decoration can serve as a fragment of wild lapis lazuli. Some of the deposits are rich in deposits of blue gem with sparks of “golden” pyrite in the thickness of the stone massif. Even untreated fragments of valuable rock become the focus of attention!
Jewelry lapis lazuli is often made by material for cutting gems. Refinished cabochon lapis lazuli recover in gold and silver. Pendants, pendants and earrings with lapis lazuli inserts are often combined into headsets.
Serially produced only lapis lazuli beads. They are inexpensive. Jewelry made of lapis lazuli, made on individual projects, can be evaluated higher than products with precious stones of the highest category. In the photo below – lapis lazuli designed for custom jewelry.
Therapeutic properties of lapis lazuli
In modern litho therapy, the therapeutic properties of lapis lazuli are valued as uniquely all-encompassing. The blue stone normalizes vision, lowers arterial pressure, eliminates nervous tension, and brings happy dreams.
Pregnant women are recommended to wear lapis lazuli ornaments in order to get rid of the danger of miscarriage. Lazurite also helps in getting rid of toxicosis, normalizing the menstrual cycle, preventing inflammation of the female organs.
Crushed lazurite in a mixture with dilute acetic acid helps hair growth heals lesions of the gastrointestinal tract. Grated with honey and pomegranate leaves, the mineral treats skin diseases. Accepted in homeopathic doses, lapis lazuli helps to heal bruises and minor injuries.
The magical properties of lapis lazuli
It has long been believed that the main magical properties of lapis lazuli are aimed at establishing communication between people and gods. It is impossible to shame the soul before the creator, and therefore in the European magical tradition the blue stone became a symbol of openness and frankness.
Constant communication with the gem cleanses the soul of base thoughts, directs aspirations to spiritual heights. Only true friends can bestow loved ones with lapis lazuli: they do not accept insincerity!
Wearing lapis lazuli jewelry can give a person the happiness of material prosperity, business success, game luck or mutual love – but only one of four! It is noted that at different stages of life the same talisman can contribute to all four benefits in turn.