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| Labradorite |
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| Labradorite |
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Labradorite a dull gray-black
stone attains its charm from a
superficial play of colors known
as labradorescence. It also comes
in a golden yellow transparent
form that makes some stunning
gem-quality stones.
Composed
of Calcium Sodium Aluminum Silicate
[Ca(50-70%) Na(50-30%) (Al, Si)AlSi2
O8], Labradorite has a Refractive
Index of 1.55 - 1.75, Specific
Gravity of 2.7 - 2.74 and a hardness
of 6 - 6.5 on the Moh's scale.
Thus making Labradorite a versatile
and wearable gem.
Available
in brilliant pastels and deep
gold colors Labradorite makes
for a truly outstanding gem, perfect
for anytime the wearer wishes
to brighten the mood. Transparent
Labradorite is fine, clear and
relatively free from inclusions.
Shades vary from an almost lime-yellow
color to bright canary yellows
and golden tones. While looking
at the gray-black colored form
of the stone one must look for
the intensity of schiller on the
surface when viewed from different
angles. Thus resulting in different
colors being visible from different
angles or a range of colors visible
at the same time.
Discovered
in Labrador-Canada, Labradorite
is also found in China and the
Scandinavian Peninsula.
As it is a rare gem type, the
prices of these stones vary widely
depending on their availability
and quality. Also because of the
variety of color shades this stone
is available in, one should choose
a color one feels comfortable
with. And it is ideal for people
who like large stones in bright
colors.
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| Leifite |
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| Leifite |
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Discovered in 1915 at Narsarsuk
in Greenland, the name Leifite is
dedicated to Leif Ericson, the Scandinavian
explorer and mariner. Occurring
in colorless to pure white color,
with pale violet surfaces on larger
aggregates, Leifite a rare mineral
requires a unique environment in
order to form. It occurs in rare
rocks known as Agpaites, which have
a high concentration of alkali metals,
especially sodium.
Composed
of 10.81% Sodium, 1.48% Beryllium,
13.32% Aluminum, 23.76% Silicon,
0.76% Hydrogen, 43.62% Oxygen and
6.25% Fluoride, [Na6Be2Al2Si16O39(OH)2-1.5H2O],
Leifite has a Specific Gravity of
2.6 and ranks 6 on the Moh’s
Scale. The crystals of Leifite are
transparent with a vitreous to silky
luster and occur in various forms
including fibrous, spherical aggregates
and simple hexagonal prisms.
Commonly
associated with Aegirine, Arfvedsonite,
Analcime, Calcite, Eudialyte, Serandite
and other rare minerals, the occurrence
of Leifite has been reported from:
the Kola Peninsula (Russia), Narsarsuk
(Greenland) and the mines of Mont
Saint-Hilaire, Quebec (Canada).
However the world’s finest
and largest crystals have come from
the locality of Mont Saint-Hilaire.
The site of Mont Saint-Hilaire is
truly unique as it has produced
specimens of over three hundred
different minerals and many more
that are yet to be officially recognized.
Due to its rarity and interesting
crystal structure, Leifite is very
rarely used as a gemstone but it
is quite popular among mineral collectors.
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| Lapis Lazuli |
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| Lapis
Lazuli |
Lapis Lazuli the “Armenian
Stone” is an enduring
rock. Mined in Afghanistan for
over 7,000 years, it is a composite
of several materials with sparkling
flecks of Pyrite. The ancient
city of Ur had a thriving trade
in Lapis Lazuli that is as early
as the fourth millennium BC.
It also appears in various passages
in the Book of the Dead as an
inscription stone.
It
was called ultramarinum when
first introduced to Europe and
oil mixed with ground Lapis
gave the blue in ultramarinum,
the pigment that was used to
paint the sea and the sky till
the nineteenth century.
Composed
of several minerals rather than
a single one Lapis Lazuli is
the only ‘rock’
among gemstones. As all the
specimens are opaque, the characteristic
blue is due to the sodalite
minerals, the white color due
to the presence of calcite and
the sparkling gold flecks from
pyrite.
‘Royal
blue’ is an apt descriptive
term for the fine quality material
which is dark, intense blue
with no visible calcite and
a sprinkling of pyrite. The
lighter the color lower is the
value of this mineral. This
stone is the second most popular
stone used in men’s jewellery,
second to black onyx. While
women commonly wear it as beads
or earrings.
Believed
to have great healing, purifying
and curative properties, it
was quite popular with the ancient
alchemists and used in medicine,
cosmetics and paintings.
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| Larimar |
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| Larimar |
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This gem is mined on one
unique Caribbean mountain
and found nowhere else
in the world. High on
the isolated mountaintop,
miners use just the picks
and shovels to work the
deposits. Discovered in
the 1970's Larimar has
an extraordinary blue
appearance similar to
the color of the ocean
in tropical areas. The
name "Larimar" was given
by the Dominican, who
discovered the stone.
It is a combination of
Larissa (his daughter’s
name) and Mar, the Spanish
word for sea. It is actually
a variety of Pectolite
composed of NaCa2Si3O8
(OH), Sodium Calcium Silicate
Hydroxide. It ranks 5.0
on the Moh’s Scale
of Hardness with a Specific
Gravity of 2.7 - 2.9.
The crystals are vitreous,
transparent to translucent.
Larimar was discovered
in 1828 in Mont Baldo
and Mont Monzoni, Italy,
Pectolite was not all
that well regarded until
the last few decades when
its ocean blue variety
was discovered. It has
enjoyed success in the
semi-precious stone market.
Its translucent, sky blue
color is attractive and
has a loyal following
of admirers. It has been
quite versatile in its
applications to other
jewellery varieties. This
gem offers good adaptability
for any kind of jewellery
with its offbeat quality
and has been the most
sought after, since its
discovery.
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