ORE FEATURES
A Monthly publication of Ozark Rock Exchange
VOL #4: Issue #4, January 1, 2003
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ORE'S FEATURED GEMSTONE: Silver by Stephanie Pflumm Silver is easily my favorite metal to wear. While Gold is beautiful, impressive and inspires power, I've always enjoyed the calmer, more tolerant attitude that surrounds me when wearing Silver. Native Silver, which refers to the pure mineral occurring in nature is quite rare. Silver crystals are wiry, sometimes coiling and twinning so that clusters can resemble bizarre bushes or trees. Cubic, octahedral and dodecahedral crystals are extremely unusual and highly sought after. The majority of native Silver is found as massive deposits, sheets, flakes or grains. While native Silver can be rare, there is a wide group of minerals that include Silver in their composition or as a by-product. These Silver minerals are usually divided into four categories: Silver Sulfides (Acanthite, Argentite, Stephanite) which form in deposits caused by lower temperature hydrothermal (hot water) veins; Silver sulfosalts (Antimony, Bismuth) which usually form in the primary hydrothermal veins; Silver halides, these photo-sensitive minerals are used in the chemicals that bring photographic exposures to life; Silver amalgams - Copper, Gold, Galena, Zinc and other minerals that produce Silver as a by-product. In all, there are approximately 150 different species of Silver minerals. The majority of the Silver used in industry and exchange comes from these secondary sources. The first Silver mines were in an area call Antolia, which is near modern Turkey. In 900 BC the Larium mines by Athens Greece began operating - these mines would produce most of the world's Silver for 1,000 years. Rome mined their Silver in Spain, emptying out those mines by the middle ages. Today the top six producing countries in the world are Mexico, USA, Canada, Russia, Peru and Australia. Silver is also found in Bolivia, Norway, Czech Republic, Germany and Austria. The largest piece of native Silver ever is a massive specimen that weighs 844 pounds that was found near Aspen Colorado. The Coeur d'Alene mines in Idaho are the largest producers of the mineral in the world, digging out a total of one billion ounces since it began operation in 1880. Modern life has found many practical uses for the versatile physical properties of this metallic crystal. It is highly malleable and ductile, meaning it can be stretched and pounded to extreme limits. An ounce of Silver can be stretched into a 30 mile long wire; it can be pounded into a thinness of 1/100,000 of an inch. It has the highest optical reflective qualities of any metal, making it very useful in mirrors and solar energy. It is resistant to extreme temperatures and exhibits excellent conductivity, so it is used in switches, batteries, coatings and and endless list of electronic applications. Photography, bearings, jewelry, coins, water purification, silverware and almost anything you turn off and on depend on Silver. While Gold and Bronze may have made an earlier introduction in Human history, Silver's impact is no less significant. Very early in that history it was noticed that liquids kept in Silver containers remained fresh and pure longer. In fact a Persian king, Cyrus the Great took an unusual approach to his subjects' physical health. During his reign, between 550-529 BC, he set up one of the first boards of health and established a medical dispensary. Plus, drinking water was drawn from a special stream, boiled and then stored in massive Silver containers. Numerous legends, traditions and myths have grown up around this bright reflective mineral. In the Greek and Roman myths, the second age of the Olympians is the Silver Age, when man began to civilize and develop his environment. The doors to Apollo's palace on Mount Olympus were Silver and his sister, Artemis was fond of using arrowheads dipped in the mineral. Dian Cecht, the Irish God of Healing replaced the warrior Nuada's hand with one made of Silver when his was lost in a great battle. The home of the Norse Gods, Asgard, is filled with palaces constructed of Silver and Gold. Ulysses' leather bag that held the Winds was tied with a Silver string. Chinese children were often given lockets made of Silver to protect them from harm. Certain purification rites practiced by the Egyptians called for special basins made of Silver. Such practices even find their way into contemporary rituals. Catholic, Anglican and Lutheran chalices for their masses must be constructed of Gold, Silver or Vermeil. As a magical tool Silver has been used to reflect and capture Lunar energies. It also provided protection against evil intent, reflecting spells and harm back to the sender. You can also use it to enhance your psychic skills. Wearing or sleeping with the metal can both be effective. You can use a piece with the Moon for psychic trancing. Take a small polished Silver object and catch the reflection of the Moon's light. Focus your gaze on this point until you begin to feel your psychic energies awakening. Keep a journal of your experiences, making note of your progress and improvements in your skill. If you want to wear gemstones or crystals that you are working with, Silver is the perfect metal to set them in. It has almost no vibrational impact on stones. On the contrary, it can help enhance the connection between the wearer and the gem, allowing for a gentle flow of energy between the two. Over time, the Silver will absorb and reflect the same energy as the stone set in it, much like Grandmother Moon absorbs and reflects the Sun's light. Place a piece of this mineral on your forehead to activate and open your Third Eye Chakra. A Silver bracelet worn around the wrist of your receptive hand will aid you in receiving channeled information and drawing certain energy forms. Use the Lunar qualities of your Silver to balance your life; growing what is good and necessary while voiding whatever causes you harm or prevents your evolution. Let it perform like a psychic mirror, allowing you to see your life from the outside. View this new perspective without judgment, but with a purer knowledge of what is best for your highest good. Practitioners of astral travel may like using Silver as an anchor as they move from one reality to another. It provides a kind of energy beam or signal trace that allows you to always "see" where your physical body is. So you aren't distracted by the fear of not being able to return. There is a long history and tradition of healing associated with Silver. It is believed Silver (Colloidal Silver) is antibacterial, a sort of disinfectant for the Human body that boosts your immunity. Several resources suggest that this metal, when ingested, kills anaerobic (nitrogen breathing) bacteria - which are very bad. It lets aerobic (oxygen breathing) bacteria survive, which are very good, especially for digestion. Silver was used in many ancient cultures to purify water and prevent festering in wounds. In 1884, a Dr. F. Crede discovered Silver could cure a disease that had been responsible for causing blindness in thousands of babies. Energy workers will find this metal a wonderful conduit for sending energy to a patient. It can also be used to help channel the energies of stones in healing. Turquoise, Carnelian, Moonstone, Amethyst and Quartz are excellent healing stones to channel with Silver. This mineral should also be beneficial in treating some infectious diseases, like hepatitis or the flu. Silver may help cleanse your blood and correct chemical and hormonal imbalances. In more traditional medicine it is used for dental fillings and fittings, plus surgical implants. --+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+-- SUBSCRIBER'S SPECIAL: FREE Choice! --+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+-- SKY NOTES Kwanza Ends Wednesday January 1 -+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+-- Gemstone History Chronology The history of gemstones is an interesting one. Debates wrangle over how our relationship with crystals evolved. Did we first picked up these bright objects simply because they sparkled and we thought they would look good on us. Then later attached metaphysical attributes as well as physical ones. Or did we first believe these magically colored stones had powers and eventually began to adorn ourselves with them to better use their energies. Who knows which came first, the sparkle or the spell. I've tried to assemble a chronology of gemstones and their roles in our lives Not in an effort to answer the scholars' quandary (the truth is, it is an unanswerable question), but just in an effort to organize thoughts and notes I've been collecting over the past few years. I hope you find the information at least entertaining, if not valuable. 40,000 BC Humans begin to use Agates, Obsidians and other dense Quartz stones to fashion tools such as arrowhead, spear tips and knifes 38,000 BC Amber is drilled and carved to be worn as an adornment 4000 BC Summarians and Egyptians begin to set stones in Silver and Gold, jewelry is often entombed with their dead 2000 BC The first stone circle is constructed at Stonehenge 1000 BC Cultures in the undiscovered Americas begin to set stones in Silver - some would use Gold where it was available 750 BC Mesoamerican cultures fashion scrying mirrors from pieces of black Obsidian and carve impossibly perfect Quartz crystal skulls 10 AD Byzantium civilization develops and maintains a method for engraving stones 77 AD Pliny the Elder writes the first Natural History Encyclopedia that includes the first text written about the healing and magical powers of gemstones - he later dies in the eruption of Mount Vesuvias 400 AD Hotu Matua leads an expedition of Polynesians to Easter Island where their descendants will erect the Maoi statues 600-800 AD The Chinese and Syrians prepare numerous texts on the powers of gemstones and crystals which will later be translated into Arabic and other languages 1280 AD Following the death of Albertus Magnus (one of his pupils was St. Thomas Aquinas), his writings were compiled and published as "Secrets Des Vertus Des Herbes, Pierres et Bestes" 1230 AD Thomas de Cantimpre', a student of Albertus Magnus compiles the "De Rerum Natura" on gemstones, which is later translated into German by Konrad von Megenberg (1350), who claims authorship of the text 1380 AD The French begin to develop techniques for cutting gems 1500 AD Paracelsus claimed to be the owner of a gemstone that a powerful spirit named Azoth resided in, there are several portraits of this scientist and philosopher wearing his possessed stone 1531 AD Marbodus, Bishop of Rennes wrote a poetic review of the powers of gemstones called Marbo Dei Galli Poetae Ve - he used previous texts from Pliny, Magnus and Cantimpre 1609 AD Anselmus De Boot, a German court physician wrote Gemmarum et Lapidum Historia which focused primarily on the healing qualities of gemstones 1659 AD Thomas Nicols writes the Faithful Lapidary which disputes the ability of gemstones to affect our lives 1801 AD Frederike Hauffe conducts a series of experiments on the physical effects of gemstones using a well known psychic of his time, the Seeress of Prevorst - some of the stones used in his experiments included: Quartz, Feldspars (Moonstone, Labradorite), Calcite, Lodestone and Diamond 1930's AD Edgar Cayce begins doing stone readings for various individuals - many credit Cayce with "launching" or "reawakening" the current new age interest in gemstones and crystals 1995 AD Stephanie Pflumm discovers her "Sign" on the back of a stone buried in her front yard, and begins Ozark Rock Exchange a few years later (ok, not an important fact to most people, but, it is a part of my Gemstone History). I am quite certain I have missed a variety of dates and events - history can be a very mecurial subject to research. Perhaps with your input and additional research a more complete chronology can be constructed -+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+-- SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: Contest Winner! -+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+-- What's Happening At Ozark Rock Exchange? WIN a 36" Fluorite Gemstone Strand from Ozark Rock Exchange and dozens of other prizes at the grand opening for Homeschool Made's website. The grand opening kicks off January 15th, but you can visit the contest page today at http://www.homeschoolmade.com/GO.html --+--+--+-- MOBILE ORE STORE --+--+--+-- STONE POWER CIRCLE --+--+--+-- ORE FEATURES by Snail Mail! --+--+--+-- If you have a special announcement for the next issue of ORE FEATURES, please send it to stephanie@ozarkrockexchange.com for consideration. |
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