Types of blue stones and their uses

The color blue is found in nature quite often - it symbolizes the sea and the sky, has an attractiveness and depth. It is not surprising that since ancient times people have tried to acquire talismans and charms with minerals of this shade. Blue stones are highly valued by both jewelers and representatives of the artisan class, who create a variety of crafts and interior items from natural raw materials. But in order to choose the right talisman, you should first study the names and descriptions of precious and ornamental stones in dark blue and light blue.

There are many minerals, crystals, rocks of blue, turquoise, bright blue. Some of them are used in jewelry - for the manufacture of jewelry and products of varying complexity. Substances such as titanium, boron, iron, cobalt are responsible for the azure color range in nature. All stones are divided into 3 main categories - precious, semi-precious, semi-precious. Each of them has its own characteristics and colors - from dark blue to transparent sky blue or aquamarine, with an admixture of greenery.

There are well-known varieties of indigo stones. For example, dark blue corundum, better known as sapphire, or turquoise is a natural gem, especially appreciated in the East. Rarer options include larimar or African tanzanite mined in the Dominican Republic. The list goes on, but it will be much more interesting to study the features of the most popular blue minerals in more detail.

Blue and blue gemstones are not uncommon in nature.Some of the finest and most flawless crystals belong to this group. What minerals can be found on the jewelry market?

A stone found only in Brazil. It has been mined since 1972, the name was derived from the name of the mine. Mashishe beryls have a beautiful blue-violet hue and are very decorative. But the stone has a serious drawback - upon contact with light, it loses its natural brightness.

Considered quite rare, blue diamonds are used by jewelers only in expensive items. Stones of this type are also in demand in various high-tech areas, industrial production. But without faceting, the mineral does not look very presentable, and all its beauty or purity can be quite difficult to assess without the help of specialists.

Blue topaz does not exist in nature, but there is a variety of them - London Blue, which has a characteristic blue-gray color with a green tint. There is also a light Sky Blue and Swiss Blue, medium in hue saturation. It turns out such an unusual tone by exposing the mineral to radiation. Before the stone goes on sale, it is kept for some time, eliminating the effects of radiation.

A type of corundum, one of the most durable minerals in the world. Natural stones are quite expensive as they are in the first-class category and are considered to be very valuable. The purity and beauty of a sapphire is especially vividly revealed after cutting. - cabochon, rose, in the form of a pillow. There are deposits of stone in many countries of the world, and only in Antarctica this mineral has not been found.

A blue transparent stone - tourmaline, has a high value, looks spectacular in the frame. Its color directly affects the cost - dark minerals are much more expensive. Most of the tourmaline deposits are located in Brazil. This is where the unofficial name comes from - Paraiba stone, with a neon, bluish-green glow. Other blue tourmalines are referred to as indigolites.

An exotic blue gemstone - spinel, found in the countries of Southeast Asia. Translated from Latin, its name sounds like "thorn". Indeed, the sharp, recognizable shape excludes any questions associated with such an unusual name for the mineral.

To obtain blue zircons, additional processing of transparent stones is used. The mineral calcined in this way is called starlite and is highly valued. Perfectly pure zircons practically never occur in nature. The mineral is found in igneous rock formations, there are deposits in the Russian Federation, Brazil, on the island of Madagascar.

If the rarest and not very common stones with the maximum hardness indicators are classified as precious stones, then no less beautiful, but more common minerals are considered semi-precious. Among them there are also many interesting pieces of jewelry suitable for making jewelry.

Natural stone, available in a wide range of shades of blue. Blue chalcedony has a translucent or matte texture. Since ancient times, the gem has been subjected to additional processing, ennobling it, making it brighter. Sapphirine deposits are found in Eurasia and North America.

The stone, which is more often referred to as ornamental, can still be included in the list of semi-precious stones. It is highly valued by jewelers, and individual pieces are quite consistent with this status. The gem changes its color throughout its life - a greenish stone is considered to have completed its life cycle. Blue indicates that the mineral is at the stage of its flowering, the young rock is whitish and dim.

The semi-precious stone mined in the Dominican Republic and Italy is actually a kind of pectolite. Larimar originates in the crater of a volcano, has an original iridescent structure. Extraction is carried out exclusively by hand, which significantly increases the cost of the stone. The color range is unstable - from sky-blue to blue-green, the thickness of the mineral is dense, translucent from above, there are characteristic white veins.

Ornamental stones are mainly used to create ethnic-style ornaments and household items. Such minerals are often found and are of little value, but can be set in precious metals.

• Lapis lazuli. Ornamental stone widely used in the creation of household items. The mineral has a blue or gray-blue hue, it can be quite brightly colored. The more brilliance and color, the more the stone is valued. Gift boxes and figurines are most often made of lapis lazuli.
• Blue jasper. Irnimite stone or blue jasper is incredibly rare. Once this mineral was even classified as a sacred one. It does not have a solid color. Bright blue stripes cover the base in a gray or cherry shade.
• Blue lapis lazuli. Not a mineral, but a rock - blue lapis lazuli is one of the most popular options for ornamental stones. Its largest deposit is located in Afghanistan, in the north of the country. The beauty of the stone is added by white veins, which are responsible for the appearance of inclusions of calcite. Pyrite inclusions form golden sparks on the surface.

The use of blue stones today is not limited to jewelry making. Minerals are quite actively used in the medical industry, including in the manufacture of precision instruments and equipment. Sapphires are used to create modern braces that are in demand in the dental industry. Also, blue minerals are suitable for the production of artificial lenses for ophthalmology. In surgery, artificial crystals and synthetic sapphires are most often used, from which articular prostheses are made.

The aviation and rocketry industries use blue crystals to produce special glasses with increased strength. Precious sapphires can also be seen in the nozzles of waterjet machines. Among the base minerals, blue-stone granite is popular - a rock with an unusual color range. It is used in ritual work, decoration of building facades.

Despite their obvious beauty, not all people can wear blue stones. Talismans of azure shade are suitable for representatives of the zodiacal circle, born under the auspices of the elements of water or air. Minerals of blue color protect a person from emotional turmoil, help develop oratory and vocal abilities. It is believed that it is precisely such stones that should be given to people in need of friendly support and participation, experiencing a "black streak" in life.

The choice of a stone in a setting, in the form of jewelry, implies the use of ornamental, precious minerals or rocks. It is better to purchase a product in a single range of shades. It is considered unacceptable to use a combination of azure, turquoise, blue tones with orange, yellow, black. Also, all stones in a headset must belong to the same class.

When choosing a stone, it is worth considering the appearance of the future owner. Blue transparent stones are ideal for those with blue, gray, sapphire eyes. Matte ornamental minerals are suitable for brown-eyed people. These include turquoise, which can brighten the face and give it freshness. The color type of a person also matters. Blue stones - turquoise and sapphire are suitable for representatives of the spring range. For those who belong to the summer color type, aquamarine, blue topaz are suitable.

Jewelry with natural blue stones is always popular. But such an accessory must be kept in order - properly stored, timely cleaned of contamination. Natural minerals have a number of features that should be considered when caring for them:

• the best care for a stone is to wear it constantly;
• turquoise should not be touched with dirty hands - it may fade;
• can not be used when cleaning with alcohol or alkaline solutions;
• shocks, pinching, and other mechanical influences should be avoided;
• upon contact with hot water, the crystal may become cloudy and tarnished;
• low temperatures can contribute to the appearance of cracks, high temperatures - to color distortion;
• gems should be regularly immersed in cool, clean water to moisturize.

For the sapphire gem, see the next video.