“Prasiolite - what kind of stone is this?” - the first question that can be heard from people who are not familiar with this wonderful mineral. It must be said right away that this is a natural stone, not a synthesized one.
Other names for prasiolite are onion or green amethyst . Its color is unique and comes in different shades of green.
History and origin
The history of the stone is very rich. The discoverers of the mineral are considered to be the ancient Greeks, who 2.5 thousand years ago used “onion stone” in making jewelry .
Prasiolite owes its name to its property of losing color intensity when exposed to sunlight. After fading, its gamma is close to the color of leeks.
The Middle Ages retained an aura of mystery around green amethyst. It was believed that the stone has magical properties and is capable of endowing the owner with insight and wisdom .
By the way, a brooch with a green amethyst, received by Catherine II from the Polish king Stanislav II, was the favorite decoration of the great empress.
There is evidence that Catherine did not part with the gift. Esotericists explain Catherine’s success as a politician and strategist precisely with his help.
Place of Birth
Green amethyst is a rare stone, and therefore this further increases its value.
Prasiolites are not found often, but there are also large crystals among them. Deposits of prasiolites have been discovered in Russia (Primorsky Krai), Poland, Brazil, USA, India and some other places. Perhaps the rare encounter with prasiolite is also due to the fact that when exposed to sunlight, the stone loses its color and becomes colorless, like rock crystal, which is also a type of quartz.
Physical properties
Prasiolite is hard (7 on the Mohs scale) but brittle. It does not have the property of pleochromism (the ability to change shade depending on the angle of incidence of light) and does not have luminescence.
The mineral is translucent, but transparent stones are also found .
The chemical formula is identical to other representatives of quartz – SiO2.
Varieties of prasiolite
Artificially created prasiolite is distinguished by a wide variety of shades. The color range of the synthesized gem depends on the color of the original stones (citrine and amethyst are heated to 5000 °C, then irradiated with ultraviolet light).
But even in natural minerals the number of shades is quite large .
The rarest and most unique are lemon-colored stones. It is a collector's item and an incredible value.
Crystals of onion-green and green with a yellowish tint are very popular .
The most common options:
- emerald;
- dark green.
Physicochemical characteristics
Prasiolite belongs to the quartz group. The hardness of the stone is quite high, amounting to 7 units with a density of 2.65 g/cm3.
The color spectrum is represented by shades of green and yellow. Traditionally, light green specimens are more valued. Processed jewelry prasiolites have a glassy luster and a high level of transparency. The mineral is used not only to create jewelry, but also for industrial purposes. Prasiolite is one of the components of the composition for the production of quartz glass and fire-resistant mixtures. In addition, it is used to create parts for optical and sound devices.
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There are not only natural prasiolites on the market, but also “artificial” ones. They are obtained by heating amethyst, quartz and citrine to extremely high temperatures, which is why the stones are often called by alternative names: green amethyst and chrysoquartz.
Jewelry with stone
Due to its rarity, the mineral is highly valued; it is placed on a par with more famous precious stones .
But due to the demand for the mineral, there is also a growing demand for artificially grown crystals, which, of course, cost several times less than natural prasiolite.
Interesting! Green amethyst in jewelry has become a symbol of sincerity, purity of thoughts and tranquility. It helps to find harmony, to reconcile your inner world with the outer.
Care
Green amethyst is fragile and requires delicate care.
Recommendations:
- Store jewelry with it away from direct sunlight. Prasiolite tends to lose color intensity when exposed to ultraviolet radiation.
- This is a fragile mineral, so try to protect prasiolite from shocks, falls and other mechanical influences.
- The best way to clean onion stone jewelry is by gentle cleaning in warm, soapy water, followed by polishing with a soft chamois leather.
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Price
The cost of a natural gem depends on the purity of the stone, its size, color and the frame in which the crystal is enclosed .
Thus, a cut green amethyst of natural origin can cost from $30 per carat. The cost of artificial crystal is much lower, which makes jewelry with it much more affordable.
Prasiolite in silver is not uncommon in jewelry stores; most often stones of soft colors are placed in light frames, while stones with more intense colors are preferred to be set in gold.
Earrings
Suitable for women of all ages. Due to the fact that the gem is set in both gold and silver, you can choose a model to suit any budget.
It is believed that wearing earrings with green amethyst will help reduce the frequency and intensity of headaches , as well as avoid mood swings that are typical for women on certain days.
Ring
Rings with prasiolite are recommended to be worn by people with arrhythmia and tachycardia . Wearing such a talisman helps reduce the frequency of attacks.
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