Almandine: The twin stone of ruby. What do we know about carbuncle?

What is this stone? Origin story

Since garnets are clots of magma remaining on the surface of the earth, the most natural color for a carbuncle would be red. However, in nature there are many shades that differ from each other in origin and physical properties.

Thanks to its aggressive, but at the same time hypnotizing and bewitching appearance, the stone was the object of desire of human society many thousands of years ago.

Spiritual leaders endowed it with incredible power and properties to influence a person’s character, magicians used it in particularly complex ritual actions, and monarchs decorated their crowns and weapons with it.

In Ancient Rus', the carbuncle was one of the main religious decorations. It towered above the heads of kings, crowning their crowns, and adorned religious attributes of power and especially valuable luxury items.

According to the beliefs of that time, the stone made its owner invulnerable to evil intent, both physically and spiritually.

In the myths of Ancient Greece, the carbuncle languished in the forehead of the insidious Echidna, whose powers were powered by the glow emitted by the stone.

The beautiful snake maiden never parted with him day or night. The only time the carbuncle was left unattended was when she was swimming in the ocean waters.

In her sweet speeches, the snake promised to reveal the secrets of the earth and sky, to bestow untold riches on the one who dared to take the stone left on the shore. But not a single profit-seeking representative of the human race was able to take possession of the great jewel.

Medieval legends describe the carbuncle as an obligatory companion of terrifying dragons. According to this information, the mineral was one with the head of this fabulous, powerful animal and it could only be extracted by separating the head from the body.

Bloodthirsty dragons fed their irrepressible rage from the pulsating carbuncle and carefully guarded their treasure, because the loss of the stone meant the end of life.

History and origin of the mineral

The gem has always been popular among rich people. Stone processing began in the 6th century BC. e. The profiles of the rulers of Persia were carved on its surface; the crowns and weapons of the rulers of Ancient Rus' were decorated with it. The name of the stone was given by Pliny. Later, from 1546, the mineral began to be called differently: fireweed, garnet, Cape ruby.

The carbuncle occupies a special place in religion and mythology:

• the Greeks believed that the mineral was located in the forehead of a half-snake, half-echidna, which used it to lure prey;
• the Koran says that the Fourth Heaven consists of it;
• In Christianity, the stone symbolically depicted the blood of the Savior on the cross.

70% of carbuncles are solidified magma, rich in silicon, magnesium and manganese, that has burst to the surface. In the depths of the earth, metals and other compounds are in a molten liquid state; during a volcanic eruption, they rise upward in a stream or are thrown out in splashes. Having frozen, they turn into stone - a carbuncle.

30% of stones are formed metasomatically, that is, in the process of degeneration of rocks under the influence of temperature and pressure.

Stone in literature

The bright red gem has been mentioned more than once in literature. In the Middle Ages there were tales in which a prince or a hero from the common people defeated a terrible dragon by cutting off its head. After that, he took out the carbuncle that was in the monster’s forehead and presented it to the princess.

A. Conan Doyle described the gem in the detective story about Sherlock Holmes “The Blue Carbuncle”. A. S. Pushkin, inspired by the Greek legend, described in “The Tale of Tsar Saltan” a maiden with a burning star in her forehead. A. Kuprin wrote “Garnet Bracelet”, where he mentioned a blood-red stone.

Physical properties

The chemical composition of the mineral contains calcium, iron, as well as manganese and magnesium.

The presence of these elements explains its physical properties:

• the most common crystal shape is twelve-sided;
• hardness values ​​are from 6.5 to 7.5 units on the Mohs scale, and density is 4 g/cm³, which explains the high impact strength and strong immunity to scratches;
• The transparency of the stone varies from completely transparent to very dark, almost black, color;
• The shine of the stone is very pronounced. According to this indicator, the carbuncle can be compared to a diamond. The abundance of edges refracts the incident light many times over, which is so valued in the world of jewelers;
• During friction, the mineral becomes highly electrified and creates a charge of electricity. This property is widely used in instrument making.

Place of Birth

The deposits of Burma are very rich in carbuncles of the highest quality. The exceptional properties of this mineral include its interesting color change, which depends on the level of illumination.

Blue carbuncles, mined in Tanzania and Sri Lanka, are also very variable and unstable in their shades.

If you look at them indoors, they will be purple in color, but when you take them out into sunlight, the purple will immediately change to a sea greenish color.

Carbuncles of Russian origin are orange and burgundy in color. They are a by-product of diamond mining, as they often lie in the depths of the earth nearby.

Carbuncle stone: what is it?

Carbuncle stone photo Carbuncle stone is a type of garnet and is distinguished by an incredible rich red glow that attracts and literally hypnotizes.
The beauty of this variety of pomegranate has amazed people since ancient times.

Shining or burning, which is how its name is translated from Latin, it shines spectacularly in the rays of sunlight, playing with shades and resembling a smoldering coal.

Magic properties

The most magically powerful is the red version of the stone. For its resemblance to the color of blood, most sorcerers of antiquity revered it, using it as a powerful amulet and a way to strengthen their magic.

The carbuncle was credited with such abilities as:

1. Possession of cosmic creative energy. The fact is that this stone seems to have been specially created by nature to restore order in the world. Its energy brings only positive results; with its help, any harmful actions and rituals are excluded.
2. Easy opening of the veil of the future. Soothsayers from all countries used a carbuncle in the shape of a faceted ball to make particularly accurate predictions. It was believed that he bestows clarity of thought and indicates the only correct decision.
3. Strengthening such character qualities as determination, fearlessness, willpower. Since ancient times, the stone was an amulet of great warriors and their kings, as it was intended to protect against death during war. The one who wore the mineral on his body showed remarkable strength and courage in battle, moving easily and devilishly quickly. He also served as moral support in difficult situations: warriors and sailors in difficulty asked their talisman for help, and he instilled in them faith in the future, gave them vigor and optimism.
4. Impact on people. Only a decent, open-hearted person could use this property. Carbuncle increases the communication abilities of its owner, helps him acquire the necessary connections, make strong friendships and achieve his goals. However, this is done exclusively for peaceful and good purposes - the mineral rejects vile, insidious people, and can get lost or even crumble in the hands of a scoundrel.

Nowadays, the talisman does not lose the described properties. It is used as an amulet by lovers or married couples, since it serves as a powerful source of attraction for love and enhances sexual desire.

If you are lucky enough to find a carbuncle in the shape of a heart, know that it will serve as an excellent amulet for marriage and family, and will protect relationships in separation.

Under the protection of the stone are such love areas as smoothing out conflicts, strengthening understanding and trust between spouses, maintaining fidelity and tenderness between young lovers, truthfulness in words and deeds.

The stone is also good for people who pay great attention to self-development. Any of the varieties bestows oratory skills, attracts people to you, reveals friendliness and tolerance.

The mineral will help you discover traits in yourself that were previously hidden deep inside, and will give you inner strength and energy to act decisively every day.

If a difficult life period is on the horizon, fortune tellers advise getting a small carbuncle assistant. Then it will be much easier to overcome any difficulties.

Anyone who owns a carbuncle can easily recognize the vile intentions of others; the stone protects against false speech and reveals the true face of an enemy. Since this mineral is identified with the shed blood of Christ, its strength is quite sufficient to repel any attacks of the devil and his servants.

The magic and energy of the carbuncle

This stone is credited with magical properties associated with arousing sexual desire. Therefore, it is especially popular among lovers and is not suitable for teenagers who do not yet have their own partner.

In ancient Persia, only kings wore the stone. It was believed that he made the ruler courageous and capable of ruling over his subordinates and peoples. The stone has long been popular among sailors and military personnel. He protected them from the enemy and accidents along the way.

In the modern world, the red carbuncle is a symbol of family harmony and prosperity. It protects the family hearth from troubles and allows you to preserve the union of two hearts for many years. Also, with its help, children do not create problems and treat their parents with respect. Under the auspices of the stone, the house is filled with fun and joy with a prosperous family atmosphere.

Wearing jewelry with a carbuncle makes a person sociable, the life of the party. He attracts people with his honesty and friendliness. Thanks to this, he is never left in trouble, he can always count on the help of others. The stone helps the owner to direct vital energy in the right direction and achieve the goal without any problems.

Carbuncle stone has magical properties

The strongest properties of red garnet with a rich color. It is often used by magicians and psychics to purify and search for the truth.

Medicinal properties

Blue carbuncle

Even ancient Roman healers noted the ability of a precious amulet to protect a woman from dangerous childbirth, relieving acute pain and protecting the baby from fatal diseases. Girls preparing for motherhood and women in labor wore a bracelet or pendant with this stone and firmly believed that it would protect against any possible misfortune.

Now carbuncle helps women who are planning to conceive a child, but cannot do so. For any difficulties in women's sexual health, the mineral will come to the rescue.

For psycho-emotional disorders, periodic wearing of the stone under the body is recommended.

Close contact with it strengthens the psyche, adds activity to the brain and nerve endings, increases joy and love for life.

But constant wearing can greatly affect an unbalanced psyche: an overexcited nervous system is a harbinger of insomnia and rapid fatigue. That is why the stone must sometimes be removed and given rest.

The following health problems can also be solved with this powerful amulet:

• skin diseases of varying severity;
• problems with the functioning of the heart and vascular system;
• disturbances in the functioning of the respiratory system;
• Difficulties with coordination and functioning of the motor system.

It helps to recover from injuries and rehabilitate after experiencing severe stress and disasters. Its property is known to stop heavy bleeding and accelerate the healing of deep wounds.

Who is suitable according to their zodiac sign?

1. Aries will be able to somewhat smooth out his stubbornness and unsociability, acquire true friends and useful social connections. Representatives of this sign are recommended to wear a carbuncle as part of a ring, because Aries prefer bright and large jewelry.
2. Taurus is known for his hot temper and bad temper, which cannot please others. If it is in your interests to change for the better, choose a blue talisman for self-control and managing your own emotions.
3. Gemini is less susceptible to the influence of this mineral; the energy of this sign and the carbuncle practically do not overlap. Help will not be provided to Gemini, nor will any harm be caused. If you like the stone in appearance, wearing it is quite acceptable.
4. Cancer is calm and balanced, does not make hasty decisions and analyzes everything carefully. Contact with a carbuncle, and especially wearing it constantly, can significantly affect your character, making you nervous and overly excitable. The stars recommend refraining from purchasing jewelry with this mineral.
5. Leo will reveal his best sides and will be able to be more tolerant of the fact that the people around him are not at all ideal. In terms of color, orange or yellowish options are most suitable for the royal representatives of the Zodiac.
6. Virgo may well use the stone as needed. Possessing well-developed intuition, she can easily determine for herself the moment when outside help is needed. During this period, you need to bring the amulet closer to you. The rest of the time it is better to leave him at home.
7. Libra must decide whether carbuncle is right for them or not already in their first meeting. Based on their subjective feelings of comfort or discomfort when wearing a stone, you need to choose the color and size. If for some reason the stone does not satisfy the capricious Libra, bad consequences are possible in the future.
8. Scorpio is the true owner of the carbuncle. The stone and the sign need each other's company. The indomitable energy of Scorpio requires direction in a peaceful direction, and the amulet receives a caring owner, whose bright appearance once again emphasizes the luxury of the stone.
9. Sagittarius is famous for its persistent and energetic character, great willpower and ambition. It is for him that the carbuncle will help him find a middle ground in his desire to receive all the benefits of the world.
10. Capricorn can make the carbuncle his main talisman - this is an excellent option for correctly setting priorities and quickly achieving truly important goals. The stone promotes health: physical and moral.
11. Aquarius looks at life easily and naturally; depression and mental disorders are very rare with him. Therefore, he must decide for himself whether he needs the help of such an influential patron.
12. Pisces , with their fickle and changeable disposition, cannot count on the support of a noble gem. This sign is recommended to pay attention to other stones as protectors and patrons.

Blue carbuncle

Candidate of Geological and Mineralogical Sciences S. F. Akhmetov Chemistry and Life No. 11, 1981, p. 41

“Chemistry and Life” has already written about garnets, about their place in mineralogical museums and on the pages of literary works (No. 2, 1979). Indeed, leafing through books, here and there you read about the blood-red shine of these gems. Garnets (carbuncles, anthraxes, venices) are mentioned by Francois Rabelais, Oscar Wilde, Alexander Kuprin, Arthur Conan Doyle, Marina Tsvetaeva, Pavel Bazhov, Ivan Efremov...

I would like to talk about one of the literary pomegranates.

Conan Doyle has a story called "The Blue Carbuncle". The hero of this story, Peterson, found in the crop of a Christmas goose a brightly sparkling blue stone slightly smaller than a pea.

“The stone was so pure that it glowed in a dark palm like an electric spark.

Holmes whistled and sat down on the couch.

- Honestly, Peterson, you found a treasure! I hope you understand what this is?

- Diamond, sir! Gemstone! It cuts glass like butter!

- Not just a precious stone - this is the very stone that...

“Is it really the blue carbuncle of the Countess of Morcar?”

Let's look at the dialogue, where the last phrase, of course, belongs to Dr. Watson.

So, Peterson mistook the stone for a diamond. He was guided by its hardness - “cuts glass like butter.” In fact, neither ruby, nor topaz, nor, especially, garnet have such hardness. They only scratch the glass, but do not cut it like butter. Dr. Watson called the stone a blue carbuncle, that is, a garnet. But blue garnets do not exist in nature. Garnets can be white, red, orange, yellow, green, black, but not blue.

Later in the story we read:

“Holmes took the stone and held it up to the light. - Nice pebble! - he said. - Look how it sparkles and sparkles. Like any precious stone, it attracts criminals like a magnet. This is truly Satan's trap. In large old stones, each face can tell about some bloody crime. This stone is not even twenty years old. It was found on the banks of the Amoy River, in Southern China, and is remarkable in that it has all the properties of a carbuncle, except one: it is not ruby ​​red, but blue. Despite his youth, many horror stories are already associated with him. Because of forty grains of crystalline carbon, many were robbed, someone was doused with sulfuric acid, there were two murders and one suicide. Who would have said that such a beautiful trinket would lead people to prison and the gallows!”

Holmes's words about the connection of precious stones with crime are beyond doubt. He's an expert here. But then the great detective begins to talk nonsense. First he speaks of the carbuncle as a garnet (ruby red color), and then he names its composition: crystalline carbon. But there are no traces of carbon in garnets; they consist mainly of oxides of calcium, magnesium, manganese, chromium, aluminum and silicon. Crystalline carbon can be either graphite or diamond.

Moreover, there is not and never has been an Amoy River in Southern China! Is the famous detective mystifying us?

Probably, the confusion with the carbon nature of the garnet arose because of the word “carbuncle” - coal. And the name of the mythical Amoy River could come from the Portuguese colony of Aomen in Southeast China. The name of Countess Morcar is most likely an adaptation of the European name of this colony - Macau. As you know, Conan Doyle came up with words that are not in any dictionary. He forced Holmes to practice Japanese wrestling, baritsu (the story “The Empty House”), which the samurai had no idea about. So, Conan Doyle did not know mineralogy. Curling my lip condescendingly, I began to reread the story “The Blue Carbuncle” and after a few minutes forgot about the errors and inconsistencies. I became immersed in the amazing story of a poor Londoner who found a sparkling gem in the crop of a Christmas goose.

Truly great is the power of art!

Once again carbuncles shone on the pages of Conan Doyle’s story “The Sign of Four.” But it doesn't say anything about their color.

At this point, the case of the blue carbuncle could have been closed, if not for the discovery of artificial yttrium-aluminum garnet.
Its formula is written as Y3Al2(AlO4)3. The introduction of impurities colors the garnet in a variety of colors. For example, crystals with the addition of cobalt oxide are sky blue. This means that Conan Doyle was right in his mistake! BACK

Who is the name suitable for?

Alla, Maria, Tamara can make a carbuncle their amulet.

Independent and delightful Alla is always in the center of attention, her energy and ease in communicating with people attracts an abundance of fans to her. But at the same time, there are people who are not at all happy about Alla’s success.

It is to protect against ill-wishers that the stone should be worn as a bracelet or necklace.

Alla’s beautiful gem and interesting appearance will go wonderfully together, and the evil thoughts of envious people will be crushed to dust at one glance at the carbuncle.

Alla's independence in decision-making and bold judgments will be fueled by the energy of the stone. It is especially recommended to pay attention to the red talisman.

If you are lucky enough to become the owner of a rare black stone, then triumphant success in all areas of life is guaranteed.

For ladies named Maria, the carbuncle will become a kind of therapy. The amulet will neutralize emerging negative thoughts and despondency, but will certainly add cheerfulness and faith in the best. He is also able to add worldly wisdom and provide the ability to think rationally to those who are prone to failure or despair in life.

Acting as a protector of the weak, the blue carbuncle will protect against cruelty from men, as well as from the moral influence of stronger characters.

Winter Marys are recommended to wear a stone in a silver frame, but representatives of the summer type are better off with a gold frame or an option without a frame at all.

The regal, graceful Tamara clearly understands what she needs for complete happiness, she always has a strategy of action and a backup plan in case of failure. She acts decisively, sometimes causing bewilderment and indignation of others with too harsh statements.

A yellow carbuncle will balance the character of its owner, tipping the scales towards moderation in everything. In her personal life, Tamara finds it difficult to decide on her desires; she usually takes a long time to choose a life partner.

For those who want to meet true love and maintain a strong family, it is better to combine carbuncle with alexandrite - this way Tamara’s shortcomings, which she stubbornly refuses to admit, will become less noticeable to others.

The main representatives (minerals) are the garnet series

• Pyralspites Pyrope
  Mg3Al2[SiO4]3 - from the Greek. “pyropos” - similar to fire (due to its red color). The color is dark red. Found in ultramafic rocks rich in magnesium and their destruction products. Characteristic of diamondiferous rocks of South Africa and Yakutia.
• Almandine
  Fe2+3Al2[SiO4]3 - after the name of the area - Alamanda (Asia Minor). Color red, brown, purple. The most common of pomegranates. Common in crystalline schists and gneisses.
• Spessartine
  Mn3Al2[SiO4]3 - named Spessart (Bavaria, Germany). Color pink, red, yellowish-brown. Found in pegmatites and crystalline schists (Eastern Siberia, Karelia).

Based on the nature of isomorphic substitutions, two series have been identified, which are divided into series:

1. A series of pyralspites (magnesium-iron-manganese garnets): pyrope, almandine, spessartine.
2. A series of ugrandites (calcium garnets), including three series: the grossular-andradite series (the most common), the andradite-uvarovite series and the andradite-shorlomite series.

The second series includes garnets in which part of the [SiO4] is replaced by [OH]4 - the so-called hydrogarnets. Separate names are assigned to garnets with 75 mol.% of the corresponding component. There are limited isomorphic substitutions between garnets of the two series.

Garnet crystals: a - rhombic dodecahedron (110), b - tetragontrioctahedron (211), c - combination of a and b.

Talismans and amulets from carbuncle

Esotericists and specialists in the field of magical sciences classify carbuncle as a stone with positive, good energy.

Only in rare cases does he come into conflict with his master, creating obstacles to the implementation of his plans. The stone helps responsible, friendly and conscientious people become even better, but for their envious people the energy of the amulet can become a real problem.

The gem, which originates in volcanic magma, personifies ebullient vital energy, activity, and the desire for leadership. It generously endows its owner with those qualities that he lacks, emphasizing its impact on the spiritual development of the individual.

It is worth noting that the talisman is constantly active, which is why you should carry it with you with some breaks.

In those moments when you remove your favorite stone, take care of its cleanliness and safety, and also cleanse it of negative energy under running water.

Water has the most powerful property of removing not only accumulated dust and dirt, but also unwanted aura, the abundance of which does not benefit even the stone.

Carbuncle in jewelry

It is a very popular stone in jewelry. There are several reasons for this. Firstly, its noble appearance is not inferior to diamonds, and in terms of the degree of light refraction and brilliance, the carbuncle can even surpass some of them.

Secondly, making jewelry from it is very simple; the stone is well processed and goes well with the metals framing it. And thirdly, the abundance of deposits offers a sufficient amount of stones annually.

A huge number of products are made from processed stone - beads, bracelets, earrings, pendants, rings. In any form, this beautiful mineral reveals itself and attracts the eye.

Here are some tips when choosing jewelry that contains carbuncle:

1. When choosing a ring for a man, you should give preference to a stone set in silver or noble white gold. This way the product will look discreet and luxurious. It is recommended to wear it for people whose occupation involves risks to life and health. Firefighter.
2. For military personnel, doctors and other representatives of complex professions, the stone will help them notice danger in time and show restraint in difficult situations.
3. Earrings and pendants will ideally complement the wardrobe of women of any age, without distracting attention from the appearance of their owner. The fact is that this stone looks very organic with clothes of any color. With proper selection of the type of jewelry, the amulet will suit any style of clothing and age of its owner.
4. Brooches or rings with this stone are most often chosen by mature ladies. By setting them in gold, you can get a truly precious piece of jewelry that will be proudly passed on to generations and will serve as a real heirloom.

Care comes down to timely gentle cleaning with a soft cloth and a stream of water, storage in a place protected from dust.

For your favorite jewelry, it would be preferable to have a separate box (even a small one), where the amulet can gain strength during the period when it is not in use.

How and to whom is it recommended to wear a carbuncle?

It is recommended to wear the stone for people whose activities involve hard work: police, military, firefighters. Also, the carbuncle will be a good helper for those who are in power and make decisions regarding the lives of other people. The mineral will make a person impartial, thoughtful and reasonable. Will give wisdom and firmness to make fair sentences.

Question to the expert

Are there any wearing rules for men and women?

Men's amulets are best made of white gold, which will emphasize status and authority. Women's amulets should be made of silver, which will give the image nobility and elegance.

Zodiac sign

Carbuncle affects different representatives of different zodiac signs differently:

1. Capricorns . The stone is best suited for these strong-willed and decisive people, to whom the mineral will give energy to achieve their goals. He will bring Capricorns optimism, which they sometimes lack and passion for life.
2. Aries . Carbuncle will give them the opportunity to better communicate with people and reduce their temperament and conflict.
3. Aquarius . With the help of the mineral, they will be able to solve problems with their psycho-emotional state; the stone will help them become more purposeful and cheerful.
4. Sagittarius . Carbuncle will help you not to commit impulsive, rash acts and will give you peace of mind in your affairs.

The gemstone is not recommended for use by Pisces and Cancers . For the first, this threatens mood swings and will bring more chaos and inconsistency into life. For the latter, the stone can make them too soft, which is dangerous for even gentle Cancers.

How to distinguish from a fake?

Among the products on sale you can find specimens sold under the guise of carbuncles, but in fact they are fake.

You can recognize a natural carbuncle by its uneven color and shine. Since magma hardens unevenly, the structure of the stone is slightly different in the middle and at the edges.

The difference in properties does not harm the noble decoration at all, but, on the contrary, serves as a highlight and proof of the truth of natural origin.

A stone created artificially will be perfectly painted, its shine will also be even and the same at every point. At first glance, it looks almost the same as a carbuncle of natural origin, but knowing all the subtleties, it is easy to notice the differences.

The extracted carbuncles are predominantly small in size, so pay attention to the products offered in jewelry stores. It is necessary to compare the size of the stone with its price.

If the stone is real, then the price for a large specimen will be very high and there are unlikely to be buyers for such a product.

Large samples are purchased at auctions and stored in private collections or museums. That is why, before purchasing an expensive piece of jewelry, it is recommended to check all its parameters again.

When purchasing not just a mineral, but a talisman, check the authenticity of the stone most carefully, because only natural energy will provide the support we need so much.

Field and production

Carbuncles are quite rare even on a global scale. Their production is carried out in such countries as:

• Sri Lanka . This is where unusual stones come from with a chameleon effect, allowing them to change color depending on the lighting.
• Myanmar . This country accounts for most of the mineral deposits. The carbuncles extracted here are of the highest quality.
• Russia . Geographically, carbuncle deposits are located in the Urals and Yakutia. The stones have a burgundy or orange monochromatic color and are inferior in quality to more expensive samples.

A small percentage of minerals mined come from the Czech Republic, Norway, Australia and India.

What stones does it go with?

If you have chosen a carbuncle as your own amulet, then preference in jewelry should be given to it.

The stone’s own energy is so strong that it can easily interrupt the messages of weaker talismans. To avoid disagreements, it is recommended to use products with carbuncle as the only decoration option.

If necessary, combine with other stones, you can choose miniature stud earrings made of alexandrite or pearls: they have positive energy that does not contradict the forces of the carbuncle.

Combining carbuncles (especially red ones) with bright gems is unacceptable. A red pendant will look completely ridiculous in combination with a green emerald ring. Therefore, it is better to choose neutral colors (white, light yellow) for the most impressive appearance.

Interesting Facts

In ancient times, the word "carbuncle" meant "red-colored gem" and was applicable to a large group of precious and semi-precious stones.

Later, almost all varieties of pomegranate were called carbuncles. Currently, the classification has changed somewhat again and this term is used in a narrower sense.

In Oscar Wilde's book The Picture of Dorian Gray, there is a mention of a medieval legend about the ability of a carbuncle to drive out a demon from a person who owns the stone.

In a modern way, this can be interpreted in such a way that the amulet makes its owner more balanced and purposeful.

Artificially synthesized garnets are actively used in various industries. Crystals for lasers, grinding wheels, abrasives, ferromagnets - this is an incomplete list of where the noble mineral garnet is used.

The largest reserves of garnet deposits according to the world classification are located on the Kola Peninsula.

Historical data

burning ember

The word "carbuncle" is hopelessly outdated these days. Nowadays it is almost never used. Previously, this was the name given to any red precious (or semi-precious) stones. Most often these were various grenades.

Carbunculus means “coal” in Latin. The name so expressively reflects the appearance of the stone, which when illuminated by the sun becomes like a burning coal. The ancient Greeks gave it its own name "anfrax". This word is considered even more outdated than carbuncle. This is what is mentioned in the Bible.

Reliable source

In 1891, the rector of the Vysokopetrovsky Monastery, the spiritual writer Archimandrite Nikifor, completed the work of creating the “Illustrated Complete Popular Biblical Encyclopedia.” In this book, the priest explains the section of the Bible on mineralogy, which talks about a rare gemstone that was brought from Peru.

He writes that the stone is dark red in color, but in the sun it becomes like a burning coal. It is also noted there that in the robe of the high priest, the anfrax-carbuncle is located in the second row of the breastplate (quadrangular breastplate).

This fact confirms that people knew this red mineral at the dawn of civilizations.

Stone from the Garden of Eden

Anfrax (carbuncle) was the name given to all the dark red garnets mentioned in the description of the Garden of Eden. It is no coincidence that in ancient times they were found in the region of Colchis, which was adjacent to the heavenly lands.

In Rus', this gemstone was found in the Ural Mountains, which have always been famous for their variety of gems. This mineral was called “ognevik” or “uglevik”. It was also used in religious paraphernalia; it was used to decorate the crowns of kings and symbols of power.

It was believed that the stone protected the owner from evil people and served as a talisman that attracted health, wealth and happiness. Moreover, its effect is not limited to spiritual help. The presence of a carbuncle nearby gave a physical charge of energy.

Varieties

But no matter where the carbuncle is found, no matter what it is called, in fact it is a garnet. Later, mineralogists identified its dark red varieties.

For example, pyrope, which is also dark red in color and is often found in rocks that are rich in magnesium. Almandine, due to iron impurities, is distinguished by red-brown tints, sometimes with a purple tint. But it was also classified as a carbuncle. Read more in the article “About the properties of almandine stone.”

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