ORE FEATURES
A Monthly publication of Ozark Rock Exchange
VOL #8: Issue #4, January 3, 2007
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Main: >> Start Page >> ORE Features Archives >> Titanium | |
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| ORE'S Featured Gemstone: Titanium
Titanium is a perfectly timed geological discovery. Over the span of 200 years, the metal rockets from obscurity into an intergal part of our modern landscape. It is not that Titanium was invisible to us. Titanium Dioxide crystals (aka Rutiles) in Quartz, Rubies, Sapphires and other gemstones were sparking our imagination long before we will recognize this metal's powerful potential. Early scholars give the Rutile crystals fanciful names like Venus Hair, Angels Hair and Cupid's Arrows. Others believe the golden needles are the Sun's rays, frozen during the ice age and then petrified in the Quartz (which was thought to be petrified ice). Today Rutile crystals are desired for their valuable Titanium content, not for their magical effect on gemstones. This transformation from an inspirational inclusion in gems to a metal with infinite applications begins with Rev. William Gregor of England in 1791. While examining an Ilmenite specimen (another Titanium rich ore) he notes a new element, naming it Menachite. Two other discoveries of Titanium are made over the next few years. The first by Franz Joseph Muller, who does not name the element he finds in his Ilmenite. Chemist Martin Heinrich Klaproth of Germany is the next to recognize this separate element. In 1795 he names the metal he discovers in a Rutile crystal after the Greek's mythological Titans and Titanium becomes the 22nd Element. Unfortunately this new element is not a native metal. It does not occur in nature in a pure state. For almost 150 years most of the world ignores Titanium as simply an experiment to entertain geologists and chemists. It is not until 1910 that a 99.9% pure Titanium is finally extracted. Matthew A. Hunter uses high temperatures and sodium mixed with Titanium rich ores in a steel bomb to extract the purest form of the metal to date. Fifteen years (1925) later Anton Eduard vanArkel and Jan Hendrik DeBoer discover they can create a pure Titanium crystal bar by using Iodine to react with Titanium ores then causing the vapors to decompose with heat. Eventually William Justin Kroll develops a commercially viable process (1946) using Chlorides and Magnesium to extract the Titanium. The complex Kroll Process is still in use today, though a new method is slowly taking its place in the manufacturing world. The FFC Cambridge Process eliminates some of the complicated steps in Kroll's procedures making the metal even less expensive and much easier to produce. Titanium may not be found as a pure element in nature, but it certainly is available. It is the ninth most abundant element found within the Earth's crust. It can be found in numerous rocks, sediments, plants, the human body, in meteorites, on the Moon and even on the Sun and other M-type stars. In addition to Rutile and Ilmenite, Sphene, Brookite, Anatase, Osbornite, Pyrophanite, Geikielite and Perovskite are other important ores containing Titanium. These various ores are found in abundance in the US, Australia, Scandinavia, Malaysia, Russia, South Africa, Canada, Norway and Asia.Special qualities of Titanium like its intense strength and light density (it's more than three times as strong as steel, but weighs 43% less) have made it extremely popular in aerospace applications. There are approximately 43 tons of Titanium in a 747 jet. Another important property of this metal is its inertness. It does not rust, degrade or react to its surroundings, making it a perfect metal for repairing or replacing human bones. It is also able to withstand the millions of repetitive motions the human body performs without any type of mechanical stress or fatigue. Titanium is also inert in sea waters making it perfect for construction of ship skins and propellers. Desalination plants that turn ocean water into drinking water use the metal in their heat exchangers. Piping from the metal is in use on many offshore drilling platforms. Deep sea divers also utilize a variety of Titanium tools from knives to crowbars. However, the most widely used application for Titanium is the intensely white pigments Titanium Dioxides produce. This dye allows paints, tooth pastes, white-out (the correction fluid), clothing, cosmetics, ceramics and certain fireworks to be their whitest possible (I know, whitest is not a word). As more and more sources for Titanium are available and the processes to extract it become simpler, this magical metal is becoming a more intergal part of our everyday lives. Golf clubs, bicycles, watches, computers, sunscreen, specialty equipment for laboratories, window coatings and artificial gemstones are just a few of the newer applications for this metal. Another relatively new use for Titanium is in jewelry. For the thousands of individuals that suffer from metal allergies, Titanium is a welcome addition. Because of its biologically inert nature, it is hypo-allergenic and safe to wear next to your skin. Rings and chains from the metal, though fairly expensive right now are becoming more reasonably priced every year. A couple of countries have tried minting coins from Titanium, but the metal is very destructive to dies and only limited editions have been produces. England manufactured some Titanium coins for Gibraltar in the earliest years of this century, but quickly abandoned the job. Japan produced a small number of coins in 1986 to commemorate the passing of Haleys Comet. During the 1970s artists experiment with the metal's colorful response to heat and electricity to create some very interesting artwork. Today you can find a number of ways to bring this bright, lustrous metal into your spiritual and creative life. Titanium is becoming easier for everyday individuals to get their hands on. Or tap this metal's magical energies using one of the many Rutilated gemstones available from Quartz to Sapphires. Because of Titanium's omnipresence in nature, this is an excellent tool for connecting with your Earth Mother. Use it in healing rituals for the Earth, to communicate your gratitude or wishes to your Mother or simply to feel more grounded as you rush through life. If you are preparing to start a new path or direction in your life, meditations with Titanium will help guide you in a way that will be towards your highest good. Its bright luster will help illuminate the darkest corners of your journey, allowing you to "see ahead" what obstacles may be on your path. Its presence in other gemstones helps to raise the crystal's energy levels. Making it easier to use and providing quicker, more reliable reactions. Titanium also helps you to connect more quickly and establish a stronger relationship with the individual gemstone. Gems and crystals set in Titanium are very comfortable with this metal. Its inert nature rarely influences the crystal's energy in any negative ways. Often it simple assists the gem in reflecting its power more strongly. This also allows the user to become more intimate with the gem, as the Titanium will facilitate the connection between the crystal and its companion. Helping you to better see and understand your gem's true nature and strength. Titanium is a wonderful companion for breaking through depression. Its bright metallic luster helps you to see the reflections of light all around you. While your world may never be perfect, Titanium teaches you to see that life reflects back what you send out into it. There currently appear to be no healing traditions for Titanium. Though its application in orthopedic medicine makes me think it would be helpful in healing broken or cracked bones. I would love to hear about anyone's experiences with Titanium implants and the health benefits or problems you deal with. Though it is not considered an essential mineral, trace amounts of Titanium are found within our bodies and our food chain. Perhaps as our knowledge grows we'll discover greater health potential for this bright, magical metal. I would love to hear any of your stories about Titanium. Please share them with stephanie@ozarkrockexchange.com o~~~^*^~~~o<>o~~~^*^~~~o<>o~~~^*^~~~o<>o~~~^*^~~~o<>o~~~^*^~~~o SUBSCRIBER'S SPECIAL: FREE small Rutilated Quartz Receive a FREE small Rutilated Quartz with any purchase from Ozark Rock Exchange. You can shop on line at https://www.ozarkrockexchange.com/cart You can also place your order by email at stephanie@ozarkrockexchange.com or send your telephone number for a phone appointment. Discount will be taken at the time of purchase. You must be an ORE FEATURES subscriber as of January 3, 2007 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. This Subscriber Special expires February 7, 2007 o~~~^*^~~~o<>o~~~^*^~~~o<>o~~~^*^~~~o<>o~~~^*^~~~o<>o~~~^*^~~~o SKY NOTES Full Moon, Wednesday January 3 8:57 am ET o~~~^*^~~~o<>o~~~^*^~~~o<>o~~~^*^~~~o<>o~~~^*^~~~o<>o~~~^*^~~~o Stone Power Circle January 2007 is the fifth anniversary of the Stone Power Circle. To celebrate the many members (past, present and future) I'd like to share a couple of the past gemstone meditations that members have received. PREHNITE Dear Prehnite, A quiet companion in meditation Come sweet Prehnite Teach me the art of patience. Thank you Prehnite, GREEN CALCITE Welcome, Dear Calcite sister, Dear green guide Thank you Calcite healer o~~~^*^~~~o<>o~~~^*^~~~o<>o~~~^*^~~~o<>o~~~^*^~~~o<>o~~~^*^~~~o SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: Favorite Things Contest WINNER! Linda S. of Texas is the winner of the Ozark Rock Exchange Favorite Things Contest. Linda will be receiving her two favorite gemstones set in a silver spiral. Thanks to everyone that sent in their favorites. My apologies for not replying to each of you this time. The holiday season was actually very busy (for a nice change) at Ozark Rock Exchange and I found myself having to prioritize (yeah). Watch for the next contest coming in February - be thinking about the many sweet hearts in your life! o~~~^*^~~~o<>o~~~^*^~~~o<>o~~~^*^~~~o<>o~~~^*^~~~o<>o~~~^*^~~~o What's Happening At Ozark Rock Exchange? STONE POWER CIRCLE BIRTHDAY: This January the Stone Power Circle will celebrate its fifth birthday this month. In honor of this anniversary I am discounting the price on the Stone Power Circle back to it's original price of $10 per month. For one month ONLY you may join the Circle for $10 per month, for as many months as you'd like. Monthly payment schedules are also available, just email stephanie@ozarkrockexchange.com to ask! ORE'S POET PAGE: Have you seen the most recent submissions to the ORE Poets Page at http://www.ozarkrockexchange.com/highlights/poets/index.shtml ? I received some very lovely poems for the December update - watch for the January update sometime around the 15th. Submit your poems, prose and short essays to webmaster@ozarkrockexchange.com - be sure to put "Poet Page" in the subject line. Please send as plain text, not an attachment. NEW ARRIVALS: Received some incredible Moonstones and Sodalites in, as well as some raw Aragonite pieces (not crystals) and rare Rose Quartz points. Watch for some new gorgeous premium picks coming to the catalog very soon!! --+--+--+-- ©Copyright 2006, Stephanie Pflumm, All Rights Reserved Worldwide. No portion of this newsletter may be reproduced without the written permission of the editor/founder, Stephanie Pflumm. Please feel free to share with a friend. |
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