Since ancient times, stones have endowed people with magical properties. It was believed that the one who has more precious and natural stones is truly rich. Over time, they have not gone anywhere. And today, having a large number of magnificent multi-colored shining pebbles - a rich man.
However, people have found application and natural stones. In skilled hands, every miracle of rock takes on a truly magnificent appearance. But what is this subject from a scientific point of view? Is a stone a substance or a body? What does it consist of and what varieties is represented, how is it used by man and what are its names? Let's try to figure it out.
Is a stone a substance or a body?
To answer this question, one should generally decide, and what are bodies and substances? Teachers from the fifth grade at the lessons of nature studies for children answer this question.
Bodies are called all objects of animate and inanimate nature. While substances are just the material that bodies are made of. These concepts are closely interconnected. If you build a logical chain, it will take approximately the following form: bodies - substances - molecules - atoms - smaller structures in the composition of the nucleus.
By their nature, stones are rock products, pieces and debris from them. Therefore, when answering the question: "Is stone a substance or a body?" - you should pay attention to this fact. It should also be taken into account that the chemical nature of the rocks is different, the substances from which they are formed are specific and uneven. Hence the conclusion: stones are both substances and bodies from the point of view of various sciences.
Stone classification
This question generally remained open for a long time, since different scholars interpreted it each in their own way. As a result, the classification of stones was given only much later, already in the 20th century. In each country it is different. For Russia, the system proposed by V. Ya. Kievlenko (1973) is considered acceptable.
- Precious, or jewelry. Examples: ruby, sapphire, emerald, diamond, beryl, alexandrite, opal, zircon, moonstone, aquamarine, topaz, tourmaline, chrysolite, amethyst, turquoise, chrysoprase, almandine, rosolite, spinel, citrine, demantoid, spodunite, pyrope. All of them are divided into stones of I, II, III and IV order.
- Semi-precious, or jewelry-ornamental. Examples: rock crystal, agate, chalcedony, amber, hematite, cachonite, rauchtopaz, amazonite, labradorite, spars, quartz, rhodonite, common opal, white porite, heliotrope, rose quartz. All are divided into elements of the I and II order.
- Ornamental. Examples: marble, fluorite, selinite, quartzite, granite, jasper, agalmatolite, ganite, onyx, Jespleite, listenite, jet, obsidian, onyx.
In a broader sense, all types of stones can be reduced to three groups:
- natural;
- artificial;
- synthetic.
Such a classification is more chemical, since artificial and synthetic samples are obtained by laboratory methods.
The classes of stones that were listed above also have certain units within themselves. For example, natural ones have their own special classification and names.
Stones from a chemical point of view
As already noted, by nature, the elements in question are rocks. Therefore, from a chemical point of view, stone is a substance. The composition is usually determined by a combination of various metal oxides and their salts.
For example, the chemical composition of the well-known emerald and ruby is almost the same - aluminum oxide AL 2 O 3 . Color differs due to different impurities of other elements and the absorption of light.
We can name several chemical groups of compounds that underlie the composition of all natural, including precious, stones:
- native elements (diamond - C);
- halides;
- sulfides;
- oxides;
- phosphates;
- borates;
- sulfates;
- feldspars;
- scapolites;
- Sadolites;
- carbonates;
- silicates;
- grenades.
Each group has its own types of stones, numbering in hundreds of varieties. They can differ not only in composition, but also in color, shape, size, transparency, density.
Physical properties
From the point of view of the science of physics, stone is a body. This means that its properties are characteristic, as well as for other similar objects: mass, melting and boiling points, density, color, taste, smell and so on.
However, everyone knows that a significant part of the stones has no taste, no smell, is not able to melt, but only crush. Their color is so diverse that it is simply impossible to drive this indicator into the general framework. The palette of radiance of precious and semiprecious stones is complete: from black and white to bright blue, red, green, yellow and purple.
In general, there are several main groups of physical characteristics of stones, both natural and artificial (including precious).
- Strength and wear resistance. According to this indicator, it is possible to distinguish strong (granite), medium (marble) and low strength (tuff) samples.
- Density. Corresponds to the previous indicator. They are divided into heavy - more than 2200 kg / m 3 and light - less than this indicator.
- Water absorption capacity, which is determined by the porosity of the structure.
- Acid resistance. The most resistant are granite and limestone. Marble collapses quite easily, as it enters into a chemical reaction with acids.
Thus, we can conclude that stone is a substance or body of a natural nature, characterized by a number of physical and chemical characteristics and of great practical importance in people's lives.
Natural stones
Of course, there are too many of them to be able to cover everything with a description. But the most common, those that are used by humans most often, try to consider.
Outwardly, any natural stone has a very beautiful and noble appearance. A photo of Stonehenge confirms this perfectly. Even though such samples do not have a bright color and radiance, they amaze with their majesty and splendor.
Varieties
There are several popular examples of natural stones that are used by people in landscape design and construction due to their strength, beauty and environmental cleanliness.
- Marble, which can be of different colors and patterns (layered or spotted). From ancient times used as a stone for architectural structures. From a chemical point of view, it is calcium carbonate CaCO 3.
- Granite. It is a material for finishing floors, walls, cladding of buildings, creating incredible works of art (monuments, monuments, etc.). From a chemical point of view, it is a combination of feldspars, quartz and dark-colored minerals.
- Sandstone. It is used by people for paving sidewalks, building stairs, laying foundations. Used since antiquity. Chemical composition: quartz and feldspars.
- Travertine. Extremely dense and strong stone, superior to marble in hardness. It also has good frost resistance. It is used in construction along with granite and marble. Consists of calcium carbonate minerals.
- Tuff. Beautiful porous stone, quite loose. Used for design decoration of garden plots, cladding of buildings. Chemical nature - calcium carbonate, silicon compounds, volcanic ash and caked lava.
- Jasper is a beautiful colored stone used for decorative finishes and jewelry. It is a mixture of silicon compounds and iron oxides.
There are also such common stones as slate, basalt, dolomite, limestone and others, which are widely used in construction and are generally used by man. Natural stone, the photo of which can be seen in the article, is one of the most popular materials for interior decoration today.
Artificial stones: classification
Such structures can be divided into four main groups:
- acrylic;
- polyester;
- quartz agglomerates;
- cast marble.
The main feature of each of them is that they are created artificially, by humans, and therefore do not occur in free form in nature. Their properties are not inferior, and sometimes even superior, to those of natural samples.
The main areas of use are the manufacture of countertops, sinks, laying out walls, floors, window sills and other surfaces.
Stones in water - types and properties
Sea stones - an important element of decor for aquariums, bathrooms, room decoration in the appropriate style. They are very beautiful, varied in shape, size and color, always attract attention.
What types of similar structures exist?
- Shell rock. Natural stone, formed over the centuries from calcareous deposits and shell fragments of the aquatic inhabitants of the oceans and seas. It has a beautiful milky hue, suitable for use in construction characteristics. Widely used in interior design.
- Pearls. Refers to natural sea stones for what is a metabolic product of shell mollusks. Used in jewelry, it is very much appreciated for its strength, beauty and durability.
- Corals You can also call them sea stones, because over time they turn into very durable structures formed by calcareous minerals, quartz and the waste products of the ocean inhabitants - polyps. Very diverse in color, are the most spectacular elements in the decoration of aquariums. Used in jewelry.
That is, sea stones are animal products formed under the influence of salt water and living organisms.
Gems
The most spectacular, fascinating and beautiful stones are, of course, precious. They fought for them, they were admired, they were given as a sign of respect and love, they personified power and strength. Precious stones are associated with numerous legends; the magical power of their effects on the body has not been explained so far.
Varieties and names
What are the stones of this type called? They have many names, as, indeed, themselves. The most expensive and famous are:
- diamonds - processed and cut diamonds;
- blue sapphires;
- blue topazes;
- green emeralds;
- aquamarines aquamarine ;
- violet and lilac amethysts and many others.
Stones are beautiful and unique products that allow you to make a person's life more interesting, reliable and more beautiful.