As Marilyn Monroe would say, the diamonds are a woman's best friend. But not everyone knows how this and other coveted gems ended up in shop windows, polished and shiny.
Are you curious to find out the answer? Learn a little about mineralogy in our post of the day!
What is mineralogy?
Mineralogy is a science dedicated to the study of minerals in various aspects: their chemical and molecular structure, physical and also optical properties, their genesis, their metamorphism and their weathering.
This science began modestly, focusing only on naming the various types of minerals found. But over the years, it has evolved a lot.
Check out these tips on how you can differentiate a gemstone from a synthetic one!
How did it come about?
In Brazil
Even before the colonizers arrived in Brazil, the Indians were already working with minerals. The stones were used to manufacture weapons such as axes, spearheads and arrows, pestles, knives, among other instruments necessary for survival.
Over time, the natives also began to use these stones to make ornaments and also to practice religious rituals with the manufacture of statues of idols and gods.
50 years after the arrival of the Portuguese in Brazil, letters began to arrive on the other side of the Atlantic, informing the kings that many precious stones and metals had been found in our lands.
The first mineralogist in our country was José Bonifácio, better known for his political representation, but who had this mineralogical practice as one of his favorite hobbies.
Several other mineralogists emerged during the colonial period up to the present day. The study of precious stones has developed a lot here in Brazil, especially after the deposits found in Minas Gerais.
Nowadays, new mineral species are discovered thanks to the commitment of several researchers who have emerged over the years. There are already more than 50 mineral species discovered in Brazilian lands, and of these, 11 were identified by geologist Daniel Atencio.
In the world
Outside Brazil, mineralogy emerged as a science with the scientist and humanist Georg Bauer. He was so important in this area that he is known as the father of mineralogy.
As new techniques emerged thanks to the advancement of technology, mineralogy left the mere description of stones to study the physical and chemical properties of stones in order to obtain greater quality. Today we have several fields of study, among them there is materials science, solid state physics and inorganic chemistry.
What is its importance?
You may be wondering why to study about it and for what purpose. Well, mineralogy is an excellent way to remove these natural resources from the environment without damaging it. In addition, it is possible to optimize the use of these stones and, with this, generate more profits for the company in all stages of jewelry production.
With mineralogy it is possible to:
– Know the real economic value of the material you have;
– What is the market demand for this type of stone.
That way, you can find out what kind of product your consumer likes the most. With the application of mineralogy, the company can make better use of the entire jewelry production process and bring greater quality to its customers.
Want to know more about it? Then go to our text about what are the most used Brazilian rare stones in jewelry making!
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