Have you ever heard of Scapolite? It’s a lesser-known gemstone that has been gaining popularity in recent years. With its unique properties and meanings, Scapolite is a fascinating stone to explore.
Whether you’re a gemstone enthusiast or just curious about this lesser-known stone, this article will provide you with all the information you need to know about scapolite.
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What is Scapolite?
Scapolite is a mineral group that is commonly found in metamorphic and igneous rocks and is known for its unique properties and uses. It is a group of silicate minerals that have a tetragonal crystal structure. Scapolite has been used in various industries, including construction, jewelry-making, and scientific research.
The gem material was initially found in 1913 in the Mogok region of Burma, appearing as fibrous crystals in white, pink, and violet hues. Since then, scapolite has been found in various parts of the world. Its name is derived from the Greek word “Skapos,” which means “shaft” or “stick, “due to its elongated crystal structure.
Physical Properties
- Mohs Hardness: 5 to 6
- Specific Gravity: 2.5 to 2.7
- Chemical Classification: Silicate
- Cleavage: Good
- Streak: White
- Luster: Vitreous
- Diaphaneity: Transparent to translucent
- Color: Colorless, white, gray, yellow, orange, pink, purple
- Identifying Characteristics: Varied luster, specific gravity, wood-grain/fibrous appearance in massive specimens, square cross-section in prismatic crystals.
- Chemical Composition: Exhibits a solid solution between marialite (Na4(AlSi3O8)3Cl) and meionite (Ca4(Al2Si2O8)3(CO3, SO4)).
- Crystal Structure: Tetragonal System
Scapolite Variations
- Marialite is a sodium-rich member of the Scapolite group, which is a collection of tectosilicate minerals. This sodium alumino-silicate mineral exhibits varying shades, often appearing colorless, white, or grey.
- Meionite is the calcium-rich end member of the Scapolite group, a series of tectosilicate minerals. The color spectrum of Meionite spans from colorless to white, grey, or brown, with occasional occurrences of violet and blue.
Is Scapolite Rare?
Scapolites are rare and valued semi-precious gemstone that is sought after by collectors and enthusiasts alike. Its scarcity is due to its limited availability, which makes it a valuable addition to any gemstone collection. Its unique coloration and properties make it a popular choice for jewelry, and its rarity only adds to its allure and value.
Value of Scapolite
Scapolite gemstones command a price range of $50-$200 per carat for stones between 1-4 ct, with larger sizes fetching even higher prices. The price of scapolite is influenced by factors such as color, clarity, cut, and rarity. The more intense and vivid the color, the higher the price.
The presence of inclusions can lower the value of scapolite, while a well-cut stone with good clarity is more valuable. While scapolite is not as rare as some other gemstones, its relative scarcity and popularity among collectors and jewelry enthusiasts contribute to its value.
Uses of Scapolite
Scapolite is often used in jewelry since it has a low risk of impact or abrasion and its potential as a gemstone with unique properties is worth appreciating. Despite its rarity and lack of significant mining quantities, yellow and pink transparent scapolite can be cut into attractive gems.
Some specimens contain fibrous inclusions that produce a ‘silk’ within the stone, reflecting light to form a cat’s eye. Its use is sometimes considered to be a collector’s stone and mounted in jewelry such as earrings and pendants.
Proper Care
To keep your scapolite looking its best, use a soft cloth or a mild jewelry cleaning solution to gently clean the gemstone. Protect it from exposure to harsh chemicals, extreme temperatures, and prolonged sunlight to maintain its color and quality.
When storing, keep scapolite separate from other jewelry to avoid any potential damage. Regularly inspect the stone for wear or lose settings, and if needed, seek assistance from a professional jeweler for maintenance or repairs. Treat your scapolite with love, and it will continue to shine in your favorite earrings or pendant.
Meaning of Scapolite
Sscapolite stones have been recognized as an important symbol of inner peace and personal growth, believed to help individuals discover their true path and tackle responsibilities they may have been avoiding. According to popular belief, wearing scapolite stone can help individuals see what is truly important and embark on their true path.
This stone is said to represent faithfulness to oneself and can help individuals achieve inner peace. Scapolite is known to push individuals onto the paths they are meant to walk and helps them tackle whatever responsibilities they may have been avoiding.
Metaphysical Properties & Benefits
• Physical Health
Scapolite is believed to have been found to assist with kidney and gallbladder disorders, arthritis and bone problems, and high blood pressure. In addition, it may even help alleviate the effects of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.
Scapolite has also been known to aid in the healing of infection in the glands and glandular fever and mononucleosis. On top of that, it can also aid in managing conditions such as Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, tension-induced headaches, toothaches, gingivitis, and recurring ear infections.
• Emotional Health
Scapolite is a strict yet powerful teacher of emotional power use, helping individuals understand how they may be using their power to manipulate others’ emotions or actions and encouraging a more balanced use of emotional energy. It can assist those with low self-esteem to find aspects of self to value and develop.
Scapolite soothes the heart in times of stress by releasing tension in the nerves, and it cuts through the confusion, distress, anger, and fear by going deep within the emotional center to find the source of problems from this and past lives, cleansing them and restoring emotional balance.
• Mental Health
Individuals seeking to improve their mental health may benefit from the balancing and transformative effects of scapolite, which can assist in releasing past traumas and promoting emotional balance and clarity of thought.
Scapolite’s ability to clear the trained understanding that one is at fault for everything and its capacity to free up the left side of the brain can enhance the analytical ability and assist those with dyslexia. It can also enhance visionary abilities and communication skills, allowing for more effective expression of knowledge, insights, and information.
• Spiritual Energy
Scapolite stimulates the will and enhances one’s ability to find and assume personal power, revealing how beliefs and behaviors may be preventing empowerment. This high-vibration stone clears past life patterns and inner voices that may be sabotaging one’s life now, lifting awareness out of the mire and assisting evolution.
Scapolite opens one to the experience of union with the Divine Heart, encouraging a shift from head consciousness to heart-centered consciousness, and teaches that love overcomes all.
• Chakra
One’s understanding of the chakras can provide insight into the body’s internal energy centers and the interconnectedness of the body, mind, and spirit. The chakras are seven vortex points aligned vertically near the spine that absorb, transform, and distribute the body’s internal energy, known as prana, life force, or chi.
Each chakra produces a distinctive energy pattern that corresponds with specific organs, body parts, and behavioral, emotional, and personality patterns. Energy enters the body through the head (heaven) and the base (earth), and the chakras serve the purpose of integrating these two forces.
Zodiac Connection
While it is not an official Zodiac birthstone, scapolite is believed to have a profound connection with these two signs. According to astrologers, Taurus is known for its grounding energy, stability, and practicality, and scapolite is believed to enhance these qualities.
Similarly, Virgo is associated with practicality, attention to detail, and analytical abilities, and scapolite is thought to enhance these traits as well. As such, scapolite is often recommended for individuals born under these signs as a gemstone that can help them achieve their full potential.
Final Thoughts
In a nutshell, Scapolite is a fascinating and lesser-known gemstone that has been gaining popularity in recent years. It offers unique properties and meanings, making it an intriguing stone to discover.
From its discovery in 1913 in Burma to its uses in various industries, scapolite has a rich history. This gemstone is rare and highly valued, commanding a significant price range in the market.
Scapolite is believed to symbolize inner peace and personal growth. It is associated with physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual healing, providing support in various aspects of well-being. With its diverse range of benefits, scapolite holds both aesthetic and metaphysical value, making it a gemstone worth exploring and appreciating.
FAQs
Who should avoid Scapolite?
Those who resist personal growth and are not ready for transformative energies may want to avoid using Scapolite.
What can be paired with Scapolite?
Scapolite can be paired with clear quartz to amplify its energy and bring clarity to intentions and goals.
How to recharge Scapolite?
Scapolite can be recharged by placing it under moonlight or burying it in the earth overnight to absorb natural energies.
Chermaine’s journey into the world of gemstones and crystals began as a child, collecting shimmering stones on family vacations. Today, she’s a certified gemologist and spiritual healer, intertwining the physical beauty of jewels with their metaphysical properties.
Chermaine has traveled to mines in Africa, marketplaces in India, and spiritual retreats in Bali, always seeking to deepen her understanding.