Ammolite

What is ammolite?
Ammolite is a very beautiful gem that is fairly new. It was discovered in 1981 by the ICGC as a new organic gem and is currently considered the rarest gemstone in the world.

The ammolite is a very interesting gemstone, and one that I was very excited to write up. The ammolite gem is actually the fossilized remains of an ancient sea creature called the ammonite. It was a form of squid/crustacean that swam the seas in the prehistoric times.

The name "ammonite" is derived from the name of the Egyptian god Ammon, who believed that the creatures were divine and beautiful. Ammon is represented in ancient literature by the head of a ram with twisted spiral horns that are reminiscent of an ammonites spiraled shells.

Ammolite is a multicolored gem that has very vibrant colors. This is caused  by the aragonite in the stone. It glistens over in thin scales and as it layers more and the light hits it, it gets diffracted and gets the beautiful, glossy rainbow colors.

Where is it found?
Fossilized ammonite pieces are typically found all over the world, but AMMOLITE itself can only be mined in Alberta, Canada. Even though there are many fossilized remains, only about 5% of these produce ammolite, hence making it the rarest gem in the world. In a few centuries, ammolite may go "extinct", because when remains are gone, there will be no more remains.

The mystic ammolite
The legend of Ammolite goes back to the Blackfoot tribe of North America. Ammolite was discovered by the native Indians and used by them for years to ward off evil spirits.

It is believed by some Feng Shui masters that ammolite absorbed cosmic energy from the universe and, through the stone, it gives the owner health, wealth, and enlightenment. Considered a high energy stone it is said to enhance the harmony, vitality, and overall well-being of visitors and occupants of a home. Ammonite with layers of ammolite is thought to enhance the flow of Qi (life energy), to radiate strength, and to alter negative energy to positive energy. It is said that even for those that do not believe in Feng Shui, the presence of ammolite is considered beneficial.

Students of Feng Shui believe that ammolite absorbed the knowledge of the universe and that benefits are gained by anyone near it. The colors of ammolite represent the harmonious balance of fire, earth, metal, water, and wood.

Lawrencium

Lawrencium is not a naturally occurring element. it was synthesized in 1961 by Albert Ghiorso, Torbjorn Sikkeland, Almon Larsh and Robert Latimer. It was the very last of the actinide series to be discovered. Californium was bombarded and hence, lawrencium was created. It was named after Ernest Lawrence, who invented the cyclotron particle accelerator.

Lawrencium is highly radioactive and has to be handled and stored very carefully. Currently, it has only been produced in small amounts but it is still very dangerous. It is only useful for scientific purposes.

Garnet

Rough, Uncut Garnet

Garnets are a very beautiful gems best known as the gemstone for those born in the month of January. Garnets come in every color except blue. Rhodolites are the purple ones, Hessonite are the orange, red, and pinkish ones, and Tsavorite and Uvarovite are the names for the green ones. Their rank on the Mohs scale of hardness is a 7.
Garnets can be found in the following places:
Arizona, USA
South Africa
Argentina
Australia
Brazil
Burma, Myanmar
Scotland
Switzerland
Tanzania

A cut demantoid garnet

Garnets are formed when high pressure and temperature is a factor and because of this, geologists use it as a gauge to tell them what the temperature and pressure amount was when it was being created. Garnets are priced according to size and color. The most expensive garnet color is a pale green called a demantoid that can only be found in Russia. Because it is so rare, it starts at prices of $1000 per carat, if not more.

EXTRA FACTS (MYTHS ABOUT THE GARNET)
Garnet's powers are thought to be healing, strength, protection, and is often worn to heal inflamed skin. It is also believed to help in regulation of heart and blood flow, and is used to cure depression. In ancient times, a garnet was given as a gift to a very close friend as a symbol of everlasting friendship. (Garnets are also given on 2nd and 6th anniversaries.)

Ununpentium

Research scientists at the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research in Dubna, Russia and the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, California believed they had made element 115 in Russia in 2003. The work was supposedly a collaboration between science teams led by Yuri Oganessian and Ken Moody. What many people DON'T know is that in 1989, a former scientist from Los Alamos National Lab named Bob Lazar stepped into the spotlight with an astonishing claim that he had worked on spaceships in Nevada.

As if this claim wasn't shocking enough, he went farther to say that they could produce their own gravity using a super-heavy substance- aka element 115. Now this, you're probably thinking, is all well and good. This guy knew that ununpentium was around and used it in his stupid, pointless argument. Here's where it gets interesting: element 115? It didn't exist in 1989! It wasn't "actually discovered" for another 14 years after Lazar's claim- yet his description matched it perfectly.

The government denied Lazar's working for them, and covered up the "finding" as their cooperation with Russia. I find that MIGHTY interesting- especially being they called it the exact same thing that Lazar called it! Coincidence? I think not. Other than it being superheavy, not much is known about ununpentium. This is mainly because when the minuscule amount that was produced WAS produced, it fell apart within minutes. It is very unstable.

What do you think of Bob Lazar? You can Google him and learn more about what he said and then leave me a comment with your opinion!

Maddie

Mendelevium

Mendelevium was first identified by Albert Ghiorso, Bernard Harvey, Gregory Choppin, Stanley Thompson, and Glenn Seaborg in 1955 at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, California. Only 17 atoms were produced in an all night experiment- it was highly dissapointing, as it was supposed to produce 3-4 atoms per hour. It was named after the Russian chemist Dmitri Mendeleev- the guy who devised the first periodic table.

Like many elements in the actinide series, mendelevium is highly radioactive and must be stored carefully. It is not found free in nature, and it has not been produced as metal yet. It is currently only of scientific use. It is produced through charged articles of lighter elements.

Einsteinium

Einsteinium was first discovered in 1952 by scientists at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. The project was led by Albert Ghiorso. It was found with fermium in debris from a hydrogen bomb test, on filter papers from a plane that had flown over the explosion area. After finding the small amount, all the coral in the surrounding area (hundreds of pounds of it) was examined to see if there was more. As of today, it can only be produced in very tiny amounts- 2 grams being the highest amount.

It was named after- you guessed it, Albert Einstein! It is very harmful due to it's high radioactivity. It is never found naturally, as it is a synthetic metal. The first time it was actually brought down to it's natural form was more than a decade after it's initial discovery. It currently has no other use to it than research purposes.

Sugilite

What is sugilite?
Sugilite was found in 1944. However, the largest amount was found in 1975 in the Kalahari Desert in Northern South Africa. Also, in 1979 a large deposit of the gem was found only 3200 feet below the first discovery. If only they had kept digging a little more....'

Sugilite is a very beautiful purple gem that can range from a pale lavender/grey to a deep, rich purple. It is also a very waxy gem- which is surprising as it is relatively hard, and 6.5/7 on the Mohs scale.


Where is it found?
Sugilite was actually discovered first in Japan. It is named after the Japanese geologist who first discovered the specimen, Ken-ichi Sugi. Other than Japan, it can be found in:

• South Africa
• Canada
• India

The mystic sugilite
Sugilite is said to strengthen the heart, aid in physical healing, and reduce stress. It is also said to be a balancer of the mind, body and spirit and encourages peace of mind. Legend also says it is used to protect against anger and other negative energies....