Stone Formation
The whole earth is made of rocks and minerals. Inside the earth there is a liquid core of molten rock and on the outside there is a hard crust. If you compare the earth to an egg, the shell on an egg is like the crust on the earth. The crust is made up of rocks and minerals. Much of the crust is covered by water, sand, soil and ice. If you dig deep enough, you will always hit rocks. Below the loose layer of soil, sand, and crumbled rocks found on Earth is bedrock, which is a solid rock.
* The Crust makes up less than 1% of the Earth’s mass (0.4%) It is made of oxygen, magnesium aluminium, silicon calcium, sodium potassium, iron.
* There are 8 elements that make up 99% of the Earth’s crust.
* The continents are about 35 km thick and the ocean floors are about 7 lm thick.
* The Mantle is the solid casing of the Earth and is about 2900 km thick. It makes up about 70% of the Earth’s mass (68.1%). It is made up of silicon, oxygen, aluminium and iron.
* The Core is mainly made of iron and nickel and makes up about 30% of the Earth’s mass (31.5%).
* The Outer Core is 2200 km thick and is liquid and the Inner core is 1270 km thick and is solid.
New mineral crystals are always forming and growing — at the surface and deep within the Earth. Crystals can even grow from vapours rich in mineral components. This happens most commonly in volcanic areas where hot gases encounter cool surroundings and deposit crystals. This photograph shows sulphur forming near a volcanic vent in Java, Indonesia.
Crystals form out of solutions, melts or vapours. Atoms in these states are distributed randomly. When the raw materials for crystals--the atoms of elements--are exposed to a change in temperature, pressure or concentration, they can begin joining to one another in patterns that build into crystals. Salt is an example of crystals formed out of a solution. Water freezing to ice is an example of crystal forming from what melted as the temperature decreases and the atoms cannot move around as freely. Snowflakes are formed from cooling water vapour.
A crystal is a solid body with a geometrically regular shape. Crystals are created as the earth formed and they have continued to change, grow and develop as the planet itself has changed. Crystals are the earth’s DNA; they are miniature storehouses containing the records of the development of the earth over millions of years, bearing the memory of the powerful forces that have shaped it. Some have been subjected to enormous pressure, others grew in chambers deep underground, some were laid down in layers, while others dripped into being – all of which affects the crystal properties and the way they function. Because of chemical impurities, radiation, earth and solar emissions, as well as the exact way in which they formed, each type of crystal has its own specific “note”.
Well-formed crystals, complete with faces, need room to grow, so they usually are found in places where there had been an open space for them in rock. The would-be crystals start with a seed or nucleus. The initial ingredients come together to form the first structure from which the rest of the crystal can form. This stage is called nucleation. After the seed has come together, atoms, clumps of atoms or ions attach themselves to the outside of it and the crystal begins growing. The faster this occurs, the better, and the better the chance that the crystal will survive to turn into a larger crystal.
As you work with crystals, you will hear a lot of terms that seem confusing and complicated at first, but as you get to know the origins of the stones, you will soon understand the differences between crystals, minerals, rocks and gemstones.
Terminology
Gemstones:
* Gemstones are often what people mean when they talk about "crystals".
* This includes precious and semi-precious stones
* There are many gemstones and most are used for jewellery or decoration.
* They are minerals that are usually transparent and have been cut and polished.
* Some gemstones look similar to what the mineral looks like when found in nature and others are very different.
* Few minerals found in nature are suitable to use unaltered in jewellery.
Minerals:
* These are chemical elements
* There are 103 known chemical elements. Minerals are sorted into 8 groups. Some common examples have been listed for each * Native Elements - copper, silver, gold, nickel-iron, graphite, diamond * Sulphides - chalcopyrite, galena, pyrite * Halides - halite, fluorite * Oxides & Hydroxides - corundum, hematite * Nitrates, Carbonates, Borates - calcite, dolomite, malachite * Sulphates, Chromates, Molybdates, Tungstates - celestite, barite, gypsum * Phosphates, Arsenates, Vanadates - apatite, turquoise * Silicates - quartz, garnet, topaz, jadeite, talc
* A mineral is a natural inorganic solid constituent of the earth’s dust
* Most minerals have definite crystal formations
* A mineral is composed of the same substance throughout.
* If you were to cut a mineral sample, it would look the same throughout.
* There are about 3000 different minerals in the world.
* Minerals are made of chemicals - either a single chemical or a combination of chemicals.
* Mineralogy is the science of minerals
Crystals:
* Most of the earth's crystals were formed millions of years ago.
* Crystals form when the liquid rock from inside the earth cool and harden.
* Sometimes crystals form when liquids underground find their way into cracks and slowly deposit minerals.
* Most mineral crystals take thousands of years to "grow" but some like salt (halite) can form so quickly that you can watch them grow at home!
* A crystal is a uniform body within a geometric lattice (or framework)
* The varying structures of the lattice are the causes of the varying physical properties of the crystal
* Crystals are minerals that have had the chance to grow in the shape that they were meant to be.
* Just like your DNA determines the colour of your eyes, how tall you will get to be and the shape of your bones, the chemicals that a mineral is made of determines what shape it gets to be.
* We can tell different minerals apart by what crystal shape they are.
* Crystallography is the science of crystals
Rocks:
* The rocks you see around you - the mountains, canyons & riverbeds, are all made of minerals.
* A rock is made up of 2 or more minerals.
* Think of a chocolate chip cookie as a rock. The cookie is made of flour, butter, sugar & chocolate. The cookie is like a rock and the flour, butter, sugar & chocolate are like minerals.
* You need minerals to make rocks, but you don't need rocks to make minerals.
* All rocks are made of minerals.
* These are combinations of minerals formed from a unique mix of elements and environmental circumstances
* Sand and gravel are also considered rocks.
* When rocks break down into smaller & smaller pieces, they turn into sand. If you look at the sand under a microscope, you will see that sand is made up of the same minerals as the rocks that the sand came from.
* When plants start to sprout up in sand, it is turning from being just small bits of rock to being soil.
* Soil is very important to life on earth. It supports plant life. We could not live without plants.
* Soil is made up of sand and decomposing plants and animals.
* Soil has many names including: clay, silt, mud, dirt, topsoil, dust, potting soil and humus
* Rocks are divided into 3 Types. They are classified by how they were formed.
• igneous
• sedimentary
• metamorphic
* Some good sites that help explain this are:
• The Stupid Page of Rocks Describes metamorphic, sedimentary & igneous rocks
• Rocks and the Rock Cycle A well written description of the Rock Cycle.
* Petrography is the science of rocks
Stones:
* Stones are the collective name for all solid constituents of the earth’s crust
* Geology is the science of the earth
The Seven Crystal Systems
Crystal shapes (morphology) can be a valuable tool in mineral identification. Each crystal may possess only certain combinations of symmetry elements. Only 32 possibilities exist and these are the 32 crystal classes that are grouped into 7 crystal systems. Every mineral belongs to one of these crystal classes. This seven system format was created by French scientist Rene-Just Hauy in the late 18th century. Crystals are characterized on the number of facets or faces they have and this unique crystal lattice is how crystals are identified. Crystals are built from one of seven possible geometric forms or shapes: triangles, squares, rectangles, hexagons, rhomboids, parallelograms or trapeziums. These shapes lock together into a number of crystal shapes which have generic names based on each ones internal geometry.
The seven crystal systems are a method of classifying crystals according to their atomic lattice or structure. The atomic lattice is a three dimensional network of atoms that are arranged in a symmetrical pattern. The shape of the lattice determines not only which crystal system the stone belongs to, but all of its physical properties and appearance. In some crystal healing practices the axial symmetry of a crystal is believed to directly influence its metaphysical properties. For example crystals in the Cubic System are believed to be grounding, because the cube is a symbol of the element Earth.
There are seven crystal systems or groups, each of which has a distinct atomic lattice. Here we have outlined the basic atomic structure of the seven systems, along with some common examples of each system.
1. Cubic System
Also known as the isometric system. All three axes are of equal length and intersect at right angles. Based on a square inner structure.
Crystal shapes include:
* Cube (diamond, fluorite, pyrite)
* Octahedron (diamond, fluorite, magnetite)
* Rhombic dodecahedron (garnet, lapis lazuli rarely crystallises)
* Icosi-tetrahedron (pyrite, sphalerite)
* Hexacisochedron (pyrite).
Some common minerals of the Isometric System are copper, fluorite, garnet, gold and silver
2. Tetragonal System
Two axes are of equal length and are in the same plane, the main axis is either longer or shorter, and all three intersect at right angles. Based on a rectangular inner structure.
Crystal shapes include:
* Four-sided prisms and pyramids
* Trapezohedrons
* Eight-sided and double pyramids
* Icosi-tetrahedron (pyrite, sphalerite)
* Hexacisochedron (pyrite).
Some common minerals of the Tetragonal System are zircon, apophyllite and stannite
3. Hexagonal System
Three out of the four axes are in one plane, of the same length, and intersect each other at angles of 60 degrees. The fourth axis is of a different length and intersects the others at right angles. Based on a hexagonal (6-sided) inner structure.
Crystal shapes include:
* Four-sided prisms and pyramids
* Twelve-sided pyramids
* Double pyramids
Some common minerals of the Hexagonal System are quartz, calcite, hematite and tourmaline
4. Trigonal System
(Rhombohedral System) - Axes and angles in this system are similar to the Hexagonal System, and the two systems are often combined as Hexagonal. In the cross-section of a Hexagonal crystal, there will be six sides. In the cross-section of a Trigonal crystal there will be three sides. Based on a triangular inner structure.
Crystal shapes include:
* Three-sided prisms or pyramids
* Rhombohedra
* Scalenohedra
5. Orthorhombic System
(Rhombic System)Three axes, all of different lengths, are at right angles to each other. Based on a rhombic (diamond-shaped) inner structure.
Crystal shapes include:
* Pinacoids
* Rhombic prisms
* Pyramids
* Double pyramids
Some common minerals of the Orthorhombic System are chrysoberyl, sulphur and topaz
6. Monoclinic System
There are three axes, each of different lengths. Two are at right angles to each other and the third is inclined. Based on a parallelogram inner structure.
Crystal shapes include:
* Basal pinacoids and prisms with inclined end faces
Some common minerals of the Monoclinic System are borax, gypsum and malachite
7. Triclinic System
All three axes are of different lengths and inclined towards each other. Based on a 'triclinic' inner structure, meaning 'three inclined angles'.
Crystal forms:
* usually paired faces.
Some common minerals of the Triclinic System are pectolite, rhodonite and turquoise
Amorphous
No crystal structure. Most of these are either cooled too quickly to crystallise - such as obsidian or moldavite, or are organic - such as amber.
Some common Amorphous minerals are amber, obsidian, opal, coral
*It is not necessary to memorise or completely understand these categories in order to benefit from crystal healing, therapy or using the magickal powers of crystals.
Make Your Own
It's easy to grow your own sugar crystals! Sugar crystals are also known as rock candy since the crystallized sucrose (table sugar) resembles rock crystals and because you can eat your finished product. You can grow beautiful clear sugar crystals with sugar and water or you can add food colouring to get coloured crystals. It's simple, safe, and fun to do with your kids. Boiling water is required to dissolve the sugar, so adult supervision is recommended for this project.
Difficulty: Easy
Time Required: a few days to a week
1 cup water
3 cups table sugar (sucrose)
clean glass jar
pencil string
pan or bowl for boiling water and making solution
spoon or stirring rod
food colouring (optional)
* Tie the string to a pencil or butter knife. If you have made a seed crystal, tie it to the bottom of the string.
* Set the pencil across the top of the glass jar and make sure that the string will hang into the jar without touching its sides or bottom. However, you want the string to hang nearly to the bottom. Adjust the length of the string, if necessary.
* Boil the water.
* Stir in the sugar, a teaspoonful at a time.
* Keep adding sugar until it starts to accumulate at the bottom of the container and won't dissolve even with more stirring. This means your sugar solution is saturated. If you don't use a saturated solution, then your crystals won't grow quickly. On the other hand, if you add too much sugar, new crystals will grow on the un-dissolved sugar and not on your string.
* If you want coloured crystals, stir in a few drops of food colouring.
* Pour your solution into the clear glass jar. If you have un-dissolved sugar at the bottom of your container, avoid getting it in the jar.
* Place the pencil over the jar and allow the string to dangle into the liquid.
* Set the jar somewhere where it can remain undisturbed. If you like, you can set a coffee filter or paper towel over the jar to prevent dust from falling into the jar.
* Check on your crystals after a day. You should be able to see the beginnings of crystal growth on the string.
* Let the crystals grow until they have reached the desired size or have stopped growing.
* At this point, you can pull out the string and allow the crystal to dry.
* You can eat them or keep them. Have fun!
Credit: Sam Ehinger Botoulas
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