Editing Category:Minerals

Utilizing the power of stones is a great way to augment your magic, both in your spellwork and your muggle world.  You can wear a particular stone as jewelry, carry it in your pocket, or display in a place of prominence and allow its energy to permeate the area.

Choosing which stone to use can be daunting since there is a myriad in which to choose.  Things to consider are their planetary and elemental associations, as well as your own intuition.  Another perspective that is often overlooked is how the stone was formed.  Was it formed on the Earth's surface by the sedimentation of minerals and other particles (  sedimentary), by the heat and pressure deep within the Earth (metamorphic). Was it formed by solidifying magma (igneous), and if so, is it plutonic (formed within the earth), or volcanic (formed on the surface)?  Does the rock contain high amounts of metal (ore)?

==Terms used to describe stones==
===Moh's Rating===
The Moh's Rating refers to a scale of hardness. For exmple, a diamond, the hardest stone, carries a rating of 10.0, while some pearls carry a rating of as low as 3.0. This can be useful information when storing or transporting your treasures. For instance, if you like to carry your stones together in a small pouch the softer stones will get scratched and could break. 

===Specific Gravity===
Specific Gravity, also known as SG, is a measurement that determines the density of minerals. Two minerals may be the same size, but their weight may be very different. The specific gravity of a mineral determines how heavy it is by its relative weight to water. The specific gravity value is expressed upon how much greater the weight of the mineral is to an equal amount of water. Water has a specific gravity of 1.0. If a mineral has a specific gravity of 2.7, it is 2.7 times heavier than water. Minerals with a specific gravity under 2 are considered light, between 2 and 4.5 average, and greater than 4.5 heavy.  The specific gravity may slightly vary within a mineral because of impurities present in the minerals structure. <ref> from Minerals.net:Specific Gravity</ref>


===Refraction Index===
The refractive index of a gemstone measures the difference between the speed of light in air and the speed of light in the gemstone. How much the light will bend, or the angle of refraction, depends on difference in the speed of light of the two substances. All transparent gemstones refract light, since the speed of light is different in the air than in gemstones.

===Luster===
Luster describes how a mineral appears to reflects light, and how brilliant or dull the mineral is. The terms used to describe luster are:

Metallic - Minerals with a metallic luster are opaque and reflective, like metal. The metallic elements, most sulfides, and some oxides belong in this category.

Submetallic - Describes a mineral that is opaque to nearly opaque and reflects well. Thin splinters or sections of submetallic minerals are translucent.

Vitreous - This luster accounts for roughly 70 percent of all minerals. Minerals with a vitreous luster have reflective properties similar to glass. Most of the silicates, carbonates, phosphates, sulfates, halides, and hydroxides have a vitreous luster.

Adamantine - Transparent to translucent minerals with a high refractive index yield an adamantine luster, meaning they display extraordinary brilliance and shine.

Resinous - This is the luster of many yellow, dark orange, or brown minerals with moderately high refractive indices - honey like, but not necessarily the same color.

Silky - A silky luster is the result of a mineral having a fine fibrous structure. Minerals with a silky luster have optical properties similar to silk cloth.

Pearly - Describes a luster similar to the inside of a mollusk shell or shirt button. Many micas have a pearly luster, and some minerals with a pearly luster have an iridescent hue. Some minerals may exhibit a pearly luster on cleaved crystal surfaces parallel and below the reflecting surface of a mineral.

Greasy - Luster of a mineral that appears as if it were coated with grease.

Pitchy - Minerals with a tar-like appearance have a pitchy luster. Minerals with a pitchy luster are usually radioactive and have gone through the process of metamiction.

Waxy - A waxy luster describes a mineral that appears as if it were coated with a layer wax.

Dull - This luster defines minerals with poor reflective qualities, much like unglazed porcelain. Most minerals with a dull luster have a rough or porous surface.


Every mineral has a characteristic luster, but some minerals may have a different luster on different specimens. There is no scientific method to determine luster. Often, determining the luster of a particular specimen is personal; to some it may appear as one type of luster, and to others as a different type.<ref> from Minerals.net:Luster</ref>


===Type===



 The links below will help you answer some of those questions and provide general magical uses for the stones.


==Citations==
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[[Category:Correspondences]]