When you think of healing gemstones, rocks, and minerals you
may not think of the potential of toxicity or the harmful deadly makeup of some
substances. There are some gorgeous
rocks and minerals on this planet that you need to stay away from and not wear
on your body. We will be discussing the
top ten rocks/minerals that can be very harmful for you and your family.
10) Coloradoite – this crystalline mineral was just recently
discovered and originates in magma veins.
The mineral is a mercury telluride compound. It holds a double threat to anyone that dares
to handle it. If the mineral is heated
or chemically altered, deadly vapor and dust are released to anyone within
breathing distance of it.
9) Chalcanthite – these beautiful blue crystals are composed
of copper, combined with sulfur, other elements and water. The arrangement of its contents turns the
copper, which is necessary for the body but can be toxic in excess quantities,
into an extremely bio-available crystal.
What can happen is the copper can become water soluble and can be
hurtful and deadly to any plants or animals that come in contact with it. When the contents enters an organism it shuts
down the body processes. Releasing this
blue crystal in ponds has killed algae, and caused greater environmental
issues.
8) Hutchinsonite – Hutchinsonite is a hazardous mixture of
thallium, lead, and arsenic. The three
poisonous metals form a deadly mineral that should be handled with great
caution. Thallium is the “dark twin” of
lead. This thick, greasy metal is
similar in atomic mass but is more deadly.
This mineral is found in mountainous regions of Europe.
7) Galena – Galena is the principle of lead, and it forms
glistening silver cubes with unnaturally
perfect shapes. Lead, as you may know, is usually very flexible,
but the sulfur content of galena makes it very brittle. Galena is capable of taking its toll on
workers and amateur researchers who are exposed to it. If a worker comes in contact with the
substance it can result in lead exposure.
If galena is struck with a hammer it will shatter and it is more
difficult to contain, resulting in inhalation exposure.
6) Asbestos – Asbestos is not a manmade product, but one of
the most terrifying minerals on the planet.
Where other minerals act as toxins while causing sickness, and
accidental poisoning of the people who come in contact with them, asbestos conducts
a full on sabotage to the lungs.
Asbestos deposits consist of thousands of tiny, fibrous crystals that
become airborne and lodge themselves in the human lungs. Carcinogenic effects develop from the
irritation to the human lungs which leads to scarring.
5) Arsenopyrite – Arsenopyrite is also known as “fool’s gold”. Handling the substance can be
harmful, arsenopyrite
is arsenic iron sulfide, which is the same type of mineral as pyrite (fool’s
gold, iron sulfide, but with a heavy addition or arsenic. If heated or altered in any way, a strong
garlic odor will be produced and can be lethally toxic. If you even just handle the mineral you are
in contact with the unstable sulfuric arsenic salts. Would you like to be able to identify the
substance? Strike it with a hammer and a
powerful garlic smell will be released briefly as sparks fly. I wouldn’t suggest tampering with it though.
4) Torbernite – this is the mineral from hell. The green prism shaped crystals are composed
of
uranium. The substance is formed
through a complex reaction between phosphorous, copper, water and uranium. Many collectors are taken by the minerals
beauty and will collect a specimen for their shelf collection. Lethal radon gas capable of causing lung
cancer is released from these rocks. You
will definitely want to leave this one alone.
Be careful though, torbernite can occur in granite, so your stone
countertop just might have traces of this deadly substance.
3) Stibnite – stibnite looks like silver, but is antimony
sulfide. For that reason, the huge,
shining metallic crystals were fashioned into eating utensils at one
point. But, this lead to death for those
that used them. This mineral caused the
worst kind of food poisoning you could ever imagine. Even for those who have collected the
substance should handle it with great caution or avoid it all together. If you do happen to touch or hold a stibnite
sample make sure to wash your hands well.
The largest samples of stibnite has been found in Oksaku in Japan, and
measured up to one foot in length.
2) Orpiment – the only thing worse than arsenic is a rock
made of arsenic and sulfur. These lethal
and chemically reactive crystals are found growing below the surface near
hydrothermal vents. The colors can be
attractive, but if held it can release carcinogenic, neurotoxic arsenic
powder. Like cinnabar, the Chinese used
the substance for harm. Arrows would be
rubbed into the crushed substance and launched off to poison the enemy. It has a strong garlic odor due to the
arsenic content. The mineral was used in
ochre paint and was likely to cause of many artists being poisoned.
1) Cinnabar – cinnabar is the single most toxic mineral to
handle on Earth. The name of the crystal means dragons blood. Formed near volcanos and sulfur deposits, the
bright red crystals are a sign of danger.
Cinnabar can release mercury if disturbed or heated, causing tremors,
loss of sensation or death. Cinnabar was
used by the Chinese for ornamental food dishes and intricate carvings were
created from chunks of it. It was also
believed by ancient medical practitioners that cinnabar held healing
powers.
If you ever have the opportunity to come in contact with
these ten substances use not only great caution, but I would avoid them all
together. You would be happy to know
that none of the jewelry that Sun Spirit Gems make have these substances in
them. So feel comforted with the jewelry
you buy from Sun Spirit Gems.
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