A wide variety of minerals have been found at different times under the name “sunstone”. For example, warm honey amber, coal - a source of heat and light, Iceland spar - a ghostly gem with a pronounced pleochroism effect, aventurine - the owner of the sun's shine, as well as carnelians, selenites, tiger's eye. Modern mineralogy has left this name only for one of the oligoclases, which belongs to the feldspar group. This stone is characterized by an orange glow similar to diamonds, making it popular and in high demand in the jewelry market.
History of the sun stone
An unusual sparkling stone was discovered in the Andes in the 19th century and received a scientific description and name. But archaeologists claim that the mineral was known and used as a magical talisman by the inhabitants of Ancient India and Greece. At that time, the mineral was used as a conductor between the worlds of the living and the dead, and later for spiritualistic séances. Over time, the sparkling stone also became a symbol of celestial bodies and even found use in astronomy.
Sunstone is also found under the Greek name "heliolite", which is made up of two words "helios" and "lithos", which translates as "Sun" and "stone".
Legend of the stone
Sun stone heliolite
There is a legend according to which sun stones are the tears of the heavenly luminary. On the day God created the world and nature, the Sun enjoyed its own beauty all day long. Seeing the mysterious and mysterious Moon, it decided to make friends with her. As soon as the Sun tried to approach the Moon, it immediately moved away. For seven days, the Sun's attempts to meet the Moon were unsuccessful. On the eighth day, having lost all hope, the Sun began to cry. The tears that fell to the ground turned into sun stones.
Physico-chemical characteristics of solar stone
— Advertising —
Chemically, sunstone is a silicate, a complex mineral that contains albite and anorthite.
The stone is painted orange-red with sparkle. Its crystals have a triclinic system, glassy luster, perfect cleavage, they are transparent or translucent, with a conchoidal fracture and high fragility.
The hardness of sunstone on the Mohs scale is 6. Density is 2.66 g/cm3. It practically does not melt and is poorly soluble in acids.
— Advertising —
The special radiance of the sunstone is due to the fact that its crystals contain a suspension of hematite or copper flakes. Some subspecies exhibit the effect of asterism (star sun stones).
Properties and uses of stone
Sunstone is used in various fields. Products made from it can be found in jewelry stores and at exhibitions of craftsmen. Non-jewelry types of the mineral are used for interior decoration and road construction.
Large specimens are used to make figurines, interior items, and dishes. They are used not only as home decoration, but also as a talisman.
Physico-chemical properties of solar stone
Sunstone is a silicate. Consists of aluminum, silicon, potassium. Its chemical formula is K(AlSi3O8). The gem contains various impurities, for example, iron, calcium hematite, etc. Foreign substances give the mineral shine and different shades, and impart optical effects.
The hardness of the rock is average and is rated at 6 points. The mineral does not dissolve in acid and is not afraid of chemicals. It has a conchoidal fracture and perfect cleavage. Because of this, it is fragile and, if handled carelessly, can crumble into thin plates.
It has a glass luster and the ability to refract light. There are transparent and translucent specimens. Some of them have the effect of glare and asterism.
To watch a program in which you can watch a real search for a stone in nature:
Healing properties
Lithotherapists believe that sunstone has a number of healing properties:
- reduces the severity of an allergic reaction;
- strengthens the immune system;
- eliminates headaches;
- helps to fall asleep;
- treats diseases of the throat and lungs;
- improves the condition of the cardiovascular system;
- normalizes the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract;
- improves the functioning of the nervous system and relieves stress.
To get rid of rheumatic pain, massage with sun stones. To relieve inflammation, you need to apply the gem to the problem area. Admiring the mineral will help improve the state of the nervous system.
Magical properties of sun stone
Sunstone is the embodiment of harmony. It combines the energy of yin and yang (light and dark principles). Anyone who comes into contact with the mineral will be able to understand themselves and understand those around them. Other magical properties:
- Drives away bad thoughts and makes a person happy. The owner of the amulet will learn to look positively at the world and benefit from any situation.
- Gives strength for new achievements. Useful for active individuals who are used to defending their opinions.
- Awakens hidden talents. This concerns the gift of providence or other supernatural abilities.
- Protects the owner from curses, evil eyes, and envious people.
- Protects against accidents, theft, and fraud.
- Guides you on the right path and helps you make the right decisions.
- Helps you find love. Makes the wearer more attractive to the opposite sex.
- Improves character.
- Prolongs youth of body and spirit.
The crystal affects such chakras as Svadhisthana, Manipura and Anahata.
The solar gem is combined with all fire minerals. In combination with moonstone, jade, its activity increases.
Who is suitable for sunstone according to their zodiac sign?
In order for the talisman to bring only benefits, it is important to take into account its horoscope compatibility. Sunstone does not combine with all elements:
- Fire element (Leo, Sagittarius, Aries). Perfect compatibility. Balances their hot temper and makes them more pleasant to talk to.
- Earth signs (Virgo, Capricorn, Taurus). Compatible with solar mineral. They will receive protection and good luck from the talisman.
- Air signs (Gemini, Sagittarius, Libra). Neutral interaction. The stone will do neither harm nor good.
- Water signs (Pisces, Scorpios, Cancers). Not compatible. The gem will make them overly vulnerable, gullible, and force them to follow their emotions.
In addition to watching a video review about the properties of the stone:
Types of sun stone
For sunstone, several varieties are distinguished according to their main deposits:
- Oregon stones (heliolites, golden labradorite) are transparent gems with a bright straw-yellow color. Occasionally pink, red-orange, peach and greenish-blue specimens are found. Due to multiple microscopic impurities of copper, crystals of this type are distinguished by a bright golden-red sheen.
- Mexican stones (royal golden labradorite) are minerals containing iron and are distinguished by a pronounced dark straw color. They have a low refractive index and high gloss, as well as a pseudo-dispersion effect.
- Norwegian stones (microclines, oligoclases) are colored in orange-brown tones, contain admixtures of goethites and hematites, and are distinguished by a radiant shine.
- Tanzanian stones (oligoclase, Maasai stones, confetti) - are characterized by a gray-green hue with sparkling tints, due to the admixture of scaly hematite. Some red-yellow specimens have an aventurescence or “cat’s eye” effect.
- Congo stones (andesines) - distinguished by samples of either light green or red.
- Indian stones - with a red-orange color and inclusions of biotite, shiny, iridescent.
Varieties
Heliolite can be colorless, gray, greenish, and has beautiful shades of yellow, orange, and red.
One of the varieties of sunstone is shimmering andesine from the plagioclase group, with inclusions of hematite and a golden tint.
Plagioclase is a heliolite with a yellowish glow. The mineral oligoclase from the feldspar group is known in jewelry as moon and sun stone.
Magical properties of sun stone
The sun stone has warm and light energy, thanks to which it has found use in white magic rituals. It is considered a powerful protector against misfortune and misfortune, and is recommended to anyone who has experienced a long series of dark events in their life. It is believed that if in such a situation you carry a sunstone amulet with you, it will clear the way for the sun and goodness.
Sunstone talismans develop intuition, improve the character of their owner, increase attractiveness among members of the opposite sex and help maintain vigor and youth. Contact with this gem is always pleasant; it puts a person in a positive mood and helps in making the right decisions.
At the same time, the sun stone is a stone of action. It is not suitable for meditation or resting states, but is used during periods of vigorous activity. In rituals it is used only during the day in bright sunlight.
Areas of application
The solar mineral is used in the manufacture of jewelry. Jewelers rarely combine andesine with other stones. It fully reveals the beauty and radiance in a mono version.
But there are combinations with amber, black agate, tourmaline, citrine, and morion. They highlight the shine of the sunstone.
A silver ring with a large stone costs from 2.9 thousand rubles. Gold copies are at least five times more expensive.
They sell bracelets for 1.6 thousand rubles and beads for 2.7 thousand rubles. A 1.16 carat stone costs from 920 rubles.
Online jewelry stores rarely sell jewelry with sun stones. They are made to order by private jewelers. Products are also offered at fairs.
Large helionites are used to inlay boxes, vases, figurines, and candlesticks. The stone shines beautifully in the light of the flame.
Andesine is used in the manufacture of acid-resistant ceramics. This stone is prized by collectors.
They sell sunstone amulets - a 4x2 cm high bottle with tiny andesines.
Healing properties of sun stone
Sunstone is used in the treatment of diseases of the heart, kidneys, pancreas, and intestines. It is recommended for those prone to allergic reactions and frequent colds. The mineral relieves toothache.
Thanks to its positive energy, the gem is widely used for depression, stress, nervous tension, chronic fatigue and loss of strength. It brings vigor to a person in body and spirit.
In lithotherapy, the sunstone is used in different ways: with its help they do a massage, simply apply it to a sore spot, carry amulets made of the stone with them, look at it in the sunlight, or drink water charged with this mineral.
Chemical and physical characteristics
Heliolite has a medium degree of hardness. One way or another, some of the varieties of minerals are used today in paving sidewalks and building residential buildings. The fact that archaeologists often manage to find a crystal that has been lying under ruins for a long time and is perfectly preserved indirectly indicates its high strength. During excavations, it was possible to discover a stone inside a half-decayed ship built in the 10th century. At the same time, there are no special problems with processing this material.
Branches of application of solar stone
In the jewelry environment, sunstone is very popular, because it is not only incredibly beautiful, but also widespread and easy to process. It is used to make beads, bracelets, earring inserts, rings and pendants. The sunstone looks good in gold frames. Recently, pendants with uncut and unpolished pieces of natural mineral have become fashionable.
Sunstone is not used very often in interior decoration. Based on it, small figures are created that have the ability to glow in the dark.
Mineral deposits
Sun stone amber
Sunstone deposits are scattered throughout the world. In the US state of Oregon, bright examples of jewelry quality are mined. Russia is rich in beautiful stones - the southern regions of the Urals, Siberia and Karelia. Many deposits are located in African countries - Tanzania, South Africa, Congo and Namibia. There are deposits of sunstone in India, Madagascar, China, Australia, Switzerland, Norway and Canada.
How to distinguish a real sunstone from a fake
Sunstone counterfeits are associated with the success of glass manufacturers in Venice, who invented the so-called “aventurine glass.” During cooling, the craftsmen mixed copper into the melted glass, the crystals of which did not oxidize or change color, but shone in the glass like gold. However, the refractive index of light between glass and natural stone is significantly different, and therefore it is quite easy to distinguish a fake of this kind.
Now spars, which are used to make imitations, are heated with crushed copper. The outer layer of such stones develops an orange-red color and sparkle, after which they are cut and polished.
In order to distinguish a natural sunstone from a fake, it is recommended:
- Hold it in a tightly clenched hand. Only imitations heat up quickly from the heat of the human body.
- Estimate the weight of the stone: natural is always quite heavy.
- Tap it on a hard surface. A special “empty” sound also indicates imitation.
How to care for sunstone
Jewelry with sunstone should not be left exposed to direct sunlight for a long time. This causes the crystals to become discolored and lose their natural strength. In addition, the gem is sensitive to sudden changes in temperature and high humidity.
To clean the products, use a warm soapy solution and a soft brush; it is better not to use chemicals with abrasives and chlorine, as they can damage the surface of the stone. After cleaning, they are washed in running water and dried with a cloth.
Where is the mineral mined and used?
The largest deposits of the gem were first discovered in 1941 in the Andes on the South American continent. Nearly 40 years later, Oregon had vast reserves of andesine, a greenish-tinged mineral that would later become the symbol of the state.
The stone is considered a strong love amulet: magicians and sorcerers of antiquity believed that it was capable of attracting the love and attention of people
The largest deposits of minerals are located on the African continent in Kenya, Tanzania, Congo and Namibia, as well as in Canada, Australia, the USA, on the islands of Madagascar and Sri Lanka. The mineral is also mined in Switzerland, India and Norway. In Russia it is mined in the Urals, Transbaikalia and Karelia.
The mineral is very easy to process, which is what modern jewelers value most in it. It is often used as decoration in various jewelry, such as rings or bracelets. It is very widely used in decorative art - a variety of boxes and glasses, figurines and candelabra carved from this mineral enchant with their beauty and sophistication. Such things not only fill your home with positive energy, but are also an excellent choice as a gift.
It is necessary to remember that there are certain rules and conditions for the storage and care of solar stone products. They should not be left exposed to sunlight for a long time: the stone may become discolored and lose its attractiveness. Mechanical damage, temperature changes and moisture should be avoided. Products made from this gem should be stored in an impenetrable, tight case or case.
Sun stone and zodiac sign
Sunstone is the zodiac patron of Aries and Leo. It makes representatives of these signs calm, balanced, and helps to avoid conflicts. The gem is not recommended as a talisman for Pisces and Gemini, whom it endows with apathy, slowness, self-doubt and excessive gullibility.
Magical properties and healing qualities of the mineral
The stone is considered a strong love talisman: magicians and sorcerers of antiquity believed that it was capable of attracting the love and attention of people. Also, in their opinion, due to their warm color, minerals are capable of:
- have a beneficial effect on mood;
- reduce emotional arousal;
- regain determination and optimism;
- stimulate brain activity.
These minerals are also popular among modern magicians. They believe that a talisman made from this gem should be carried with you for at least a year: this is the only way to know its deep magical properties. There is a warning that such stones should not be worn by weak and weak-willed people - this only increases their weakness, which can lead to dire consequences. But for strong people who are not alien to the spirit of adventurism, the mineral is perfect: it will help them in their risky activities, giving strength and vigor.
As a talisman it is suitable for representatives of such professions as:
- medical workers;
- employees of educational institutions;
- representatives of construction and engineering specialties;
- law enforcement officers.
Its warm energy has a positive effect on a person’s general condition. Contemplation of the mesmerizing shine of the stone has a beneficial effect on the nervous system, and tactile contact with it gives activity, love of life and optimism.
Lithotherapists recommend it as a treatment for:
- allergic reactions;
- chronic migraine;
- pneumonia;
- colds and infectious diseases;
- diseases of the oral cavity;
- heart diseases;
- diseases of the digestive system;
- pathologies of the liver and kidneys.
It is believed that sun stones can restore peace of mind in cases of mild mental illness.
Prices for solar stone products
A 1-carat sunstone of high jewelry quality after cutting and polishing is priced at $100. Average quality crystals can be purchased for $30-60 per carat. If the bichromatic alexandrite effect is present, the cost of the mineral rises to $300 per carat.
Interesting facts about sunstone
- In the mid-19th century, one of the unique largest specimens of the sun stone weighing 258 carats was discovered in Mexico.
- Sunstone is the official stone of the state of Oregon (USA).
- According to an ancient legend, on the first day of creation there was only water on Earth and the beautiful Sun admired itself in its reflection. But then the beautiful Moon appeared in the sky, and the Sun decided to come closer to get to know her. But as soon as the Sun approached the Moon, it immediately turned out to be far away. For a week the Sun chased the stranger, and then he began to cry bitterly, and tears rolled from his fiery eyes, which turned into “sun stones” of extraordinary beauty.
Story
Throughout its existence since the discovery of the mineral, it has never been appreciated as a valuable crystal. But magical influence and healing effects made it possible to improve the situation and the health of people in different eras.
- In India and Ancient Greece, it was one of the main components of magical rituals. One of the special properties endowed with the mineral is the ability to be a conductor between parallel worlds and establish contact with the departed. This property was also used by the ancient Indians.
- During the Renaissance, a legend was passed down from mouth to mouth that Sunstone allowed one to control the heavenly bodies. Although she was not acquitted.
- The Swedish chemist Jan Berzelius gave the crystal the name “sodium spodumene” in 1824.
- A couple of years later, the German mineralogist August Breithaupt gave it the name oligoclase.
- It was appreciated in 1841 after an incident in which an amazingly beautiful stone resembling the sun in appearance was discovered in the Andes mountains. It began to be actively mined on the territory of the Russian Federation in 1933.
Interesting story
One of the legends says that on the first day, when God created the world and water, the Sun admired its beauty all day, but once he saw the thoughtful Moon, he decided to establish contact with her. But the closer it got to her, the further away the Moon appeared. For 7 days the heavenly body tried to see the stranger, and on the eighth his tears appeared and turned into sun stones.
Popular with the Vikings
Once upon a time, the Vikings were not familiar with the magnetic compass, but they could easily find their way on the open sea. One of the ancient sagas of Iceland says that at the beginning of the tenth century an episode was discovered where the Vikings were unable to navigate by the celestial body. It talks about the brave captain Konung, who did not see the Sun in the sky, it was cloudy. It was covered with clouds, then he looked into the sun stone and saw its ray.
In addition, in 1967, T. Ramskou, an archaeologist from Denmark, suggested that the mineral played the role of a polarizing crystal. In fact, by looking at the sky through it, it was possible to discern the degree of polarization and determine the location of the Sun, which was important for sailors at that time. This method worked before satellite navigation and radio compass were invented. Sunlight becomes polarized due to clouds. Today, scientists have become interested in this unique property of the mineral and have confirmed it.
Proof that the Vikings actually used the crystal as a navigator is its discovery by archaeologists on an ancient ship that was built back in the tenth century. Its properties are perfectly preserved, which proves its durability.
