Many of us remember the Soviet era chandeliers that our parents thought perhaps the treasure.Of course, today we have no particular trepidation treat objects made of rock crystal, but can not recognize their beauty.
Crystal - one of the many varieties of quartz, which is perhaps the most common mineral on the planet.There smoky, yellow and pink patterns, as well as the rare black crystals, which are called morion.In short, the kind of rock crystal is incredibly varied, plentiful and its use.
What do you think went from the name of this mineral?The Greeks gave it the name krystallos, which translated into Russian means "ice".In the language of chemistry is much more prosaic.Crystal - is silica.
As already mentioned, it is very common, but because there are deposits around the world.How does this everyday, but no less beautiful material?
All deposits of rock crystal formed during magmatic processes when molten rock cools in the access of oxygen.In addition, the geologists described and hydrothermal type of development: this is where the hot alkaline solution saturated with salts of silicon gradually evaporated under high temperatures and oxygen.In this case, the number of variant color series crystal much more.
To extract the stone began to antiquity.Of course, the first was not even mine opencast.Rare pieces of crystal, more similar to another boulder found in the shallows of the rivers that flowed from beneath glaciers.Pieces of split and polished.
Historians and anthropologists say that the mineral rhinestone played a role in the evolution of man.
to handle it needed a perfect coordination of movements, good development of fine motor skills and truly angelic patience polishing paste products of fine sand, using a coarse rope from vegetable fibers.
Since ancient times it is known that after polishing the first nondescript stone, which once again and look acquires a striking resemblance to the diamond.Use this feature not only to good use: up to now worldwide distributed master forgery involved substitutions of expensive jewelry from diamonds in their ersatz rock crystal.
But in ancient times, the use of this mineral was not as sordid.Lenses of it used the ancient metallurgists, becoming the first in the history of experiments on pure metals smelting, and Tibetans have used polished pieces of crystal to cauterize wounds, flowing through them focused sunlight.Use was not only thermal effect: the material that perfectly transmits the UV radiation, which is also detrimental effect on pathogens.It is not surprising that the stone rhinestone widely used priests, carving out a ritual bowls and cups.
notorious in this respect, the Aztecs and other ancient peoples of the Yucatan: Many of the tools that cut still alive prisoners were made because of him.
