A stone that has absorbed the power of the Earth and the Sun and is ready to give it to people with a strong character, purposeful, courageous, persistent and devoted, while increasing the positive qualities of their character significantly. He has powerful energy aimed at creation. He is surrounded by legends and mysteries, arouses admiration and forces him to pull himself together in difficult times. That's all about the mineral Spodumene.
History of spodumene
Spodumene belongs to the lithium-containing pyroxenes.
Its name is of Greek origin and goes back to the word “spodumenos”, which translates as “ashy”. When heated, the initially gray mineral transforms into a substance resembling ash. Spodumene and its subspecies began to be used as jewelry stones from the end of the 19th century, but they were not very popular, as they turned out to be difficult to process.
There are many known deposits for this mineral, where it occurs in the form of large blocks, but it is difficult to cut it, since it is quite fragile. Today, spodumene is used for carving, and kunzites and giddenites are used in jewelry.
Interaction with different zodiac signs
Spodumene is friends with all zodiac signs. Most of all, the stone appeals to the elements of Earth and Fire:
- Virgo men will become more responsible and caring in the family circle. Women's maternal instinct will awaken. They will become excellent housewives and mothers. Children will learn to find joy in life, gain values and meet love.
- A Taurus woman will easily find her man. She will solve any life situation. The man's spirit of adventurer will awaken. The child will receive protection from negativity, respect and compassion.
- The Capricorn child easily makes new acquaintances and gains an interest in life. A woman changes her worldview and decides to make non-standard decisions. A man learns to prioritize and achieves a positive result. Capricorns are advised to wear spodumene frequently.
- An amulet will allow you to enhance the best qualities of Aries and minimize the negative. The woman will gain luck and fortitude, and the child will become a good person.
- Leo will always be in a positive mood and gain self-control. Men will become more devoted to their family. A woman will learn to seek a compromise. She will look good and also think positively. The child will be protected from injury, and will also become a decent and obedient person.
- The Sagittarius child will be protected from injury. The woman will become wise. New prospects will open up for the man. The talisman will enhance good character traits, protect against negativity and endow the wearer with positive emotions.
- Cancer will gain self-confidence and make bold decisions.
- Gemini will be able to find a way out of unfavorable situations. They control themselves and are in a positive mood.
- Scorpio will believe in personal happiness and will develop in the sphere of intelligence and intuition. He will become a rich and independent person.
- Aquarians receive positive emotions and charge those around them with them. There will be internal harmony and the ability to express yourself when the need arises.
- Pisces will become self-confident and sociable individuals, capable of successfully completing the assigned task.
- Libra will not feel stressed while trying to find a solution to a difficult situation.
Spodumene is a beautiful mineral with a rich palette of colors. The stone and its varieties are often used in medicine, magic and industry. Crystal jewelry requires special care. In terms of astrology, the stone is suitable for any zodiac sign.
Record spodumene
Natural spodumene often appears in huge lumps.
The largest crystal ever found in the United States weighed 90 tons, had a length of 12.5 meters and a width of 2 meters. The largest faceted yellowish-brown spodumene weighed 1,800 carats and is today kept in the Royal Ontario Museum (Canada), and the largest carved spodumene (height 137 mm, weight 6000 carats) belongs to a private collector from the USA. — Advertising —
The British Natural Science Museum owns a giant cut kunzite weighing 61.7 carats. The Smithsonian Institution (Washington) stores three Brazilian samples of this mineral, 880, 663 and 297 carats each, and triphan weighing 327 carats. Treated kunzites with a “cat’s eye” effect weighing 35 and 113 carats are also known.
Physicochemical characteristics of spodumene
Spodumene by its chemical nature is a complex lithium aluminosilicate.
The hardness of the mineral on the Mohs scale is 6.5-7, specific gravity 3.2 g/cm3, that is, it is brittle. Spodumenes form long-prismatic crystals or flattened, tapering crystals without end faces. The edges of the crystals are shaded and fissured.
The crystals have a monoclinic system, transparent or translucent, with perfect cleavage, uneven, conchoidal fracture, glassy or pearlescent luster. They are colorless or greenish-white, grayish-white, yellowish-green, emerald green, yellow, lilac, violet. There are also two-color specimens. They have pronounced pleochroism, yellow, orange or pink luminescence.
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Spodumene is not soluble in acids.
Spodumenes are found together with quartz, albite, tourmaline, microcline, tantalite, pollucite, petalite, eucryptite, lepidolite, and beryl.
Types of spodumene
Several subspecies are known for spodumene:
- kunzites - contain manganese, colored pink, purple, violet, were first found at the end of the 19th century. At first they were confused with tourmalines, but later scientists determined that kunzite is a type of spodumene.
- Hiddenites - colored emerald green and bluish green, which is due to the fact that their crystals contain chromium or vanadium, which replace aluminum. The first examples of this bluish-green stone were found in the USA in the 19th century. They were discovered by geologist W.E. Gidden, after whom the mineral was later named.
- Trifana is a subspecies of spodumene with transparent, colorless, yellow or yellow-green crystals.
Place of Birth
Spodumene deposits are found in granite pegmatites. Rarely does a mineral form in its pure form; most often in a layer of the earth’s crust it is accompanied by tourmaline, quartz, beryl and other gems.
Industrial production is carried out in the following countries:
- USA;
- Norway;
- Afghanistan;
- Sweden;
- Brazil;
- Russia.
Smaller amounts of spodumene occur in Armenia, Central Asian regions, Austria, and Ukraine.
There are known deposits that are famous not for the quantity of the gem, but for its quality. In Myanmar, the republics of Karelia and Tyva, and Kazakhstan, large crystals with needle-like projections are mined .
Premium stones for luxury jewelry are supplied from Finland, Australia, the Czech Republic and Madagascar.
Applications for spodumene
Most of the mined spodumene is used in the production of lithium metal.
It has also found application in the production of various types of glass. Spodumene crystals of unique shapes and shades are a valuable collection material; in addition, they are used in jewelry as faceted inserts.
Unfortunately, due to the difficulty of cutting and polishing the stone, its fragility and ability to lose its color when exposed to bright sun, jewelers rarely use it.
Jewelry production
There are quite a lot of stone deposits in nature. Jewelers make a wide range of products containing spodumene inserts. The rather fragile stone is processed by professionals. Sometimes reworking a crystal can cause cracks to appear on its surface. Incorrect cutting may result in loss of color. The thickness of the insert has a direct impact on the color saturation of the mineral. Scientific and technical direction
In the field of science and technology, spodumene becomes the raw material from which lithium is extracted. The mineral becomes the starting material in the production of glass products. In addition, batteries and pyrotechnic devices are created on the basis of crystals. The mineral also finds application in nuclear energy and medicine.
Artificial spodumene
Synthetic spodumene itself is not currently produced, but it is often refined. For example, colorless or lightly colored specimens are exposed to gamma radiation, after which they acquire a pink, yellowish or greenish color. With neutron irradiation, it is possible to obtain stones of brown-orange or greenish-yellow color. When heated to 500°C, spodumene of any color loses color.
How to care for spodumene
Spodumene, as well as its subspecies, must be protected from prolonged exposure to bright sun and heat, since in such conditions the gem loses its natural color.
In addition, the mineral is quite fragile, it is easy to scratch and damage, so you need to wear jewelry with spodumene carefully, and store it in separate boxes with soft walls or in soft bags. To clean products with this stone, cool water and a soft cloth are used, with which they are then wiped dry and polished.
Therapeutic effect
Lithotherapists say: the main significance of the stone is its energetic power. It can affect a person’s mental and physical health:
- The mineral acts as a sedative: calms the nerves, neutralizes depression, and promotes sound sleep.
- Solves problems of the blood and cardiovascular system.
- Relieves headaches and joint pain.
- Inhibits the development of acute respiratory infections, acute respiratory viral infections, and other seasonal ailments.
- Helps ladies get pregnant and give birth to a healthy child (you need to wear a ring on your main hand).
The mineral strengthens the immune system and restores the body. Its medicinal properties are especially useful after operations or serious illness.
Prices for spodumene products
The most commonly used varieties of spodumene in jewelry are kunzite and giddenite.
Kunzites have the same price as amethysts and are valued at $8 to $15 per carat. Increasing the size of a stone does not greatly affect its price, which is more determined by its clarity and color. For example, a pale-colored 10-carat kunzite specimen is valued at $150. The cost of kunzite beads ranges from $100 to $200, and solid threads are very rare due to the fragility and difficulty of processing the stone.
The price of kunzite becomes significantly higher if it has a rich color. The most expensive stones are those of violet and violet-red color, as thick as amethyst; samples of pink and lilac shades are valued less. Bright kunzites start at $500 per carat. Pink or lilac stone can be purchased from $80 per carat.
Giddenite weighing 1 carat is estimated at $1,000, since only one deposit is known for it, and processing the stone is difficult due to its fragility.
Stone cost
The price of spodumene depends on the color and form in which it is sold. The cheapest ones are unprocessed samples for magical purposes (or making jewelry yourself).
For example, trifan from Afghanistan measuring about 4x2 cm will cost 1,500 rubles, and giddenite of the same size from Brazil will cost less than 1,000 rubles. The most expensive purchase will be kunzite - a pebble even a few centimeters long costs about 10,000 rubles.
Prices for jewelry in a silver frame start from a couple of thousand rubles, and in gold they reach several tens of thousands.
Interesting facts about spodumene
- A unique piece of spodumene jewelry is a pearl necklace with cut spodumene weighing 396 carats, and a kunzite ring weighing 52 carats is also known, surrounded by 104 diamonds worth 2.63 carats. Both decorations are kept in the Smithsonian Institution (USA).
- Using synthetic hydrothermal spodumene-hiddenite, imitations of emerald are made, but it is quite easy to distinguish it, since spodumene has a very different crystal structure, which can be seen under a microscope and even with a magnifying glass. In addition, spodumene reveals its obvious pleochroism.
Magic properties
Esotericists have identified the following magical properties of spodumene:
- Protection from external negativity (damage, injuries, accidents). First of all, this concerns children; a pendant or pendant will suit them.
- Development of intuition, intelligence, spirituality.
The gem is able to “smell” lies, intrigues, betrayal and warn the owner about them by tarnishing.
- The magic of spodumene will easily attract luck, money, and personal happiness.
- The talisman of business people is a ring with giddenite.
The owner of a talisman with spodumene will be convinced that any troubles are not worth the special waste of emotional resources.
