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Meerschaum / Sepiolite

Meerschaum (Sepiolite)

Meerschaum, also called sepiolite, is an extremely fine-grained, soft, light rock. Found as compact, opaque masses by having an earthy or chalky appearance, it might be white or grey having a yellowish or reddish tinge. Easily fashioned and frequently intricately carved, meerschaum continues to be utilized in Turkey for bowls for tobacco pipes. With use, the smoke changes the white stone for an attractive yellow colour.

Today the most crucial source is Eskischehir in Turkey. Other localities include Czechoslovakia, Spain, Greece and the United States.

Light and porous enough to float on water, meerschaum derives its name in the German for sea foam.


Properties
Chemical Composition: 

Hydrated magnesium silicate

Crystal System / Forms: 

Monoclinic

Hardness: 
2.5
Specific Gravity: 

1.50

Lustre: 
Dull to greasy.
Refractive Index / Birefringence: 

1.51 - 1.53 / None.

Geological Occurrence: 

Turkey, Czechoslovakia, Spain, Greece and United States.

Cuts & Uses: 

Bead, Cameo.

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In Germany, the garland of ambers is hung around the necks of the infants, so that their teeth might come out without much trouble.

In Turkey, people fix a piece of amber in the hubble-bubble, dogged by an age old belief that the presence of the jewel would destroy all the germs and no disease would spread, even after many have dragged their puffs from it.

In Greece, people think if wine is poured into the cups made of amethyst, one does not get drunk after drinking that.

In Rome, a talisman having coral pieces is considered very auspicious to quell the bad spells of evil look. The Romans were in the habit of hanging chains made of ancient coral pieces from the cradle of the infants to protect them from evil effects.

In China, people wear rings studded with tiny conch or oyster shells as they believe it cures all aches such as stomach ache, worms and like.

In India, pendants made of silver and studded with pearls are hung from the necks of the children to save them from any bad effects.

Greeks still believe, if women wear blue sapphires then no sense of immorality would pollute their mind nor can any fear of the supernatural can trouble them.

The Pope Innocent III had circulated an order asking all the priests wear blue sapphire, so that morality can be strengthened.

It is said about turquoise, that when the stone changes its color into yellow, it actually signals bad times to the person who wears it.

It is believed that a turquoise gifted to a friend or a lover turns his or her life into one of happiness and good luck.

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