Blog n°6. Lithotherapy and mineralogy

Mineralogy is the branch of Earth science that studies minerals, that is, natural solid substances with a defined chemical composition and an ordered crystalline structure.

Here is an overview of key information about this discipline.

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🔍 Definition, a mineral is:

Natural: Formed by natural geological processes.

Solid: at room temperature.

Inorganic: generally not derived from living organisms.

With a defined chemical composition: for example, the formula of calcite is CaCO₃.

Crystalline structure: atoms are arranged in a regular pattern.

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📚 Main areas of mineralogy:

Crystallography: study of crystal structures.

Mineral chemistry: composition and formulas of minerals.

Classification of minerals: grouping into families (silicates, carbonates, sulfides, etc.).

Mineral genesis: formation of minerals in different geological contexts.

Physical and optical properties: hardness, cleavage, color, brightness, density, fluorescence, etc.

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🧭 The 7 crystal systems

There are 7 basic crystal systems, depending on the lengths of the edges (a, b, c) and the angles between them (α, β, γ):

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🌍 Mineral classes:

These classes are based on the main anions present in minerals. Each class has a specific chemical structure that influences its properties and appearance. Minerals are classified based on their chemical compositions and crystal structures.

These classes are based on the main anions present in minerals. Each class has a specific chemical structure that influences its properties and appearance.

Here is an overview of the nine main classes of minerals that are distinguished:

Class I: Native elements.
Class II: Sulfides.
Class III: Halides
Class IV: Oxides
Class V: hydroxides
Class VI: Carbonates
Class VII: Sulfates
Class VIII: Phosphates
Class IX: Silicates

- Class I: Native elements. - These are minerals consisting of a single pure chemical element. They are rarely found in nature in this form.

Examples:
Gold (Au)
Silver (Ag)
Native copper (Cu)
Diamond (C)

- Class II: Sulfides - These minerals are formed by the combination of a metallic element with sulfur.

Examples:
Pyrite (FeS₂)
Galena (PbS)
Sphalerite (ZnS)

- Class III: Halides - Minerals in this class contain a metallic element and one or more halogen elements (fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine).

Examples:
Halite (NaCl)
Fluorite (CaF₂)
Sylvite (KCl)

- Class IV: Oxides - Oxides are minerals in which a metallic element is combined with oxygen.

Examples:
Hematite (Fe₂O₃)
Corundum (Al₂O₃)
Magnetite (Fe₃O₄)

- Class V: Hydroxides - These minerals contain a metal associated with hydroxide ions (OH⁻).

Examples:
Goethite (FeO(OH))
Brucite (Mg(OH)₂)

- Class VI: Carbonates - Minerals in this class contain carbonate ions (CO₃²⁻) associated with metallic elements.

Examples:
Calcite (CaCO₃)
Dolomite (CaMg(CO₃)₂)
Malachite (Cu₂CO₃(OH)₂)

- Class VII: Sulfates - Sulfates are minerals that contain a metallic element combined with a sulfate ion (SO₄²⁻).

Examples:
Gypsum (CaSO₄·2H₂O)
Barite (BaSO₄)
Anhydrite (CaSO₄)

- Class VIII: Phosphates - Phosphates contain phosphate ions (PO₄³⁻) associated with metallic elements.

Examples:
Apatite (Ca₅(PO₄)₃(OH,F,Cl))
Turquoise (CuAl6(PO₄)4(OH)8·4H₂O)

- Class IX: Silicates (which does not appear in your list, but it is a very important class in the mineralogical classification).

Silicates are the most abundant minerals in the Earth's crust, formed by the combination of silicon (Si) and oxygen (O) with other elements.

Examples:
Quartz (SiO₂)
Feldspar (NaAlSi₃O₈)
Mica (KAl₂(AlSi₃O₁₀)(OH)₂)

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🔮 Virtues:

Here is a list of the 100 most commonly used minerals in lithotherapy, along with their associated benefits. These stones are often used for their effects on mental, emotional, and spiritual health, as well as for physical healing. (⚠️ The effects below are not scientifically proven and should never replace medical treatment.)

1. Aquamarine Virtues: Brings serenity and calm, promotes communication and helps with stress management.

2. Agate Virtues: Stone of stability and protection, helps to balance emotions and increase concentration.

3. Amethyst Virtues: Stone of relaxation, promotes meditation, mental clarity and protection against negative energies.

4. Apatite Virtues: Stimulates creativity, inspiration and helps eliminate emotional blockages.

5. Aquamarine Benefits: Calms the mind, reduces stress and anger, promotes communication and mental clarity.

6. Azurite Virtues: Helps develop intuition and clairvoyance, promotes deep meditation and spiritual healing.

7. Baryte Virtues: Helps clarify the mind, reduces mental confusion and improves concentration.

8. Beryl Virtues: Promotes mental clarity, concentration and helps balance emotions.

9. Chalcedony Virtues: Stone of peace, reduces stress and improves communication, bringing harmony and calm.

10. Calcite Virtues: Stone of purification and healing, it helps in the elimination of emotional and energetic toxins.

11. Carnelian Virtues: Stimulates creativity, energy and vitality, reduces emotional blockages and promotes motivation.

12. Celestite Virtues: Helps to achieve deep meditative states, strengthens inner peace and harmony.

13. Chrysoprase Virtues: A stone of emotional healing, it promotes joy and self-love while calming fears.

14. Citrine Virtues: Attracts prosperity and luck, promotes mental clarity and creativity, dispels negativity.

15. Dioptase Virtues: Helps overcome emotional wounds, promotes spiritual renewal and inner healing.

16. Emerald Virtues: Stone of unconditional love, it promotes harmony in relationships and healing of the heart.

17. Fluorite Virtues: Helps with energy purification, improves concentration and protects against negative influences.

18. Garnet (Garnet) Virtues: A protective stone, it promotes vitality, self-confidence and physical healing.

19. Hematite Virtues: Grounding stone, it helps reduce stress, strengthens self-confidence and improves blood circulation.

20. Howlite Virtues: Brings calm and serenity, helps with communication, and reduces anxiety and tension.

21. Iolite Virtues: Stimulates intuition, helps in decision making and promotes mental clarity.

22. Jade Virtues: Stone of healing and wisdom, it promotes harmony, luck and emotional balance.

23. Jasper Virtues: Stone of protection, it promotes anchoring, balance and emotional stability.

24. Kunzite Virtues: Stimulates unconditional love, calms emotions and promotes inner peace.

25. Labradorite Virtues: Stone of transformation, it protects against negative energies and strengthens intuition.

26. Lapis Lazuli Virtues: Promotes wisdom, communication, intuition and spiritual awakening.

27. Malachite Virtues: Helps with personal transformation, it protects against negative energies and promotes emotional healing.

28. Moonstone (Moonstone) Virtues: Brings emotional balance, strengthens intuition and femininity, helps overcome emotional tensions.

29. Onyx Virtues: A stone of anchoring and protection, it helps to overcome fears and strengthen mental resilience.

30. Opal Virtues: Stimulates creativity, brings joy and inspiration and aids in spiritual transformation.

31. Peridot Virtues: Helps to free oneself from negative thoughts, promotes spiritual healing and personal growth.

32. Sunstone Virtues: Promotes joy, optimism and vital energy, stimulates creativity and intuition.

33. Clear Quartz Virtues: Amplifies energies, promotes healing and energy balance, protects against negative influences.

34. Rose Quartz Virtues: Stone of unconditional love, it promotes emotional healing and harmony in relationships.

35. Rhodochrosite Virtues: Helps heal deep emotional wounds, promotes self-love and inner peace.

36. Sodalite Virtues: Stimulates the intellect, promotes clear communication and logical thinking, soothes emotional tensions.

37. Turquoise Virtues: Stone of healing and protection, it promotes communication, harmony and emotional balance.

38. Topaz Virtues: Promotes mental clarity, emotional harmony and concentration, attracts luck.

39. Zircon Virtues: Stimulates self-confidence, creativity and mental balance, promotes introspection.

40. Amblygonite Benefits: Helps build self-confidence, promotes emotional healing and reduces stress.

41. Aragonite Virtues: Promotes anchoring and emotional stabilization, helps overcome fears and anxieties.

42. Aventurine Virtues: Attracts luck and prosperity, helps reduce emotional blockages, soothes stress.

43. Barite Virtues: Helps clarify the mind and promotes concentration and emotional balance.

44. Orange Calcite Benefits: Stimulates creativity and motivation, helps increase energy and vitality.

45. Chrysoberyl Virtues: Promotes mental clarity and wisdom, enhances inner vision and spiritual perception.

46. ​​Copper Virtues: Stimulates vital energy, strengthens emotional balance, promotes healing and blood circulation.

47. Epidote Virtues: Helps in healing, promotes harmony and renewal, encourages the opening of the heart.

48. Goshenite Virtues: Helps dispel negative thoughts, promotes inner healing and helps strengthen communication.

49. Herkimer Diamond Virtues: A stone of purification, it helps amplify positive energies and promotes spiritual healing.

50. Iolite Virtues: Stimulates intuition, helps mental clarity and promotes meditation.

51. Red Jasper Virtues: Brings energy and vitality, supports anchoring and emotional stability, promotes physical balance.

52. Kunzite Virtues: Brings unconditional love, helps soothe emotions and promotes inner peace.

53. Labradorite Virtues: Protection against negative energies, strengthens intuition, helps with personal transformation.

54. Lapis lazuli Virtues: Stimulates wisdom and truth, promotes communication and strengthens intuition.

55. Lepidolite Virtues: Helps reduce stress and anxiety, promotes inner peace and emotional balance.

56. Malachite Virtues: Helps with emotional and spiritual transformation, protects against negative energies.

57. Moldavite Virtues: A powerful stone of transformation, it accelerates spiritual awakening and purifies energy.

58. Morganite Virtues: Stimulates unconditional love, soothes the heart and helps overcome emotional wounds.

59. Black Obsidian Virtues: Stone of protection, it eliminates negative energies and promotes spiritual healing.

60. Black Opal Virtues: Stimulates intuition, promotes deep transformations and improves spiritual clarity.

61. Peridot (Olivine) Virtues: A spiritual healing stone, it helps to free oneself from negative thoughts and promotes personal growth and self-healing.

62. Moonstone Virtues: Helps balance emotions, promotes intuition, femininity and the healing of emotional wounds.

63. Smoky Quartz Virtues: Grounding and protection stone, it dissipates negative energies and helps overcome anxieties and fears.

64. Rose Quartz Virtues: Stone of unconditional love, it promotes healing of the heart and inner peace, strengthens emotional relationships.

65. Rhodonite Virtues: Helps in the healing of emotional wounds, promotes reconciliation and balance in relationships.

66. Sodalite Virtues: Stimulates the intellect, improves communication, logic, and soothes emotional tensions.

67. Blue Topaz Virtues: Promotes clear communication and self-expression, calms the mind and balances emotions.

68. Black Tourmaline Virtues: Powerful protective stone, it eliminates negative energies and protects against external influences.

69. Turquoise Virtues: Stone of healing and protection, it promotes communication, harmony and emotional balance.

70. Zeolite Benefits: Helps purify and balance energy, it is used to cleanse the body of emotional and physical toxins.

71. Amblygonite Benefits: Helps build self-confidence, promotes emotional healing and reduces stress.

72. Barite Virtues: Helps clarify the mind, reduces mental confusion and improves concentration.

73. Yellow Calcite Virtues: Stimulates energy and vitality, promotes joy of living and creativity.

74. Chrysoprase Virtues: Helps overcome negative emotions and past hurts, promotes emotional healing and self-acceptance.

75. Green Fluorite Virtues: Helps purify energies, improves concentration and protects against negative influences.

76. Garnet (Garnet) Virtues: Stone of passion and vitality, it stimulates creativity, energy and self-confidence.

77. Herkimer Diamond Virtues: Amplifies energies, aids in spiritual healing and promotes mental clarity.

78. Iolite Virtues: Stimulates intuition, enhances meditation and spiritual exploration, promotes mental clarity.

79. Landscape Jasper Virtues: A stone of anchoring and stability, it promotes inner peace and harmony with nature.

80. Kunzite Virtues: Stone of unconditional love, it soothes emotions, reduces stress and promotes healing of the heart.

81. Lapis Lazuli Virtues: Stimulates wisdom and truth, helps spiritual communication and strengthens intuition.

82. Lepidolite Virtues: Brings inner peace, reduces stress and anxiety, and helps with emotional balance.

83. Malachite Virtues: Helps with emotional healing, protects against negative energies and promotes spiritual transformation.

84. Moldavite Virtues: A powerful stone of spiritual ascension, it facilitates profound changes and accelerates personal evolution.

85. Morganite Virtues: Stimulates unconditional love, healing of the heart, and promotes inner peace.

86. Black Obsidian Virtues: Protective stone, it dissipates negative energies and helps release repressed emotions.

87. Tiger's Eye Virtues: Stone of protection and courage, it helps with decision-making and strengthens self-confidence.

88. Peridot Virtues: Helps overcome negative emotions, promotes spiritual healing and personal growth.

89. Lemon Quartz (Citrine) Virtues: Stone of prosperity, it promotes mental clarity, optimism and the elimination of negative thoughts.

90. Rose Quartz Virtues: Stone of unconditional love, it helps to heal emotional wounds and strengthen emotional relationships.

91. Rhodochrosite Virtues: Helps heal deep emotional wounds, promotes self-love and inner peace.

92. Sodalite Benefits: Promotes clear communication, intuition, and emotional balance. Also helps reduce stress and anxiety.

93. Spinel Virtues: Helps strengthen resilience, stimulates creativity and protects against negative influences.

94. Pink Tourmaline Virtues: Stone of love, it soothes the heart, reduces stress and helps with emotional harmonization.

95. Turquoise Virtues: A stone of healing and protection, it promotes emotional balance, personal expression and creativity.

96. Zircon Virtues: Promotes spiritual and physical healing, strengthens concentration and aids introspection.

97. Zeolite Benefits: Helps purify and balance energy, it is used to cleanse the body of emotional and physical toxins.

98. Blue Apatite Virtues: Stimulates creativity and mental clarity, promotes clear communication and spiritual understanding.

99. Chrysoberyl Virtues: Stimulates concentration, mental clarity and strengthens intuition.

100. Nephrite Jade Virtues: A healing and lucky stone, it promotes harmony and emotional balance while bringing prosperity.

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