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Crystals And
Gemstones- Useful Info From The Southern African Continent.
Early Geological History:
From what is understood about the earths earliest continent formation,
Southern Africa formed the central piece of the original land mass
called Gondwanaland. This was before continental drift occurred that
divided and separated its different pieces into Africa, Antarctica,
South America, India and Australia.
Buddstone and
Verdite:
In fact some of the earths earliest and oldest known rock formations can
be found in the Barberton Greenstone Belt of South Africa dating back
some three
and a half billion years. This area has some of the richest gold
mineral deposits, located amongst other unique and interesting rock
matrixes. These include the converted buddstone, also know as African
Jade, (green quartz type rock) associated with verdite
also found here. Verdite (African Soapstone) is the popular soft green
stone used to make Africa carved sculpture art.
Because this area was formed and reshaped many times through out its
long history a very complicated picture emerges with many types of
formed rock. For instance in the beginning this area was once covered
by a shallow sea in a time when there was no oxygen in the atmosphere.
The iron solution in the water settled in layers on the sea floor.
Bloodstone:
In an environment lacking in oxygen the red iron colour remained intact
to form rich jasper deposits. Folding, erosion and wash to these
deposits followed which broke up, reshaping these slabs into rounded
pebbles. Red and other rounded pebbles washed together with fine
grained grey slug into depressions to form new deposits. Now after
millions of years we now have a hard grey conglomerate impregnated with
bright
red jasper called
“Bloodstone”. A name associated with drops of blood. The
hardness, fine grain and colour make for beautiful polished ornaments
like eggs and spheres.
Dragonstone:
Similar deposits of jasper conglomerate formed in the Musina district
to the North bordering with Zimbabwe. These deposits however are of a
green nature due to the presence of copper found in the area. Quite
unique is this beautiful stone called “Dragon stone”. Hard and fine gained this
rock takes on a lovely polished finish.
Leopard Rock:
Moving North again into Zimbabwe we find another beautiful rock called
Leopard Rock. Coming from a place near Headlands is the Inyati
Copper Mine, leopard rock is some of the waste rock removed in copper
mining. Shaped and polished into stone eggs and spheres, this rock
resembles the leopards camouflaged coat of yellow, brown and near
black.
West from Headlands, also in Zimbabwe is the Iron Duke Mine, Glendale.
Here we find a black basalt with pyrites in it. Polished this also
makes for some stunning stone eggs and spheres.
Other Zimbabwean
Gemstones
Zimbabwe also has the famous Sandawana Emerald deposits, garnets,
beryl, and other valuable gemstones.
Ask questions and do your research. It never hurts to always ask about
the crystals and gemstones from your dealer. Remember that any dealer
you want to purchase from should be well-informed, who freely offers
information and advice.
Contact For Further Information:
rodsaunders@uwclub.net
Phone Roy Saunders South Africa: 0027846193444
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