Ляпiс-лазур

Lapis lazuli

In the time of Pliny this mineral was called sapphire, and only in the early Middle Ages appeared the name for this stone with a characteristic dark blue hue. The word “lazuli” is derived from the Persian word “lāzhvard”, which means “blue stone”; Arabic «laz-ward» was used to describe the sky and anything else that[…]

Нефрит

Nephrite

In China this stone was considered more valuable than gold, silver and ivory. Greek “nephros” means “kidney”, accordingly, the stone presumably received its name due to its kidney shape. Nephrite is also known as “kidney stone”, ” Māori stone”, “axe-stone”, “pounamu”, “Canadian jade” and many other. Formation of nephrite Nephrite is rarely formed as a[…]

Обсидиан

Obsidian

In ancient times in Ethiopia this stone was used to create mirrors, what resulted in the Greek name, which means “spectacle”. Latin Obsidianus lapis (or Obsianus lapis) means “the stone of Obsidy” (or “the stone of Obsy”) – on behalf of the Roman who was the first to bring obsidian from Ethiopia to Rome. Formation[…]