ORE FEATURES
A Monthly publication of Ozark Rock Exchange
VOL #4: Issue #7, April 2, 2003
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Main: >> Start Page >> ORE Features Archives >> 2003 >> Fossils | |
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ORE'S FEATURED GEMSTONE: Fossils by Stephanie Pflumm Fossils are a vibrant record of past lives. I remember the first time I held a Trilobite (prehistoric bug that inhabited the primal oceans) I could feel and almost see dozens of crawling critters. It was my first experience in "reading" a stone and it was quite powerful. Fossils have intrigued me ever since. Depending on the reference you read, there are up to a half a dozen ways that an organic entity becomes a fossilized one. The simplest way to become a fossil is a method called unaltered preservation. These tend to be insects and other tiny creature that became imbedded in seeping globs of primal tree sap. Today these globs are known as Amber and specimens with intact critters bring the highest prices. Amber itself is technically a fossil as well, though it did not undergo any of the processes described. Since a fossil is: "any evidence of past plant or animal life that is preserved in the materials of the Earth's crust". Amber and Copal are both evidence of primal trees and are retrieved from Mother's surface. The next most common process is called permineralization or petrification. Trees and bones from ancient animals are usually preserved or fossilized through this manner. For an entity to become petrified it must be immediately buried and protected from the elements. As time works it's magic, the organic material decays in such a slow manner that mineral rich waters seep in and replace it, tediously turning it into a permanent stone record. Fossils formed in this way can take on some fantastic colors, depending on which minerals are in the location where petrification is taking place. It is not unusual to find Petrified Wood in reds, purples, yellows and greens because Iron, Magnanese or some other combination of minerals were present. In some texts this is referred to as replacement. In one text it was cited as a separate process, but I really wasn't able to understand a difference. Authigenic or cast preservation is an interesting process. In this scenario the organic individual is caught in sediment and immediately buried. However, instead of minerals replacing the organic material, when the trapped individual decays, it is simply washed away by percolating ground waters or rain. Leaving a perfect "cast" of the original creature. In some instances, minerals will fill in the gaps and eventually form a crystal replica of the entity. In Australia many authigenic preservations are filled with Opals, creating some brilliant imitations. Trace fossils are sort of half casts, though they form in the same way. In many cases trace fossils are not completely covered and only portions of the entity are preserved. Carbonization or coalification is the preservation process that gives us our fossil fuels. As an organism decays, it leaves only its carbon elements. Other elements like hydrogen, oxygen and nitrogen are evaporated or removed into the atmosphere. In a process call recystalization as the organism becomes petrified it reverts to a more stable crystal formation. Sometimes growing into larger crystals. An excellent example of this is the Crystallized Wood that comes from Alabama. This was wood that was in the process of becoming petrified, but a sudden changed caused this material to grow tiny Smoky Quartz crystals along their surface. Paleontologists believe that only a small fraction of dinosaurs, plant life and other critters from our prehistoric dates were preserved as fossils. The vast majority of primal life simply decayed and disappeared. The oldest known fossils are bacteria that geologists believe are 3.5 billion years old. Mother Earth has been documented at approximately 4.5 billion years old and the oldest rocks are around 3.8 billion. These bacteria, known as cyanobacteria are believed to be responsible for the formation of our present day atmosphere. The fossils are found in Western Australia in Precambrian rock. Primal cyanobacteria formed stromatolites, the very first reefs in the ancient oceans. The bacteria would take in the carbon dioxide from the surrounding waters, which would then "rain" over the mat of bacteria and calcify. As this happened over and over again, the growths called stromatolites would grow in towers. Once the cyanobacteria was above the water's surface it would photosynthesize and create oxygen. Some Proterozoic oil deposits are attributed to the work of cyanobacteria as well. The oldest multi-cell fossils are a mere 540 to 600 million years old, also found in Australia. In the Ediacara Hills of Southern Australia fossils of jellyfish, soft corals, worms and proto-arthropods are fairly abundant. The oldest vertebrate (a fish-like creature) fossil dates to around 530 million years ago and was found in China. Fossils have long fascinated us. Some ancient traditions believed that these stone replicas of unknown plants and animals were gifts from the stars. Others believed that the life force or spirit of the dead creature was contained within a fossil. They certainly are excellent tools for beginners to learn reading stones. I have always found the voices and impressions from Petrified Wood, Amber, Trilobites and other fossil specimens to be very strong. It is as if the primal voice of the first soul is still singing within the stone. Landscapes, smells and images are always vivid and real when I hold one. If you are wanting to learn to recognize the stories and words that the crystal world is willing to share, a fossil is a great place to start. Pick something you are drawn to, set yourself up in a quiet space so that you can relax and achieve a meditative calm. Then just open yourself and feel/see what comes. You may want to bring a notepad with you and write down your impressions (so you'll remember later). As a beginner, be patient with yourself. All muscles need excersising before they achieve their best. Practice a little each day and keep track of your progress. Fossils are also good tools for looking into your own past lives. If you are wanting to use a fossil to do past life regressions, be sure you do an initial meditation with your fossil of choice and explain your intent. Ask your fossil if it is able to assist you in re-learning old lessons. You may also wish to use a fossil to help you connect with important animal or plant totems. As these fossils often carry the Spirit or Soul of the deceased entity. Using a fossil for your health can promote longer life. They may also be beneficial for healthy bone growth and the absorption of calcium for strength. Petrified or permineralized fossils will take on many of the energies of the replacement materials. Petrified Wood for instance will carry many of the qualities of Quartz, Jasper and Chalcedonies in general. The ORE FEATURES archives includes individual articles on Petrified Wood, Amber and Agatized Coral. Pictures of Fossil --+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+-- SUBSCRIBER'S SPECIAL: FREE Fossil Surprise! Receive a FREE small Fossil (Petrified Wood, Agatized Coral, Amber and others) with any purchase from Ozark Rock Exchange. You can shop on line at http://www.ozarkrockexchange.com/catalog.shtml You can also place your order by email ( stephanie@ozarkrockexchange.com ), or send your telephone number for a phone appointment. Discount will be taken at the time of purchase. You must be a subscriber as of April 2, 2003 to be eligible for the Subscriber's Special; the Subscriber Special is not valid with other offers (unless otherwise stated). Only one special per subscriber, please. The Subscriber's Special will expire May 1, 2003. Remember you never pay extra for shipping at Ozark Rock Exchange! --+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+-- SKY NOTES Daylight Savings Time begins, Sunday April 6, 2:00 am ET -+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+-- Simple Geology Part 1 Yes, simple geology is an oxymoron, though it does not have to be. At one time geology was as simple as all green gems are Emeralds. Today reference books and articles seem to go out of their way to make it complicated. As the study of gemstones, rocks and minerals became more of a science the need to classify, describe and define created a new language. Even my poor spell checker is continually confounded by terms and names, rarely accepting to learn the new words. Eventually, constant reading, searching out descriptions, as well as actually seeing many stones allowed my poor blonde brain to get a rudimentary grasp of most of the classifications, terms and definitions used to describe stones. I now understand geology. Mostly. More precisely, I can translate it into words regular people, like me recognize. So, I hope these articles make geology a little simpler for you. Starting with, what geology is, the study of: Minerals - these are natural occurring, non-organic, solid elements. Like Gold, Silver or Iron. They can also be a compound of different minerals, such as Pyrite (Sulfur & Iron) or Amethyst (Silicon and Iron). About 2,500 different minerals have been described, with new ones being added at a fairly consistent rate. One of my best reference book only has the definitions for 232 minerals. Gemstones - are minerals that have ornamental value. Diamonds, Rubies, even Onyx used for carvings would be considered a gemstone. If people will purchase or trade it because they find it pretty, it is a gemstone. Rocks - aggregates of minerals. To put it more simply, any solid combination of minerals that is not a gemstone. Here is where things can start to get complicated. Minerals, stones are described in a number of ways; crystals structure, luster, specific gravity or classification. There are 15 main mineral classes, with six sub classes for the silicates (which are Quartz based minerals, 93% of all minerals have some silicate or Quartz). Here is a quick sample of some of the main classes. Borates - minerals such as Borax and Colemanite that have an important Borate element Halides - compounded minerals from the halogen group where fluorine, chlorine, bromine and iodine are the influencing factors, Fluorite and Halite are included in this class Molybdates - Molybdate is the influencing element, Wulfenite is a Molybdate Oxides - a rather large group of minerals where Oxygen has combined with a metallic element; there are simple oxides, hydroxides and multiple oxides; Cuprite and Magnerite are oxides Silicates - any Quartz mineral (the largest class of minerals, gemstones or rocks) Sulfur - this element is responsible for two separate mineral classes: All minerals crystallize. Sometimes crystals structures are so dense and woven together that they are invisible to the naked eye, such as in the various Chalcedonies or Jades. Sometimes the crystals are quite visible and take on a foreign or other-worldly appearance like Silver and Gold crystals. So, of course, minerals are also described by their crystals structures. Crystals structures each have a specific symmetry, which means their faces are arranged in a balanced, defined pattern. While size and appearance may vary greatly, the symmetry will remain identical. How the pattern balances along the axis of the crystal determines it's crystal classifications. Isometric - aka cubic system usually look like blocks or have a ball shape with symmetrical faces Hexagonal - prismatic or columns with three or six sides, sometimes terminating in triangular or pyramidal shapes Monoclinic - short, stubby and tilted with matching ends, sort of a rectangular shape, sometimes has prismatic terminations Orthorhombic - small diamond shaped or rectangular crystals, can form four-sided pyramids and prisms Tetragonal - long, needle like crystals which terminate in pyramids and four-sided prisms Dendric - plant like formations, Gold and Silver are dendric crystals While the science of geology has complicated trying to understand stones, there is a prevailing, simple truth. Stones you pull from your garden, the Marble mined in a quarry, or the Emerald you wear, all share a similar legacy. Some cataclysmic event heated and pressurized local minerals into a endless rainbow of combinations. Understanding the differences and similarities in regional rock formations have allowed geologists to build a history of Mother Earth's growth cycles. Your rocks, that Marble and the Emerald are all paragraphs in Mother's life story. Next month you can learn the simpler definitions for classification terms like luster, gravity and cleavage. -+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+-- SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: Anniversary Subscription Contest! Ozark Rock Exchange will be four years old on April 5th. As part of our Anniversary Celebration, ORE is hosting a Subscription Contest. Invite your friends, family, acquaintances and other rockhound friends to subscribe to this free online ezine, ORE FEATURES. -+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+-- What's Happening At Ozark Rock Exchange? SPIRIT MIND & BODY! The Spirit Mind Body Expo returns to Springfield, Missouri this weekend. I will have a booth at the Expo, which is this Saturday & Sunday (4/5 & 4/6) in the old Gateway Theater (behind Walmart & North Town Mall) just off Glenstone. Be sure to remind me that you are a subscriber because I'll have a small gift for you. ANNIVERSARY SPECIALS: Ozark Rock Exchange will be celebrating our fourth Anniversary beginning this Saturday. ORE was founded on April 5, 1999. We will be celebrating this special milestone all month long with special savings and bonus gifts. Check out the specials at MORE OF MY STRANDS: I've posted some more of my unique strands - you can see them at http://www.ozarkrockexchange.com/catalog/new_unique.shtml WIN A HAPPINESS PRAYER POUCH: Win a Happiness Syone Power Prayer Pouch from Annie's Country Attic. You'll find information on the contest at http://www.anniescountryattic.com/Annieschat.htm OZARK ROCK EXCHANGE is now live on chat with Yahoo Messenger. Would love to have you try and catch me sometime, I'm on line quite a bit. 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