Goldstone Found properly within the formations of human intrigue and experimentation, goldstone (als
GoldstoneFound properly within the formations of human intrigue and experimentation, goldstone (also known as adventurine glass) is a man-made semi-precious gemstone created from melting silica and metal oxides together in a controlled temperature and low-oxygen environment. This setup promotes the growth of crystals, as the anoxic setting inhibits oxidation while the metal oxides reduce the copper, manganese, or cobalt-oxides into the elemental metals. These metals dictate the color of stone developed, with the reduction of copper-oxide forming red goldstone, of manganese-oxide forming purple goldstone, and of cobalt-oxide forming blue goldstone. The creation of green goldstone can be done by creating chromium-oxides, and this produces the green sparkle. Varying grades of care are utilized in this process, depending on the metal oxide involved, as the melting points and oxidation properties of the elemental metals differ. The copper metal requires the most careful processing due to its lower melting point.Historically, in Italy, the process is attributed to the Miotti family of Venice in the 17th century, though legend has it this process was discovered by monks prior to this date. A goldstone amulet from 12th century Persia, held today at the University of Pennsylvania, marks this process attribution as questionable. Today this gem is often found carved into beads, figurines, or smooth rocks with etched words such as “Hope” and “Love,” and are regularly associated with tourist-attractions due to the gem’s cheap but flashy properties. Though not directly mined from the ground as many gems, goldstone is a lustrous meeting of the natural world and human creativity!-MAHSources:http://www.jtv.com/library/goldstone-facts.htmlhttp://www.shimmerlings.com/gemstones/goldstone/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goldstone_(glass)Photo Credit: By I, GDK, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2419956 -- source link
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