Edelsteine Anhang 2

 

Rocks and Gem stones: an introduction to formation; history, religion & medicine

Transformation cycle of rocks and formation of gems in term definition:

Magma: Molten rock material that forms igneous rocks upon cooling. Magma that reaches the surface is referred to as lava.

Igneous rock: A rock formed by congealing rapidly or slowly from a molten state. This forms sediment. These are generally very hard. These are liquid lava rocks underground.

Igneous rock = born of fire. It’s a solidified rock. Little texture or layering; mostly black, white and/or grey minerals; may look like lava.

Sedimentary rock: Sedimentation: is the process of deposition of mineral grains or precipitates in beds or other accumulations. This forms sedimentary rock from.

A rock formed by the accumulation and cementation of mineral grains transported by wind, water, or ice to the site of deposition or chemically precipitated at the

depositional site, built layers on layers. Many years of slow build up. Fossils clear prove sedimentary - here we look for history of rocks, made gently enough to preserve living things. They are easy to tear apart.

Cooling or breaking down process. Impressions and experiences built up over a longer period of time. This is the opposite of igneous rocks.

Shale or mudstone is made of tiny particles of clay. It forms in the sea bottom.

Layers of sandy or clayey rock (strata); tends to split along layers; mostly brown or grey; may have fossils and water or wind marks.

Metamorphic rock: Formed when sedimentary and igneous rocks become changed, or metamorphosed, by conditions underground. The four main agents that

metamorphose rocks are heat, pressure, fluids and strain. These agents can act and interact in an infinite variety of ways. As a result, most of the thousands of rare minerals known to science occur in metamorphic

("shape-changed") rocks.

The fiery element is important in all the gems, fire melds down to basic form. The heat can bring about sudden change.

Layers of light and dark minerals (foliation), often wavy; various colours; glittery from mica.

Marble: lime stone turns into marble.

Gneiss: (pronounced nice) is a typical metamorphic rock type, in which a sedimentary or igneous rock has been deeply buried and subjected to high temperatures and

pressures.

Migmatite: it is partly melted. This is an extreme example of metamorphism, like putting gneiss through a taffy-puller.

Crystals (gems) are formed when igneous rocks (born of fire) and sedimentary rocks (sand stone that contains water) meet. The result of this meeting is nothing like the original

substances, a big transformation takes place. Homogenous solid formed by a repeating, three-dimensional pattern of atoms, ions, or molecules and having fixed distances between constituent parts.

A crystal is a mineral, especially a transparent form of quartz, having a crystalline structure, often characterized by external planar faces.

Characteristics of crystal structures:

Crystals can’t be seen with the naked eye.

Crystals are formed through tension and pressure.

Andesite: have small crystals very small volcanic.

Plutonic: have bigger crystals.

Pegmatite: have very large crystals. Where most crystals form, hot magma comes in contact with water (fluid) then crystals start to form. Brought up by slow cooling.

Grain Size has two values: "coarse" grains are visible, and the minerals can usually be identified using a magnifier; "fine" grains are invisible to the naked eye and cannot be

identified with a magnifier. The cut-off is about 0.1 millimetres, between sand size and silt size.

Hardness has 3 values: "hard" rock scratches glass, which usually signifies the minerals quartz or feldspar (Mohs hardness 6-7 and up); "soft" rock does not scratch glass but scratches fingernails

(Mohs 3-5); "very soft" rock can be scratched with a fingernail (Mohs 1-2). All igneous rocks are hard.

Igneous Rocks

Color Other Composition Rock Type

fine dark glassy texture lava glass, usually felsic Obsidian

fine light frothy texture lava froth, felsic Pumice

fine dark frothy texture lava froth, basaltic Scoria

fine light contains quartz high-silica (felsic) lava Felsite

fine medium between felsite and basalt medium-silica lava Andesite

fine dark has no quartz low-silica (mafic) lava Basalt mmmm

mixed any color fine groundmass with larger grains (phenocrysts) feldspar, quartz, pyroxene or olivine phenocrysts Porphyry

coarse light wide range of color and grain size feldspar and quartz with minor mica, amphibole or pyroxene; felsic Granite mmmm

coarse light like granite but without quartz feldspar with minor mica, amphibole or pyroxene; felsic Syenite

coarse medium to

dark little or no quartz feldspar and dark minerals; mafic Diorite

coarse medium to

dark no quartz; may have olivine feldspar and dark minerals; mafic Gabbro

coarse dark dense; always has olivine dark minerals, pyroxene and olivine; ultramafic Peridotite

coarse dark dense pyroxene; ultramafic Pyroxenite

coarse green dense olivine; ultramafic Dunite

Sedimentary Rocks

Hardness Grain Size Composition Other Rock Type

hard mixed mixed rocks and sediment round rocks in sediment matrix Conglomerate

hard or soft mixed rocks and sediment sharp pieces of same material as groundmass Breccia

hard coarse clean quartz white to brown Sandstone

hard coarse clean quartz and feldspar usually very coarse Arkose

hard mixed mixed sediment with rock grains and clay gray or dark and "dirty" Graywacke

hard fine very fine sand; no clay feels gritty on teeth Siltstone

hard fine chalcedony no fizzing with acid Chert

soft fine clay minerals foliated Shale

soft fine carbon black; burns with tarry smoke Coal

soft fine calcite fizzes with acid Limestone mmmm

soft coarse or fine dolomite (magnesian calcite) no fizzing with acid unless powdered Dolomite or Dolostone

soft coarse fossil shells mostly pieces Coquina

very soft coarse halite salt taste Rock Salt

very soft coarse gypsum white or pink Gypsum

Metamorphic Rocks

Foliation Grain Size Hardness Color Other Rock Type

foliated fine soft dark "tink" when struck Slate

foliated fine soft dark shiny; crinkly foliation Phyllite

foliated coarse hard mixed "salt & pepper" often has large crystals Schist

foliated coarse hard mixed banded Gneiss

foliated coarse hard mixed distorted "melted" layers Migmatite

foliated coarse hard dark mostly hornblende Amphibolite

nonfoliated coarse hard red and green dense; garnet and pyroxene Eclogite

nonfoliated coarse soft light fizzes with acid (calcite) Marble mmmm

nonfoliated coarse hard light no fizzing with acid (quartz) Quartzite

nonfoliated coarse or fine hard dark dull and opaque colors Hornfels

 

Gem stones in history and religion.

Gem stones have been present throughout history. They have always been a symbol of wealth and high social status (middle ages and after).

Diamonds were only to be worn by aristocratic families in Europe; diamonds were the first symbol of engagement and eternal love.

In Asia gem stones were only meant for highly important people like kings and emperors. Rubies especially appreciated in India and Jade in China and Japan.

Long before the middle Ages, during the Egyptian empire, Roman and Greek empires gems had more of a spiritual character. Amulets made of gemstones were used in religious and

spiritual ceremonies.

The Assyrians considered Lapis Lazuli to be sacred. The stone brought the blue of the sky and the light of the Gods to earth.

In Egypt they often used Carnelian gems, which they called the blood of Isis mmmm (the Egyptian Goddess of nature). The Carnelian amulet was placed at the throat of a corpse during

embalming. It was thought to instill Isis’ protection on their journey through the underworld. Also were the Egyptians to write the 26th chapter of their “Book of the dead” on Lapis Lazuli,

which was used for religious carvings. One should always hold and rub the Lapis Lazuli with one hand while reading that particular chapter of the book.

Also in the pre-Colombian cultures gems were cherished, emeralds where especially appreciated by the Muzo Indians, who controlled the emerald mines of Colombia.

Gems are said to possess some metaphysical properties and therefore superstitious believes surrounded the gems, as people were convinced that wearing amulets made of some of these

gem stones would keep them from being harmed. So the Holy Roman Emperors wore crowns set with opals, which were thought to protect them and their families.

In Europe amber was worn as protection against witches and warlocks and even ill luck.

Sailors wore amethyst to protect them and take them to safe harbor, as emeralds were thought to exorcise demons.

In more recent religions like Judaism “Declaration” was a holy diamond with some negative aspects. If people erred in their worship or private lives, the stone was reputed to turn murky.

This murky changed was a predictor of pestilence and death. If the stone turned red, they would die by the sword. If the diamond was bright and clear, the Jewish people of Israel knew

they were free from sin and could celebrate each of their religious festivals without fear. In Christianity the Ruby symbolized the blood of Christ. The emerald denoted peace and

happiness given by God and the diamond was symbolic to fidelity to Christ and God, so the popularity of wedding rings made of diamonds.

Lapis Lazuli is the color of the Medicine Buddha. The Medicine Buddha is invoked for physical and Spiritual Healing. Bhaisajya-guru, Lapis Lazuli Radiance Buddha, Master of

Healing, taught the “Four Treatises on Medicine,” which form the basis of the Tibetan healing arts. His colour is the blue of Lapis Lazuli. The begging bowl in his left hand is made of lapis

and contains the elixir of immortality. His right hand makes the gesture of giving and holds a branch of myrobalan, the yellow fruit of which is said to cure all illnesses. To invoke healing

power it is sufficient to call the name of Medicine Buddha.

Gem stones in ancient medicine and today’s therapies.

5 Metaphysical means literally, beyond the physical realm, beyond that which we can realize or discover with our five senses. It also means a

branch of philosophy which studies the “being ness” or inherent nature of reality.

Unfortunately little is known about the use of gems in ancient medicine. The only known complete Materia Medica that it is said to have described over 200 gem stones and their

healing powers is that of Dioscorides6, which is mainly a book about herbal medicine, in which over a 1000 plants are described.

During cholera plagues in ancient Egypt, slaves that mined malachite were usually unaffected, since malachite is a basic copper carbonate. Copper helps rheuma, asthma, and colic.

A powder of Carnelian (= Karneol) was though to stop wounds from bleeding Eastern physicians thought the emerald could cure epilepsy., remove mental and body pain, stop vomiting, purge

the blood, act as an antidote to poison and bites from wasps, bees, and scorpions; helped diabetes, was a remedy for jaundice, and treat leprosy when ground finely and applied as a poultice.

In 500 A.D., Chinese doctors used finely powdered jade in fruit juice for the relief of heartburn, asthma, and diabetes.

Diamonds were grounded used as a poison.

Today used more energy orientated = are either worn or placed on to strategic body parts to enhance harmony of the charkas7 during the healing sessions and after. This is believed to stimulate

the body’s own healing powers by balancing the chakra energy.

Balancing the chakra energy means balancing the own body’s energy therefore enhancing the body’s own healing properties. Gem stone therapy can be used either as an independent form

of therapy.

Gem stones in homeopathy - common themes of gems:

Rare, special, beautiful and magic

Stand apart from common substances, are very attractive. HARD to find.

Durability, last very long.

Served to heal and to protect from illness and associated with power, natural of psychic powers.

Transformation and opposite forces

Products of transformation, appear when lower and common rocks become beautiful and magical.

Opposing forces: the fire element IMportant in gem stones. Fire changes things in their basic form.

Excess of energy = YANG; a lot of hot energy. It can bring about sudden changes.

YING The opposite of this is the water element, feminine, sedentary; a breaking down process.

YING: Water - Cold / YANG: Fire - Heat.

Light and darkness: Light coming out of the darkness: come out of mess of minerals, come from deep places. Magic is in what they do with light. Gems are translucent.

Irreconcilable forces and transmutation, completely opposite, how can they live together?

Darkness and death versus Light - new awareness - letting of and rebirth

The darkness of imprisonment; shackled by negativity, culture, relationship, situation. Lives in the underworld.

The results of a death experience - a journey through Hades (underworld of the psyche).

Leaving something behind, letting go of something to make the change/transformation.

Darkness = old patterns. Light new perspective, new way of looking at things.

Darkness of old crystallized belief systems about self and the potential and light of a new perspective, new awareness.

Most of gems > Light and < darkness. Go into darkness to find the light.

Related to the journey into darkness

Faith in the process of life, in the whole process: Low self - esteem, low confidence. Loss of faith is the deepest - deep lost of sense of the self.

Faith in self = SELF - connection to spirit and the divine. Death of ego and exclusivity - Transition from ego to universal feeling - not exclusive, it is all connected. Taking down the big egos.

Result = New life, new self - giving birth and babies. (Signature for renewal after the death).

There may be some greed and money- issues about wealth.

Family & structure & relationships

Minerals are elemental compounds in geometric and fixed relationships = Working relationships, class relationships, political relationships.

Al and Silica (common). In the periodic table these are the primary substances for relationships and their development.

Seamless bonding and integrity of relationships; highly developed in a healthy way. Relations bring order and structure in someone’s life.

The issues around family alignments seen in: Amethyst, Golden topaz, Lapis lazuli, Black opal and Ruby.

Order and perfection

Uniform structure: they look for basics and structure in their lives; the search for the perfect order. Often perfectionism is an issue: “this is how I am supposed to be”.

Believe systems that we have as human, family, religious.

Animal/instinctual VS enlightened attitude

Wants deep inside feeling and what you are expected to do. They have a sense of being a very aware human being; a universal feeling, if you like.

Violence, sexual energy, something like a very fix attitude, f.i racism and the other side is

enlightened attitude about these things.

They can go from one extreme of hate to a complete integrated relationship.

Fever - Obsession - Passion

Fever = obsession, passion, feel very deeply about something, usually something about

themselves. It can eventually be turned around to something about the environment.

They want to achieve something higher. There are high possibilities and leadership.

Common themes of the gem remedies psyche

Abusive, betrayal, violence and protection.

Search for beauty and perfection.

Boundaries and light, energetic boundaries - out of the body (Amethyst and Gold topaz) or grounded feeling.

Durability strength and hardness. (When you go through a big or difficult process you need to be strong).

Geometry order and structure. They are very structured people and sense of order, more than ordinary minerals. Geometric images, squares, triangles.

Heat and pressure (Diamonds and Rubies) in your life, sense of imprisonment and pressure feeling. Passion.

Serious and humorous or silly happening, completely letting go. Comic things.

Humorous dreams, desire to play practical jokes on people. Even in very depressive remedies, black humor kinds. Situation is so heavy that is silly.

Imagery and symbolism: animals, faeces and toilets, flowers, volcanoes, gods, saints, masters and holy men, sun and the moon.

Intellect, memory, focus and concentration. Loss of memory (Diamond) or ability to focus and concentrate. (Ruby)

 

Vergleich: Siehe: Gesteine.

 

 

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