Friday, January 30, 2015
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Saturday, January 17, 2015
Thursday, January 15, 2015
Tuesday, January 13, 2015
Emerald Gemstone
Emerald is a bright green
color gemstone, which belongs to the beryl mineral family.
Emeralds are gem-quality
specimens of the beryl mineral family with a rich, distinctly green color. They
are found in metamorphic, igneous, and sedimentary rocks in few numbers of
places worldwide.
It have been one of the most
valuable gemstone for over 5000 years. Ancient civilizations in Africa, Asia,
and South America independently discovered emeralds and made them their
gemstone of highest esteem.
It is one of the “big three”
gemstone in the world (Emerald, Sapphire, Ruby). Swat produces one of the best
quality emeralds in the world.
Emerald’s Green Color
Beryl, the mineral of which
emerald is a variety, has a chemical composition of Be3Al2(SiO3)6. When pure,
beryl is colorless and known as "goshenite." Trace amounts of
chromium or vanadium in the mineral cause it to develop a green color. Trace
amounts of iron will tint emerald a bluish green or a yellowish green color
depending upon its oxidation state.
Physical Properties of Emerald
Color
|
A
distinctly green color that ranges between bluish green and slightly
yellowish green. Stones with a light tone or a low saturation should be
called "green beryl" instead of emerald.
|
Clarity
|
Almost
every natural emerald has eye-visible characteristics that can be inclusions,
surface-reaching fractures, or healed fractures.
|
Luster
|
Vitreous
|
Diaphaneity
|
Transparent
to translucent.
|
Cleavage
|
One
direction of imperfect cleavage.
|
Durability
|
Emerald
is very hard, but almost all specimens have inclusions and surface-reaching
fractures that compromise their durability
|
Mohs
Hardness
|
7.5
to 8
|
Specific
Gravity
|
2.7
to 2.8
|
Chemical
Composition
|
Be3Al2(SiO3)6
Emerald's green color is caused by trace amounts of chromium or vanadium. |
Crystal
System
|
Hexagonal.
Often as prismatic crystals.
|
Clarity
Emerald has a Mohs hardness
of 7.5 to 8, which is normally a very good hardness for jewelry use. Even with
that hardness, emerald has a durability issue. Most emerald contains numerous
inclusions and surface-reaching fractures. These weaken the stone, cause it to
be brittle, and make it subject to breakage.
This is an expected
characteristic of emerald. It is rare to find an emerald that does not have
inclusions and surface-reaching fractures that can be seen with the unaided
eye. Under low magnification most emeralds are said to have a
"garden" of these features.
Treatments
To improve appearance, most
cut emeralds are treated with oils that enter the fractures and make them less
obvious. Some are fracture-filled with resins or other materials. Although
these treatments improve appearance, they generally do not improve the
durability of the gem.
Geologic and Geographic Occurrence
Emerald is a rare form of beryl
which is occur s in very small amounts in the Earth’s crust. Today, the following
four countries are mostly involved in emerald production.
·
Colombia
·
Zambia
·
Brazil
·
Zimbabwe
Minor amounts of production
or irregular production comes from Madagascar, Nigeria, Afghanistan, Pakistan,
Canada, India, Russia, and a few other countries.
Swat
produces one of the best quality emeralds in the world.
Synthetic Emerald
The first synthetic emeralds
were produced in the mid-1800s, but it was not until the 1930s that Carroll
Chatham began producing emerald in commercial quantities.
Synthetic emeralds or so
called lab-created emeralds have the same chemical composition, gravity and
structure as natural. Compared to natural emeralds gemstone, the synthetics
have superior clarity and a more uniform appearance than natural stones of
equivalent cost. Many consumers purchase them for their attractive appearance
at a lower cost.
Imitation Emeralds and Alternative Stones
"Imitations" are
materials that have a similar appearance to natural gems and are used in their
place. They are often manufactured specifically to serve as substitutes. Green
glass, synthetic green spinel, green cubic zirconia, and green yttrium aluminum
garnet are common imitations used in place of emerald.
Notice how some of the least
expensive stones are free of eye-visible fractures and obvious inclusions,
while costly emeralds have fractures and inclusions that are clearly visible
with the unaided eye. Some people have such a high desire for
"emerald" that they are willing to pay more for an emerald than for
another green stone that is larger, cleaner, and more attractive. Buy what you
like!
"Alternative
stones" are other natural stones with a green color that are purchased by
people who simply want a green gem or cannot afford emerald, so they prefer to
use chrome diopside and chrome tourmaline and tsavorite garnet. Tsavorite garnet is wonderful
green color gemstone. Dyed quartz can be a beautiful stone at a very low cost.
Spirtual Benefits of Emerald Stone
It is a symbol of peace and
harmonious married life. It helps in developing good relation with children and
creates unity in the family.
The stone has the ability to
increase the power of reasoning and spirituality.
People having issues
retaining wealth can benefit by his stone, as it is said to have the power to
hold money with the wearer.
It is also helpful in
following matters:
Education, fear of
nightmares, evil spirits, promotion, for good talking and writing skills
(lawyers, teachers, publishers, writers), for business success, seeking a
government job, it improves memory and analytical abilities, helps in land
dispute cases, creates lovely relations, bring good fortune in lottery, decreases
the chances of getting bitten by snakes,
it decrease the pain and
stress of a pregnant women, it also helpful for patients of insomnia, asthma,
amnesia, cardiac problems, eye problems, paralysis, hypertension, meningitis,
nerve problems, cancer of the mouth, breast and stomach, etc. However, a person
suffering from any of the above mentioned health problems must definitely go
for medical treatment, without simply relying on gemstone therapy.
Spiritual Benefits of Ruby Gemstone
Ruby is considered the stone of Royalty. Rubies support the development of courage and will power. It protected from fears and misfortune.
It is helpful for the persons trying to get a high position in the country. They protect the wearer from the deadly enemies, jealousy of others. It increases the managerial skills and initiative power.
It is believed that it strengthens the heart against poison and prevents headaches. It is helpful in restoring health after illness.
The ruby was also considered the emblem of devotion, and as such was permitted in the rings of bishops. It was held to foster the type of devotion which made it possible for the devotee to approach his God with his head up, not slavishly, as if afraid to lift his eyes.
Astrologers, artists, judges, gem experts, sculptors, architects, lawyers, and engineers can use rubies to support their work. Rubies also help cure learning problems.
Monday, January 12, 2015
Sunday, January 11, 2015
Friday, January 9, 2015
Thursday, January 8, 2015
Friday, January 2, 2015
Gemstones in Islam
As narrated by Hazrat Anas,
Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) had a silver gemstone ring and its stone was Abyssinian
gem. (Muslim, Libas, 61). Some scholars said the stone was cornelian. As its
mine was in Abyssinia, it was named so.
About Blood Stone
Bloodstone,
or heliotrope, is green chalcedony with flecks of red due to the presence of
iron oxide. Yellow or red jasper may also be present. It is found in china,
Brazil, India, Australia and US.
History and
Folklore:
Christian
lore states that the blood of Christ dripped onto a green stone, thus creating
bloodstone.
From ancient
times it was considered a valuable stone for healing and banishment of
negativity and it is said would guide people who were lost.
Associations:
Bloodstone
is associated with the first chakra, the planet Mars, the element of fire and
the zodiac signs Aries, Pisces and Scorpio.
It is the
birthstone for March.
Benefits of
Bloodstone:
Bloodstone
is used to increase circulation of the energy through the body and release
blockages.
It is said
to increase immunity and to clean the blood and to halt excessive bleeding.
Placed on
the thigh, bloodstone will ease the pain of childbirth and prevent
hemorrhaging. Worn on the arm by a pregnant woman, bloodstone will help prevent
miscarriage.
Worn on the
arm by a warrior, it will help any wounds received during battle to stop
bleeding quickly. It may also be worn on the breast to keep warriors feeling
courageous and strong and to keep their moral high, even after grievous
casualties.
Bloodstone
is also used in spells to draw money or increase wealth, calm fears and anger
and ensure victory in legal matters.
Wearing Gemstones is sunnah Nabvi (PBUH)
It is Sunnah to wear the ring with the gemstone turned outward to the back of the hand (zhahir al-kaff) since that is how Ibn `Abbas said the Prophet (upon him blessings and peace) wore it, and how Ibn `Abbas himself wore it, – on the smallest finger of his right hand – as narrated by Abu Dawud and al-Tirmidhi in their Sunan, and the latter said al-Bukhari told him it was a “hasan sahih” hadith.
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