History of rock crystal: how is it formed and what is it used for?

Many of us remember the crystal chandeliers of the times of the USSR, which our parents considered almost a treasure. Of course, today we do not particularly care about objects made of rock crystal, but we can not help but recognize their beauty.

Crystal is one of many varieties of quartz, which is almost the most abundant mineral on the planet. There are smoky, yellow and pink samples, as well as rare black crystals, called morion. In a word, the types of rock crystal are incredibly diverse, and the areas of its application are numerous.

Where do you think the name of this mineral came from? The Greeks gave him the name krystallos, which means "ice" in Russian. In the language of chemistry, everything is much more prosaic. Crystal is silicon dioxide.

As already mentioned, it is very common, and therefore there are deposits all over the world. How is this common, but not less beautiful material formed?

All deposits of rock crystal are formed during igneous processes, when molten rocks cool with access to oxygen. In addition, geologists describe a hydrothermal type of development: this is when hot alkaline solutions saturated with silicon salts are gradually evaporated under the influence of high temperatures and with the access of oxygen. In this case, the number of variational color rows of crystal is much larger.

To get this stone began with antiquity. Of course, at first there were no mines or even open-cast mines. Rare pieces of crystal, more like a regular cobblestone, found on the ruts of rivers that flowed from under the glaciers. The pieces were split and polished.

Historians and ethnographers say that rock crystal mineral played an important role in human evolutionary development.

To process it, it required perfect coordination of movements, good development of fine motor skills and really angelic patience: the products were polished with fine sand paste, using coarse ropes of vegetable fibers.

Since ancient times, it is known that after polishing this first unattractive pebble, which once again does not look, acquires a striking resemblance to a diamond. This property was used not only for good purposes: masters of fakes, which are engaged in substituting expensive jewels from diamonds for their ersatz from rock crystal, are still widespread all over the world.

But in ancient times the use of this mineral was not so low. Lenses from it were used by ancient metallurgists, setting the first experiments in the history of pure metal smelting, and the Tibetans used polished pieces of crystal to cauterize wounds, passing through them focused sun rays. The benefit was not only in the thermal effect: this material perfectly passes the UV radiation, which also has a harmful effect on the pathogenic microflora. It is not surprising that the stone of the rock crystal was widely used by the priests, carving out ritual cups and goblets from it.

Noteworthy in this respect are the Aztecs and other ancient peoples of Yucatán: many of the tools by which live prisoners were cut were made from it.