The Magic and Science of Jewels and Stones

by Isidore Kozminsky

• Crystalline Form: Monoclinic.
• Hardness: 6.5-7.
• Lustre: Pearly. Translucent to subtranslucent.
• Refraction: Double.
• Chemical Composition: Silicate of Aluminium and Lithium.
• Chemical Symbol: Li A1 (Si O₃)₂.
• Specific Gravity: 3.5-3.20.
• Dichroism: Strong.
• Properties: Electrical. Unaffected by acids. Under the blowpipe flame expands and melts into a clear or opaque glass, indicating lithia by colouring the flame red. Kunzite exhibits phosphorescence under Radium.
• In the Zodiac: Spodumene and Kunzite are under the Heavenly Libra. Hiddenite may be under the zodiacal Taurus.
• Where found: United States of America, Madagascar, Brazil, Sweden, etc.

TOPAZ

• Crystalline Form: Orthorhombic.
• Hardness: 8.
• Lustre: Vitreous. Transparent to translucent.
• Refraction: Slightly double.
• Chemical Composition: Silicate of Aluminium.
• Chemical Symbol: [A1(F,OH)]₂SiO₄. (Penfold and Minor.)
• Specific Gravity: 3.4-3.65.
• Dichroism: Distinct.
• Properties: Becomes strongly electric by friction, heat and pressure. Infusible alone before the blowpipe flame, but with Borax melts into a bead. Changes colour when heated.
• In the Zodiac: The Topaz is under the Heavenly Scorpio.
• Where found: Brazil, Ceylon, Mexico, United States, Australia, etc.

TOURMALINE

• Crystalline Form: Rhombohedral.
• Hardness: 7-7.5.
• Lustre: Vitreous.
• Refraction: Double.
• Chemical Composition: Varied, but all varieties include silicate of alumina, boracic acid, iron, magnesia, lime and soda, sometimes lithia in small quantity, with fluorine and trace of phosphoric acid.
• Chemical Symbol: Professors Penford and Foote refer all varieties of Tourmaline to (H₆Na₆Mg₃Al₂)₃(Al,Fe)₆(B,OH)₄Si₈O₃₈,
• Specific Gravity: 2.39-3.3.
• Dichroism: Strong.
• Properties: Becomes charged by heat and friction with positive and negative electricity. Before the blowpipe flame the darker varieties fuse easily but the lighter more tardily.
• In the Zodiac: The Tourmaline family is under the Heavenly Gemini.
• Where found: Brazil, Russia, California and other parts of the United States, Ceylon, Australia, etc.

TURQUOISE

• Crystalline Form: None.
• Hardness: 6.
• Lustre: Waxy.
• Chemical Composition: Dr. Smith gives the composition as a complex phosphate of Aluminium, iron and copper.
• Chemical Symbol: Dr. Smith gives Penfold’s formula as [Al(OH)₂Fe(OH)₂,Cu(OH)[Cu(OH)],H]₃PO₄,
• approaching nearly to H₅Al₂PO₈.
• Specific Gravity: 2.6-2.8.
• Properties: Infusible before the blowpipe flame, but changes its colour to brown. Dissolves in Hydrochloric acid. Is affected by acids, oils, the health of the wearer, etc.
• In the Zodiac: Turquoise is under the zodiacal Sagittarius.
• Where found: Chiefly in Persia where the best specimens are found. Also found in Mexico, Russia, United States, Australia, etc.

ZIRCON

ZIRCON, JARGOON, HYACINTH OR JACINTH

• Crystalline System: Tetragonal.
• Hardness: 7.5.
• Lustre: Adamantine. Transparent to opaque.
• Refraction: Strongly double.
• Chemical Composition: Silica 33. Zirconia 67.
• Chemical Symbol: ZR SiO₄.
• Specific Gravity: 4.6-4.86.
• Properties: Exhibits frictional electricity. The Zircon is infusible before the blowpipe flame but coloured specimens lose their colours. With borax Zircon melts under the blowpipe into a transparent bead. Heated with lime the Zircon is transformed into a straw-coloured stone which so closely resembles the yellow diamond that it is sold to travellers by some unscrupulous Eastern dealers as the more costly gem. Scientists have not yet been able to explain the constitution and distinct characters of the Zircon satisfactorily. Professor Sir A. H. Church has made a technical study of the zircon for over half a century, and is universally accepted as its most authoritative student. In his researches he found that in certain varieties of zircon the green and yellow stones, ground on copper wheel with diamond dust, exhibit a sparkling orange light, and the intermediate golden types radiate orange tints in the flame of a Bunsen burner. Students are seeking for the unknown element which, blended with zirconium, defies detection. The Zircon is very little affected by acids, except sulphuric acid after very long steeping. It is also peculiar that when first heated the stone exhibits strong phosphorescence, but as its colour leaves it, its specific gravity is magnified and it will not again phosphoresce when reheated after cooling.
• In the Zodiac: All varieties of Zircon are under Heavenly Virgo.
• Where found: In almost every part of the world.