We devoted this article to the history of jadeite, its physical, chemical, healing and magical properties. Also, in order to choose a stone, you need to know who it is suitable for, and you will also learn about this at the end of the article.
History of the mineral
Jadeite stones are already described in ancient Chinese treatises. According to archaeological excavations, it was used already five thousand years ago - as a material for the most expensive dishes. The imperial baths were lined with gemstones. The ancient Chinese did not see the difference between the mineral and the similar jade.
Jadeite and jade are very similar; previously they were generally considered one stone.
Both jade and jadeite were designated by the same hieroglyph, very similar to the symbol for “emperor.” No other gem has received such an honor - in fact, it was called the main one among its precious brothers. Yellow crystals were especially valued.
The fact that jadeite is a mineral with powerful energy was known not only in China. The peoples of Central America, the Aztecs and Mayans, lined temples with it and even treated diseases. Like the Chinese, the Indians did not distinguish between the stone and its relative, jade.
“The Stone of Heaven,” as the Chinese called jadeite, was not subject to sale. Therefore, it was only able to fall into the hands of Europeans in the nineteenth century. Jewelers immediately appreciated it, and chemists finally explored its differences from jade.
Features of use in the bath
It is the chemical and physical qualities of the mineral that determine the main criteria in such a matter as the properties of jadeite bath stone. So what we have:
- The chemical inertness of jadeite, primarily in relation to water, allows you to obtain very clean and soft steam;
- Its high density and heat capacity make it one of the most effective tools in a stone steam room basket;
- The stone is highly durable and can withstand up to 5000 heating and cooling cycles, including lightning cycles, in direct contact with water. The homogeneous structure has a very beneficial effect on the integrity of the stone and minimizes the risks of deformation destruction of the stone mass;
- Easily withstands heating up to 1000 degrees Celsius, provided it is not exposed to open flames. Otherwise, a phenomenon such as thermal erosion may occur;
- The natural radioactive background of the stone is safe for everyday use;
- The decorative properties of the raw material are very high and with an open heater it can become a bright accent in the interior of a steam room;
- Some bath experts claim that this mineral has distinct tonic properties;
- Also, some experts prove that it is the steam generated from the jadeite backfill that allows people susceptible to epileptic seizures to take the procedure. Controversial, but that's how it is.
Important! It is worth noting that the widely advertised properties that the jadeite bath stone has, namely increasing the elasticity of blood vessels, lowering blood pressure, preventing and treating urinary tract diseases, suppressing arrhythmia, should be considered as banal marketing tinsel that has nothing to do with reality.
Where is jadeite mined?
Since the times when gems were mined only in open quarries, mining methods have come a long way. Jadeite has begun to appear on the market more often, but it is still a very rare stone. There are two dozen deposits around the world. The following countries are developing:
- Burma supplies the world market with unique “imperial” stones, transparent as diamonds.
- Guatemala boasts the only deposit in the world of a bluish, truly “heavenly” stone.
- Chinese deposits are almost exhausted, but nuggets are still found.
- In Russia, jadeite is mined in two mines. The first is Borusskaya, between the Kantegir and Yenisei rivers. The second is Pusierka in the polar part of the Ural Mountains.
- Sometimes the stone is found in India, Kazakhstan, and the USA.
Siberian jadeite most often belongs to the “utility” grade. This is the cheapest type of stone used to decorate baths. The same goes for minerals from American deposits. The most prized gems are those of the “imperial” class, which are large and transparent. Their price is the same as that of emeralds.
Physical and chemical properties
Jadeite is the entire periodic table in one gem. It may contain more than 60 different elements. The jadeite molecule and structure are similar to nepheline or albite. True, the gem is slightly denser than nepheline. Thanks to the unique crystal lattice, the stone received its main features: elasticity, thermal insulation and strength.
The mineral contains about 60 chemical elements.
Another interesting property of jadeite stone is its fibrous structure. In deposits it is usually found as part of needle-shaped or granular rocks, very rarely - as a prismatic crystal. Among the fibers there are often multi-colored inclusions, but the best specimens are completely homogeneous.
Polished jadeite looks brighter and more beautiful, and refracts sunlight better. But it is useless to subject the cheapest specimens to jewelry processing.
If the heavenly stone is heated to high temperatures, it will turn into ordinary translucent glass. Acids and alkalis can severely damage its structure. Colors can be very different, depending on the composition of the mineral. For example, Guatemalan gems received a unique green color due to chromium. Yellowish, opaque crystals become this way because iron in their composition replaces aluminum.
What stones can be used in the steam room
Stoves installed in bathhouses must have a compartment for storing stones - a heater (stoves are often called that). They perform several functions at once and make hygiene procedures unique.
Electric or wood
What are the stones for?
- The main function of minerals is steam generation. The water falling on the hot stones is converted into steam, which heats the air and increases the level of moisture in the room.
- Stones that absorb the thermal energy released during operation of the stove are able to accumulate it for a long time and continue to heat the bathhouse.
- Placed in an open heater, semi-precious or simply beautifully shaped and textured minerals look aesthetically pleasing.
- Many types of breeds have medicinal properties, improving the functioning of the heart and blood vessels, respiratory organs, genitourinary system and some other internal organs, as well as having a beneficial effect on the skin.
Stones in the sauna perform several functions
Prices for sauna heaters
sauna heater
Selecting stones for a sauna stove seems to be a simple process only at first glance. The basic requirements for minerals are as follows.
The stones must be resistant to temperature changes . This is due to the fact that they have to endure high loads. The heat produced by the oven heats them to extreme temperatures. Exposure to water contributes to uneven cooling. Not all rocks can withstand such tests without cracking and chipping. In this regard, the minerals used in heaters must have significant heat resistance.
Stones must be resistant to temperature changes
Important! Before laying, it is recommended to check the quality of the stone, which requires heating it and placing it in ice water. The mineral must maintain its integrity, which allows it to be used in the furnace. There must be confidence in the heat resistance of the stones, since low-quality rock can crack, and the hot part that flies off can burn a person.
Stones should last a long time.
Minerals must heat up quickly , and after the furnace has finished operating, they must be able to maintain the temperature in the room for a long time. Heat capacity is also one of the most important characteristics.
Choosing stones for a bath
The stones should have a beneficial effect on the well-being of people in the steam room and be environmentally friendly . The last point seems very significant, since rocks are capable of absorbing harmful substances that enter through pores from the environment. When heated, toxic inclusions will be released, causing harm to health. In this regard, minerals must be delivered from environmentally friendly areas.
It is desirable that the stones cost a budget (the best option would be to be free).
Not all stones, even those that meet the required characteristics, are suitable for placing in a kiln. They also need to be selected according to size. If minerals with a size of 7...15 cm are considered optimal for wood-burning heaters, then for equipping electric units it is better to choose smaller accessories with a fraction of no more than 7 cm. It is also necessary to pay attention to the external characteristics of the stones. They must be smooth, without cracks and free from impurities. If inclusions of other rocks are visible, there is a risk of rapid splitting of the minerals.
There are certain requirements for bath stones
Polished and crushed stones are used in steam rooms. The former provide good circulation of air masses, but take a long time to heat up. The latter are usually chosen by experienced lovers of bath procedures, since due to their large surface area they heat up quickly and give off more heat when exposed to water.
The stones must be clean, so remove dust by washing them before use.
Stones can be chipped or polished
Types and color of jadeite
The type of jadeite is determined immediately during mining. It may be one of the following:
- Imperial jadeite is bright green or blue, almost transparent, fine-grained. Its price may even be higher than that of emerald. The most expensive copies sell for millions of dollars.
Utility is the most common and cheapest variety; these are heterogeneous and opaque stones. Blue jadeite, mined in Russia, belongs to this category. Sometimes such crystals can be white or black, but more often they are greenish. These are ornamental specimens.- The “commercial” class includes opaque but uniform green jadeites with veins. Such stones are used both for making jewelry and as a material for crafts.
- Chloromelanite is a mineral that contains sodium silicate. It gives it a deep black color.
- Albit jadeite is an original bright green gem with a pattern of transparent dots and lines.
Other rare varieties are yellow stone, which was most prized in ancient China, and lilac jadeite. Their price depends on transparency and uniformity, but is usually quite high.
Checking the stone for authenticity
A fake stone is much cheaper than a genuine one in terms of cost, so a fraudster who sells a piece of plastic at the price of jadeite makes an excess profit. And the worst thing about this is that a fake is not suitable for magical or medicinal purposes. How to avoid falling for counterfeiters?
- Carefully inspect the gem and feel it. It is quite heavy and cool, does not get warm from the heat of your palms. There can be no bubbles in the thickness of the stone - this is not amber, into which prehistoric insects fall.
- Run the stone across the glass and it will leave a scratch. Or try scratching the gem with a blade, needle, or pin. Jadeite is hard enough, you won’t be able to damage it.
- Cheaper gems, such as green agate, can be passed off as a heavenly stone. A careful inspection will also help you here. Under a magnifying glass you will see the fibers, scales and multi-colored inclusions that make up jadeite. No other similar stone can boast of such a structure.
Most likely, the fake will be plastic or glass, then it can be distinguished.
Sometimes scammers sell real stone, but at the price of a more expensive type. For example, white jadeite of the “utility” class is painted with special chemicals in order to pass it off as “commercial”. Here only a jeweler can distinguish a fake. However, such skillful falsification requires a lot of work and special equipment; usually deceivers prefer to take a simpler route.
How to distinguish jadeite from jade
The mineral is really very similar to jade. Even the name is essentially the same: “jad” is kidney in Spanish, and “nephros” is in Greek. What the stones have in common is not only their appearance, but also their formula - NaAl(Si2O6). How, then, does jade differ from jadeite?
The main difference between jadeite and jade is that the stone of heaven is a full point harder on the Mohs scale. If you look through a magnifying glass, you can see that in the first gem the fibers are straight, in the second they are tangled. The colors are also slightly different: unlike jadeite, jade is almost never yellowish or bluish.
The best stones for a bath: reviews
By the way, everything is always complicated with reviews on the Internet; it’s better to go for an experiment and trust your own feelings than to strangers writing for unknown reasons.
Let's take the same jadeite . There are many reviews about “the best stone in the world,” but if you analyze them, the main advantages are: the steam has become lighter, the smell is pleasant. No one was healed by the healing stone, threw away their crutches and started dancing.
And there is reason to think about whether a person gets the most pleasure from the money spent? Checking it is as easy as shelling pears: buy a box (20 kg) of high-quality jadeite, put it in the top layer and try the steam. And the toad will not strangle, and the impressions will be personal, not from words.
The best reviews are those indicating the brand of the stove, operating mode, duration and results. One of the users says that he had two stoves at his disposal: Angara 2012 and Compact .
The compact was loaded with a mix, the revision was carried out 4 years after loading. It turned out that the following rocks suffered the most: abbro-diabase and crimson quartzite. Soapstone chlorite produced the most .
The jadeite did not break at all, so the user loaded the new stove exclusively with jadeite - both into the open and closed heater. Two years later, I carried out the first inspection: in the open one, nothing happened to the stone, but in the closed one , it broke into small fragments about 1/5 of the entire backfill.
Other users are in no hurry to share such detailed information. Someone boasts that his gabbro-diabase from Karelia stood for 10 years, and during the inspection only a few broken stones had to be replaced, and a little sand had to be raked out.
Another steamer reports the absolutely fantastic survival of soapstone from the Onot talc deposit : the stone worked for more than three decades in different furnaces.
Sometimes stones found independently in nature also demonstrate good survival: one user enjoyed steam from forest stones , another reported the survival of pebbles from a neighboring field for 10 years.
From the examples given, it is clear that no one has used all the options, but considers the best stones for a bath to be those with which he has dealt.
On the other hand, in the reviews there is nothing contrary to the nature of the stone: if you do not heat it to the limit, do not “wash” it with an open fire, in which everything oxidizes at a terrible speed, then it will live in your stove happily ever after. And if the stove is intermittent, with an open fire, then you need to be prepared to frequently replace the contents of the heater.
Video
Listen to a professional's advice on choosing the best stones:
And here is a review from a simple user.
And if you agree that there is nothing better than your own experience, then maybe share it with us? We decided to invite all readers who have experience using different stones and have formed their preferences to vote in our rating of bath stones:
Areas of application and care of jadeite
The gem is in demand among jewelers, but it is also used in other areas.
Jadeite jewelry is, of course, beautiful, but not every stone is suitable for jewelers. However, opaque and unsightly gems also have a use: the heavenly stone is a useful mineral.
Jadeite tiles are a valuable and very beautiful facing material. Chemists use heavenly stone to purify water; it filters heavy metal salts very well. Lithotherapists pay tribute to the healing properties of the gem; with its help they treat kidney diseases.
They knew that jadeite could be used for baths back in ancient China. Finishing from this gem not only looks very impressive, it also improves health. When heated, the mineral releases metasilicic acid, which rejuvenates the body.
If you have jadeite beads, rings or earrings, then it is better to follow some rules. Protect your jewelry from damage, heat, and chemicals. When going to the pool, it is better to remove it: chlorine, which is added to the water, has a bad effect on the gem.
The stone needs to be cleaned once or twice a year. To do this, rinse it with warm water and a little soap, then dry it carefully. Do not use detergents, as they may cause the mineral to permanently lose its structure.
Jadeite jewelry
Various jewelry is made from jadeite:
- beads;
- bracelets;
- earrings;
- pendants;
- brooches;
Jadeite is combined with garnet, diamond, onyx, zirconium, chrysoprase, and carnelian. The products are made in silver or gold frame.
Bracelets are more suitable for teenagers and young people, necklaces and beads are more suitable for older generations.
Jadeite, which is naturally dim, can easily get lost against the background of flashy colors of clothing. It looks best with everyday wardrobe items. Only rings can be combined with any style - they retain individuality without merging with things. Examples of combinations:
- blue jeans, light turtleneck and beads;
- short-sleeve plain dress and bracelet;
- an elegant dark skirt, a pastel-colored blouse and earrings;
- blue breeches, blue T-shirt and pendant.
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Caring for stone products
In order for jadeite products to last longer, they need to be looked after:
- do not leave in direct sunlight - the mineral will discolor;
- cleaning products corrode the gem - jewelry should be removed when doing housework;
- If dirty, wash with cool running water and soap;
- do not expose to heating or hypothermia - the structure will be damaged and cracks will appear;
- Do not store in rooms with high humidity - the stone will lose its shine.
Due to its hardness, jadeite can scratch softer gems, so it should be stored in a separate case.
On the topic of jewelry with stones, see the review:
Medicinal properties
In ancient times, to improve kidney function, crushed jadeite was ground into powder and added to drinks. Lithotherapists of our time do not agree with their colleagues here. Yes, the stone really helps to get rid of many kidney diseases, but such barbaric treatment of the gem is not necessary. It is enough just to briefly apply the mineral to the sore area of the body two or three times a day.
Previously, the stone was used internally for treatment. Now limited to external use.
Another property of jadeite stone helps to get rid of problems with the reproductive system. Thanks to it, women will be able to get pregnant and bear a child, men will be able to overcome impotence and cure prostatitis. Rarer colors - pink, lilac - can fight hemophilia. Yellow stone can improve vision, blue stone relieves depression and anxiety, improves sleep.
If you wear jadeite on your chest, it will be easier for the body to fight pneumonia and bronchitis. A bracelet with a gem reduces blood pressure and improves vascular tone. Earrings correct hearing problems and save from otitis media and meningitis.
Magical properties of jadeite
In the old days, it was believed that jadeite was a stone that could protect a person from lies, envious people, slanderers and simply from evil people. Merchants wore a talisman with a heavenly gem when they went to trade. When concluding a deal, they squeezed it in a fist or simply touched it with their fingers. This was believed to discourage dishonest partners.
The talisman can protect against evil and deceitful people.
The stone can help people who feel led. Those who lack firmness, assertiveness and the ability to defend a position can meditate on a crystal. This will help a person activate internal reserves, become more strong-willed and self-confident. Magicians also recommend the mineral to those who worry too much about little things, and who are unsettled by the slightest setbacks.
The qualities that jade imparts to its owner will help businessmen, politicians, and negotiators. Lawyers, military personnel, and economists will also appreciate it. It should be remembered that only natural stone has magical properties.
The gem can strengthen marriage and relationships. If both spouses wear it, they will notice that jealousy has decreased, the children have become more obedient, and the spouses themselves have become more accommodating, it is easier for them to negotiate with each other.
People who garden or garden, or work in the fields, will be interested in the rarest property of jadeite. A strong enough magician can use it to control the weather. Perhaps this will help you reap a good harvest and ensure dry weather or rain at the right time.
Magic of stone
Jadeite is recognized as a symbol of peace.
Helps its owners find the state of peace of mind that is so necessary in the modern world. Perfectly suppresses the conflict atmosphere, prevents strife not only among the family, but also with business partners. The mineral is recommended to be worn by people prone to excessive aggression. Helping to set a person’s thoughts in a positive way, jadeite restores lost faith in one’s own strength.
The stone also has a beneficial effect in resolving intra-family conflicts, which is especially important for those who have children. It eliminates generational misunderstandings. It helps people in love to maintain their feelings throughout life.
It is no coincidence that ancient peoples preferred to use this particular gem to make amulets and amulets. It was also actively used by ancient magicians who sought to influence the world around them. People believed that the magical powers of the stone could cause rain during droughts and protect against lightning.
Who is suitable for jadeite according to their zodiac sign?
It is believed that the properties of jadeite vary depending on the zodiac sign.
- With its help, Leos will be able to become more sociable and tolerant of others.
- The energy of Sagittarius in combination with the celestial stone can strengthen a marriage. They can also place a talisman with a heavenly stone above the entrance to the house or place a jade figurine in the hallway. This will protect against the evil eye and can also improve family relationships.
- Thanks to the mineral, Aries will find peace and clarity of thoughts. They will no longer be bothered by obsessive anxieties and nightmares. In a critical situation, this zodiac sign will be able not to panic, concentrate and calmly solve the problem.
- Taurus will feel harmony between the stone and their body. Their health will improve, chronic diseases will recede. Those who practice lithotherapy will be able to treat with the gem more successfully than their competitors.
- To virgins who are engaged in gardening or peasant labor, he will send good luck in a difficult task. Plants will take root better and get sick less.
- Libra will be able to become calmer, balanced, and confident in the future. The gem is able to improve their communication skills with people, attract new friends and like-minded people.
- Gemini and Aquarius will feel that the stone has given them an “inner core.” He will teach people to refuse when necessary, and in other situations, on the contrary, to overcome fear and embarrassment.
The gem is not recommended for water signs (Cancer, Pisces, Scorpio), as well as Capricorns. It will enhance their negative traits. Carriers of jade can become cruel, arrogant, arrogant, and incapable of compromise.
If a mineral is contraindicated for your sign, but you want to wear it, you can wear a fake stone. Another option is to wear jadeite jewelry so that it touches the skin as little as possible, and not wear it for more than three to four hours a week.
