Who is not suitable for sunstone?
Sunstone (heliolite) received this name for a reason. It has a beautiful sunshine, sparkles, sparkles, and looks very impressive. And the magical properties of heliolite bring joy and happiness to its owner.
History
- During Antiquity and in Ancient India, it was used in rituals that allowed travel to other worlds.
- Archaeologists found it in a half-rotten Viking ship.
- The stone gained worldwide popularity in the 19 century . At the same time, in the middle of 19 century , it was called heliolite. The name comes from the Greek words helios (sun) and lithos (stone).
What is sun stone
Jewelers call sunstones many minerals that have predominantly red, yellow, and light brown shades:
- oligoclase;
- amber;
- andesine;
- selenite;
- citrine;
- plagioclase;
- microcline;
- Labrador from Oregon.
But most often this is called heliolite. It is a true sunstone, given its name because of its golden luster.
Heliolite is a transparent or translucent mineral that has the effect of “golden” iridescence, that is, multicolor iridescence appears on the stone in bright light. If you turn it, flashes are visible. After polishing the stone, the iridescence intensifies.
Heliolite is a type of orthoclase, which in turn is a type of feldspar.
Physicochemical characteristics
Sunstone (heliolite) is a complex silicate from the feldspar group.
- Chemical formula – K[AlSi3O8] .
- Color – shades of yellow, orange, red. There are gray and green specimens with shiny inclusions.
- The shine is glassy.
- Transparency – translucent, translucent, sometimes transparent.
- Hardness – 6 – 6,5 Feet .
The stone contains inclusions of goethite or hematite.
When the sun’s rays are refracted, heliolite plays crimson, orange-red, sandy, and yellow shades.
At a certain angle of incidence of light, this gem develops a bright internal golden luster.
Place of Birth
Sunstone is mined in many parts of the world:
- Europe – Norway;
- Asia – Sri Lanka, India;
- America – Canada, USA, Mexico.
In Russia, its deposits are located in the Southern Urals and Siberia.
Read also: Corundum is a stone that helps you reach your goal
Application
Sunstone is used:
- in the creation of interior items;
- as an exhibit of mineralogical collections;
- as a jewelry stone.
Most often it is used in jewelry: it is very beautiful, it can be easily given the desired shape, cut, and the mineral is easily polished.
Heliolite, like all iridescent feldspars, is considered a jewelry and semi-precious stone. Yellow specimens (jewelers call them ferriorthoclases) according to Kievlenko’s classification belong to jewelry (cutting, precious) stones of the fourth order.
Heliolite is used to make all types of jewelry.
The frame is made of gold, silver, and jewelry alloy.
Medicinal properties
The use of sunstone for medicinal purposes is only an addition to the procedures and medications prescribed by doctors.
Lithotherapists believe that the solar light energy of the mineral can positively influence the health of the owner:
- Manifestations of allergies will decrease and the immune system will be strengthened if you wear wearable products with heliolite.
- This mineral has a positive effect on the human condition with diseases of the heart, pancreas, kidneys, and intestines.
- Inflammation and itching are reduced if you apply a pebble to the skin.
- The pain may disappear if the affected area is massaged with a heliolite roller, ball or polished stone.
The sun stone is of particular importance for people prone to depression, stress, and chronic fatigue. Contemplation of a gem gives a charge of vivacity and helps to become an optimist.
Magical properties
Heliolite sunstone has warm, light energy. Its magical properties can be used:
- to develop intuition;
- character improvements;
- awakening dormant abilities and talents;
- creating a family;
- preservation of youth.
The sun stone is of particular importance for a person who has had a long streak of failures and misfortunes in his life. If you wear this pebble, everything will work out and the person will be happy.
Heliolite can be worn as a talisman that attracts good luck, helps to become an optimist, and as an amulet that protects against external negativity.
This mineral is not suitable for quiet meditation. The sun stone encourages active, correct actions and fills the owner with energy.
See also: Larimar – sea-colored stone
Who is suitable for the sign of the zodiac
According to the horoscope, the sun stone is most suitable for the signs of the element of Fire:
- Aries under his influence he will become more compliant and will take into account the opinions of other people. Relationships with loved ones, colleagues, and friends will improve.
- a lion will receive from heliolite good luck, the ability to sensibly assess difficult situations and find the right way out of them. A heliolite amulet will protect you from dangers.
- Sagittarius will feel the help of the sun stone to a lesser extent than Aries and Leo. You can keep it at home, but if you wear it, then not all the time.
From time to time you can wear it for signs of the Earth element:
- Taurus will find in him a friend who will help in difficult moments to find the right path, the right decision. The mineral promotes success in work and career.
- Virgo and Capricorn will be fueled by the warm energy of the sun stone, their relationships with others will improve, people will be pleased to communicate with them.
To the signs of the element of Air – Gemini, Aquarius, Libra — heliolite is neutral. It suits them only as decoration.
Astrologers do not recommend wearing this stone for “Water” signs. People born under constellations Pisces, Cancer, Scorpio may become too trusting and vulnerable. Lucky stones for them: ammolite (ammonite), aventurine, sodalite, belomorite, labradorite, moonstone.
In addition, they are ideal for energy for Cancer and Pisces: cacholong, morganite (vorobievite), pearls, euclase, aragonite, orthoclase.
For Cancer and Scorpio: selenite, hematite, chrysoberyl.
For Pisces and Scorpio: coral, jet, opal.
Also perfect compatibility:
- in Pisces: with morion, fluorite, anhydrite (angelite), prasiolite, blue agate, spinel, rose quartz, jasper, amethyst.
- in Cancer: with chalcedony, black diamond, agate, emerald, cat’s eye, tektite, petersite.
- Scorpio: marcasite, bull’s eye, pyrite, amazonite, alexandrite, howlite, kunzite, unakite, rhodochrosite, sarder, garnet, rich red carnelian (carnelian), aquamarine, topaz.
How to care
Heliolite is fragile, so when using it you need:
- protect from blows and falls;
- Store in a separate box or in a section of a common box.
Clean the inserts with warm soapy water, then dry them and polish them with velvet cloth.
You should not leave the mineral in the sun for a long time, or wear jewelry with it in sunny weather – the stone may turn pale.
How to distinguish from fakes
Like all feldspars, sunstone is inexpensive, but it is still counterfeited. Imitation glass with copper particles can be distinguished from a mineral as follows:
- Estimate the weight – sunstone is massive, glass is lighter.
- Hold it in your hand – the mineral will not heat up immediately, unlike glass.
- Turn the pebble in bright light – if multi-colored tints are visible, then it is real.
Price
The cost of heliolite is low. Examples of prices in Russian online stores:
- beads (6 mm, 56 pieces, low) – 485 rubles. ;
- cabochon (12 mm) — 1 240 rub. ;
- bead bracelet – 2 500 rub.
Heliolite? is considered the most beautiful representative of the feldspar family. A mineral that was not recognized by connoisseurs of precious stones for a long time, but was successfully used by healers and magicians. Covered in legends, today the sun stone is a welcome guest in every home.
History and origin
Before heliolite burst into the list of semi-precious minerals and received recognition and its own name, the stone went through a path of research, trial and error. The first official name sounded like “sodium spodumene”. The Swedish scientist Berzelius gave this unusual name to the mineral in 1824. Two years later, the German mineralogist Friedrich Breithaupt renamed the gem “oligoclase.” And only in 1841 one of the oldest nuggets received the modern name “heliolite,” which literally means “sun stone” in Greek.
The name “sunstone” often refers to golden minerals with a characteristic shimmer, such as amber, aventurine, carnelian, citrine, andesine or selenite. But this is only a poetic comparison, introducing unnecessary discord into the names of minerals.
An ancient legend tells about the appearance of golden feldspar on earth. At the time of the birth of the world, nothing existed except water. In the morning the Sun rose, and his only occupation was contemplating his own reflection in the endless ocean. Seeing the Moon appear at night, the Sun, tired of narcissism, wanted to get to know her. So for a whole week the Sun made attempts to catch up with the Moon, not understanding why it was running away. On the eighth day, the Sun realized that he was not destined to meet the Moon. The luminary began to cry, and the tears rolling from his hot eyes turned into sun stones.
Another legend speaks of a miraculous connection between heliolite and the Sun, as if confirming the first legend. There was a belief that the sun stone helped the Vikings who traveled the seas to see the Sun through clouds, fog and even below the horizon. In those days, compasses did not yet exist, but brave sailors always returned home from long voyages. The beautiful fairy tale about the magic stone has found a scientific basis in our days.
A polished heliolite crystal that served as a compass was found in the wreckage of a Scandinavian ship. Through experiments, it was proven that the gem actually shows the exact location of a star that is out of sight – behind the clouds and even beyond the horizon. The solution to the wonderful effect is simple – through the stone the sky is visible in a gray-blue color, and only the point where the sun is located glows yellow.
Also read: Opal – a stone of talent and charisma
The origin of the mineral is metamorphic and igneous. In nature, it occurs in the form of prismatic or tabular crystals, occasionally forming granular or solid masses.
Deposits and production
Heliolite is mined on all continents of the planet. Countries with deposits:
- USA.
- Mexico.
- Canada.
- Norway.
- India.
- Islands of Sri Lanka, Madagascar.
- Tanzania.
Russian mining sites are located in the south of the Urals, in Transbaikalia, and also in Karelia.
physical properties
| Property | Description |
|---|---|
| Formula | K[AlSi3O8] |
| Hardness | 6 – 6,5 |
| Density | 2,74 g / cm³ |
| Syngonia | Triclinic |
| Kink | Crustaceous |
| Brilliance | Glass, mother-of-pearl |
| Cleavage | Perfect |
| Transparency | Opaque or translucent |
| Color | Various shades of yellow, orange and red, but there are also gray and green specimens with shiny inclusions. |
The chemical composition of the stone is very complex, rich, and unstable. The characteristic golden tint and glow are provided by inclusions of goethite and hematite, which interfere with sunlight.
The mineral is quite hard, but at the same time it has perfect cleavage, which makes it incredibly fragile – with a slight blow, heliolite splits into thin plates of various shapes (rhombuses, triangles, hexagons, rectangles). The nugget does not dissolve in acids.
Applications
The main area of use of solar stone is the jewelry industry. However, the most beautiful specimens traditionally become the property of mineralogical collections. In addition, the nugget is used in decorative and applied arts, creating things of amazing beauty – candlesticks, boxes, figurines.
Stone types
Heliolite is classified according to the color palette of the stone. Moreover, each variety is characteristic of a specific deposit. Therefore, the mineral was conditionally divided according to the place of extraction:
- Mexican is a dark straw-colored mineral.
- Indian – a gem in terracotta tones.
- Oregon is the most beautiful gem. Features a high degree of transparency. The main color is straw yellow, shining brightly with golden-reddish highlights. It also comes in peach and pink. The most unusual specimens are greenish-blue nuggets.
- Congo stone is a red mineral. There are also light green specimens.
- Tanzanian – sparkling gray-green gem.
- Norwegian is a mineral of the brown and orange palette.
Do you know that Oregon heliolite soon after the discovery of the deposit in the American Oregon (1980) became a symbol of this state.
Many specimens have asterism and a “cat’s eye” effect.
Also read: Heliotrope – the importance of the mineral for humans
Medicinal properties
The centuries-old history of heliolite has given healers of all times the opportunity to study the versatile capabilities of the stone. The beneficial properties of the mineral are aimed at treating:
- nervous disorders (depression, stress, chronic fatigue);
- heart diseases;
- allergies;
- respiratory diseases (any type of colds);
- problems of the gastrointestinal tract, kidneys.
Various treatment methods:
- massages;
- applying;
- contemplation;
- wearing jewelry;
- drinking charged water.
Since the solar gem manifests its qualities to the maximum in combination with jade, water is charged in jade vessels. To do this, the heliolite crystal is left in such a container for a day, after which charged water is taken as a medicine.
Magical properties
Ancient peoples – the Greeks, Canadian Indians – used heliolite for spiritualistic séances, at which they communicated with the souls of people who had left this world. The natives of the United States used the solar gem to protect their territories from evil spirits.
Modern esotericists consider heliolite to be especially useful for males. This mineral gives the owner optimism, enhances attractiveness in women’s eyes, develops intuition, and preserves youth.
Solar Nugget has a reputation as an energetically positive stone. The talisman protects a person from misfortune, imparts positivity, and helps to find a way out of the most dead-end situations.
Important! Heliolite is a stone of clear action, capable of guiding decisive people. Therefore, weak-willed individuals are not recommended to acquire such a talisman. The mineral will suppress the remnants of will in such a person, thereby attracting swindlers, swindlers, and dishonest people.
In order for the stone to maximize its magical abilities, it is subjected to complex types of cutting. Heliolite serves as an attribute of white magicians – the solar nugget does not obey black sorcerers.
Jewelry with mineral
The solar mineral is used to make all types of jewelry. The setting is made of both jewelry alloys and precious metals, which affects the cost of the products:
- Earrings made of brass, decorated with faceted heliolite beads with a diameter of 13 mm and sodalite beads with a diameter of 4 mm – 1800 rubles.
- Silver twisted ring with a solo stone – 3000 rubles.
- A bracelet measuring 17 cm made of sunstone beads (10mm), complemented by a jade bead (18 mm) on an elastic silicone thread – 2900 rubles.
- Pendant made of 585 gold with a total weight of 10,5 grams (4,4 grams of gold) – 16200 rubles.
Also read: Fire opal – the magical properties of a unique stone
Men’s accessories (cufflinks, tie clips) are often made to order.
How to distinguish a fake
An imitation of heliolite is plastic or glass. It is not difficult to distinguish a sunstone from a fake:
- Heliolite is massive, heavy, cold. The natural mineral heats up slowly in the palms. Any fake quickly absorbs heat and is noticeably lighter in weight.
- The natural nugget is endowed with iridescence.
The main feature of heliolite will help determine the naturalness of the mineral – it indicates the location of the sun. The gem will emit a characteristic glow in any weather.
How to wear and care
Jewelry with heliolite is considered universal, regardless of gender or age. The stone is equally good to wear during the day or in the evening. Traditionally, jewelry is associated with everyday style, walking, meeting with friends. Products made from precious metals are appropriate for the office, parties, and dates.
The peculiarity of care is to be careful – the gem should not be dropped or subjected to impacts, otherwise it will crack. Store separately, avoid prolonged exposure to direct sunlight, which causes the mineral to become faded. For cleaning use a warm soap solution. After drying, the nugget is polished with a velvet cloth.
Astrological Compatibility
The energy of the stone appeals to representatives of the element of Fire – Leo, Aries, Sagittarius. The talisman will provide comprehensive support to these signs, ensure continuous replenishment of lost energy, and support internal fervor. Thanks to the amulet, Fire signs will become more balanced, which will help avoid conflicting work or family situations.
Pisces, Scorpios, Cancers – signs of Water – are not the best company for the solar mineral. Constant struggle will bring more harm than good to people born under these constellations.
Air and earth Zodiacs can safely choose heliolite talismans. The gem will not play a vital role, but it will not cause harm either.
Is this stone right for you?
Interesting Facts
The New York Museum houses one of the largest specimens of the sunstone, weighing 250 carats.
For older people who have passed the age of sixty, the mineral will be able to briefly restore youth by igniting the fire of perkiness. But such “time travel” will come at the price of physical exhaustion, so old people with poor health should be careful.
