Rhodonite: what is it, who suits it, properties and value

No wonder the Urals are called the "mountain of gems." This place is indeed a deposit of many unique minerals. One of these stones is rhodonite.

Rhodonite is a semiprecious ornamental stone, the color of which can vary from saturated shades of red and raspberry to dull, as if slightly dusted with pink with various inclusions. The pattern of each stone is unique - it does not shine in the sun, except for particularly thin plates and a rare translucent variety.

The popular name of this stone is orlets, since long before the deposits were found in the Urals, local residents often found an unusual red mineral in eagle nests. Therefore, it is still believed that a red pebble amulet suspended above a cradle or crib will help the child grow as strong, proud and vigilant as a real eagle.

The main characteristic of rhodonite includes a description of the following properties:

• fairly high hardness of about 5.5 on the Mohs scale;
• uneven fractures of faces;
• opaque (translucent only in specific cases);
• glass shine;
• color - all shades of pink to rare raspberry;
• the color of each stone is unique.

Despite the fact that the first samples of this mineral were discovered in Germany, which was the official discovery and recognition of this variety of semiprecious stones, it was known long before the German Christoph Friedrich Jache introduced the concept of "rhodonite" in general. In Russia in the Urals, this stone was known for a very long time, although under a slightly different name. Thus, rhodonite is mined in Russia a little longer than in the rest of the world.

The first samples of rhodonite were found even before the beginning of the 20th century in the Yekaterinburg region, in the village of Maloe Sedelnikovo (not far from the village of Bolshoe Sedelnikovo in the Sverdlovsk region). Rhodonite lived in the village of Gagarskoye (its other names are Cheremshanskoye, Bazhenovskoye and Pushkarikhinskoye) are not inferior to the minerals mined in this area. Here rhodonite is located in the form of small nests and inclusions in the rock of quartz.

For a very long time it was believed that this is the only deposit of this mineral. However, today new deposits are being discovered throughout the Urals. Among them are Parnock, Kurgan and Tyshorsk.

Over time, rhodonite began to be found not only in the Ural region, but also in all regions of Russia. The most famous sources of this ornamental stone are the Trans-Baikal Territory, the Khabarovsk Territory, the Republic of Buryatia, the Republic of Sakha-Yakutia, Primorsky and Krasnoyarsk Territories, and Karachaevo-Cherkessia.

In addition to these remote regions of the Russian Federation, rhodonite is also mined in Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan. It is also known about the presence of deposits in East China, Japan and in some European countries, for example, in Sweden. The largest suppliers of rhodonite in the world are countries such as Canada, the United States of America, Australia, Brazil, Mexico, Indonesia and the islands of Madagascar and Tanzania.

The division of rhodonite into varieties is conditional. As a rule, a stone belongs to certain categories, they look primarily at the color of the stone (color, blotches, saturation) and how transparent the specimen looks. The classification of varieties is constantly replenished with more and more discovered varieties that look so unusual that they cannot be attributed to any existing category, so new ones have to be distinguished.

The most beautiful and rare, therefore, ruby-homogeneous rhodonite is rightfully considered to be expensive. It has a thick red color, which gives it some resemblance to a ruby, which is why the name of this variety appeared. It has a very pure color, without internal inclusions of other shades and other impurities. Jewelry is made from this subspecies, combining, like rubies, with gold and sometimes diamonds, although such a rhodonite in itself looks quite impressive.

The next in cost, transparency and color purity is rhodonite translucent. According to the palette of shades, it refers more to pink, although it may look pinkish or coral due to its translucency, which gives rise to an interesting play of colors.

Next on the list will go plain pink rhodonite, also known as pink spar. Opaque, can be any shade of pink, almost uniform color without various impurities and inclusions. It is found quite often, because of which it has a low cost and is often used for crafts and interior design.

It is worth considering the following varieties that have a heterogeneous color:

• fowlerite - this species contains a certain amount of zinc, which gives the mineral yellow or brownish blotches;

• tape - as the name implies, in specimens of this variety stripes of two colors alternate, most often it is gray and pink, but sometimes brown is also present; sometimes the stripes can be of different tones of pink;

• spotted - one of the lowest rated; the reason for this is the presence of spots of different shapes and different colors (brown, dirty brown, gray, yellow, pink) on the surface;

• mourning - received such a gloomy name due to the presence in the coloring of a black pattern, which occupies a significant surface area of ​​the stone; in this regard, it is used for the manufacture of tombs, monuments, tombstones and so on;

• dendritic - it consists of several colors: pink, brown and black in small quantities; in some instances, you can see the remains of twigs, moss and other plant species, which are actually the result of chemical processes and are called manganese hydroxide.

Important! Not so long ago, cobalt rhodonite was discovered, which looks like a lavender, purple or lilac mineral, which makes it similar to amethyst and amethrin.

Rhodonite has been known in Russia for a very long time. It is not surprising that over time, many mystical and healing properties were attributed to these crystals, which, according to legend, sometimes exceeded the properties of emerald.

It is worth starting with the most common physical properties that any mineral possesses. The pink color of the stone is based on chain silicate of manganese, which is also the chemical composition of this mineral. Hence, the more manganese contained in the composition, the richer the pink color of the stone will be.

Rhodonite has a glass luster, most often opaque. Transparent and translucent specimens are very rare in nature and are highly valued in the jewelry industry and by collectors. When polishing, the surface of the stone acquires a mirror polish and the same cold luster. The hardness of the mineral is from 5 to 6.5 points on the Mohs scale.

Rhodonite is generally considered a mineral for women, as it contributes to the easy bearing and favorable birth of the child, which ensures good health in the first minutes of life. It contributes to conception.

The stone is especially recommended for young women who become pregnant for the first time. Wearing rhodonite is an excellent prevention of some female diseases of the reproductive and genitourinary systems. Older women will help to maintain beauty and youth as long as possible, since the energy of the stone coincides with the female energy field.

It is able to prevent the development of eye diseases if every day you leave small stones on your eyes for several minutes. Such treatment will help relieve excessive tension from the eyes and normalize eye pressure, which is especially useful for those who work hard at a computer or in another area where there is a large load on vision.

With diseases of the endocrine system, a necklace from rhodonite will help. The stone helps with diseases of the circulatory and cardiovascular systems, heart and liver. Instead of a necklace, you can use a pendant made of rhodonite, but on a short chain so that the mineral fits as close to the neck as possible. If your main task is the prevention of liver diseases (including the treatment of hepatitis), then you should use a ring with rhodonite or a brooch on the right side of the body. The stone is able to even out heart rate, normalize blood pressure and improve blood circulation.

Another sphere of action of the stone, about which for some reason lithotherapists forget - the pancreas. Rhodonite acts on enzymes, accelerating and facilitating the process of digesting food and assimilation of nutrients, which allows the body to restore health and reserve of power much faster. And also the wearing of this mineral favorably affects disorders of the nervous systems, for example, with neurosis.

The stone makes a person stress-resistant, helps to avoid nervous breakdowns, irritations, helps improve sleep, cure insomnia and restore memory. He will reassure with panic attacks, fears and nightmares, give optimism, hope and a state of harmony. Very popular therapeutic rhodonite balls used for massage and meditation.

First of all, rhodonite is known in magic as an ornamental stone for many esoteric instruments that can serve as talismans for a very long time. Products from this mineral are like a battery that can be charged with both bad emotions of its owner and good ones. If you purchase a rhodonite product as a spare battery, take care not to inadvertently infuse it with negative emotions.

Rhodonite is a stone of creative people. It will help to discover the abilities and talents that are still hidden, to step over laziness and ultimately lead to well-deserved success and glory. In a creative crisis, the eagle brings inspiration and self-confidence, reduces the fear of failures and new beginnings.

Crafts from rhodonite are also used as a family amulet. This is a good gift for any family holiday - a product from this mineral will protect you and your loved ones from envy, gossip, betrayal, quarrels and other people's insidious intrigues for a long time. If you are still single, then rhodonite will attract your soulmate and soul mate to you. The stone is able to enhance intuition and bring good luck, which makes it indispensable for fans of gambling.

Orlets has a rare ability increase the wealth of the owner, therefore, it is not surprising that many collectors seek to get it in their collection. If you put rhodonite with dark spots in the hallway or corridor, you will be protected from the invasion of robbers. If necessary, you need to conduct a meditation that will fill the stone with your positive energy and will strengthen the owner through strengthening his value for a person.

In terms of its energy, rhodonite is quite delicate and will not cause harm, therefore, jewelry can be worn with it. all zodiac signs.

But only for representatives of the fire element - Sagittarius, Aries and Leo - any item with an orlets will remain a simple piece of jewelry without any useful properties. With particular caution, Sagittarius and Aries should take the acquisition of ruby ​​rhodonite - a perfectly pure stone without intersperses has enhanced qualities that, combined with the swiftness and dynamism of these signs, can lead to absolutely unpredictable consequences.

Libra will increase self-esteem, self-confidence. If Libra lacks a state of inner peace, then you need to buy pink rhodonite, and if the desire to increase its popularity with the opposite sex prevails, then the most valuable ruby ​​rhodonite is suitable for this.

This stone is not contraindicated, but can enter into deep gloom earth signs - Virgo, Capricorn and Scorpio. If the frantic energy of a scorpion is able to resist longing, then Virgo and Capricorn should wear rhodonite with caution and inconstantly.

Rhodonite jewelry often involves the use of other stones and metals. It depends not only on the ideas of the creator jeweler, but also on the type of mineral. For example, if the classic combination for ruby ​​rhodonite is gold and diamonds, which beat its saturated bright color, then the use of spotted or mourning rhodonite in this combination will simply destroy the whole impression of the jewelry.

Quite often, silver is used for jewelry with an eagle. This metal of neutral color is able to create a simple but elegant decoration with almost any kind of stone.

If you look at jewelry from an esoteric point of view, then with the help of other stones you can make combinations that affect different areas of life, namely:

• if you are a public person and the attention and perception of the public is important to you, then pay attention to the combination with sapphire or ruby, but choose one thing, not all at once;

• for creative people who need recognition, it is worth choosing a jewelry with rhodonite and a tiger eye;

• a combination of a pink orlets and jade will serve to increase material wealth;

• to conclude a truce, refer to the decoration with rhodonite and turquoise;

• often used is a combination of pink spar and carnelian, framed with silver, which creates a delicate, feminine image.

Not all varieties of rhodonite tend to be faked. As a rule, the plastic “ruby rhodonite” or “translucent”, but made of simple pink glass - purple, is most often found on the market. If you buy other varieties of the eaglet, then first of all pay attention to its color - in a natural stone there will always be inclusions, patterns of a different color or other unique features.

You can compare the weight - a real stone, as a rule, is heavy, and plastic is much lighter. But if the fake is made of glass, then it will be much more difficult to identify it. A real mineral is quite dense and does not conduct heat well, therefore, hold the product in your hands for several minutes - if it heats up quickly, then you have a fake.

Defects in the form of various damage should not be present on the surface of the stone. Real rhodonite is very hard, so damaging it is not an easy task.

Despite the fact that rhodonite is quite unpretentious, it’s better not to break some rules for caring for him, then the stone will last much longer.

• Orlets is not suitable for continuous wear. He needs to “let him rest” for a while, and before that, wash with warm running water with a soapy solution, and then wipe it with a soft cloth. Do not use hard brushes or aggressive cleaning agents when washing.
• The stone should be protected from sudden changes in temperature, drops and rough physical impact. Ideal for storing gems - a separate box or bag for each.
• If some interior decorations or decorative souvenirs are made from an orlets, it is enough to simply wipe them from dust. Often, decorative items are made of pink spar, which does not have great strength. In this regard, products should be protected from shocks and falls.

Look at the features of the stone in the next video.