Staurolite: An Appropriate Mineral for Good Friday (Part Two)

     Staurolite is certainly interesting as a mineral, but it can represent something far more important. Staurolite can serve as a reminder of what our Savior endured on our behalf. If you already know the Savior now would be a good time to thank Him for suffering death on a cross for you. If you do not know the Savior there is no better time than now to do so. No human is perfect and God requires that only those who are perfect may go to Heaven when thy die. However, Jesus, God’s one and only Son, died to pay the penalty of sin, even though He had never sinned. Now absolutely anyone can be made perfect by the power of Jesus. All you have to do is ask Him to forgive your sins and come into your heart. You can say something like this to him: “Dear God, I know that I am a sinner and deserve to be punished. I believe that Jesus is your Son and that He can heal me. I am ready to turn away from my sins and I believe that Jesus is your son. I ask him to come into my heart. Thank you, Jesus, for coming into my heart like you promised. Amen.” If you have prayed that prayer and meant it than your sins are forgiven past, present, and future and you are now part of God’s family. You will go to Heaven when you die and you have God’s Holy Spirit living inside of you at this very moment and He will never leave. That is a greater treasure than all of the minerals in the world!

Staurolite: An Appropriate Mineral for Good Friday (Part One)

     Staurolite crystals are hexagonal prisms that can be reddish-brown, yellow-brown, brown-black, or rarely blue in color. It is not altogether uncommon to find staurolite crystals on a matrix. In the mineralogical world the term matrix refers to a piece of rock or dirt that a crystal is connected to. Staurolite crystals are famous for their twinning properties as well. Staurolite crystals have been known to intersect each other at angles of 60 and even 90 degrees, thereby forming cross-shaped crystal twins. This is actually where staurolite gets its name from. The name “staurolite” is composed of the Greek words stauros (which means “cross”) and lithos (which means “stone”) so staurolite’s name actually means “cross stone.” In addition to its scientific name, staurolite twins are known by a number of nicknames, the most famous of which is “fairy cross.” Other nicknames include: “cross stone” “faith cross” and “angel cross.” appropriate
     Staurolite has been used as a cross symbol since Medieval times. In those days staurolite twins were collected and used to represent Christ’s cross both on a matrix and free of one. Those that were free of a matrix were used to make pendants. Today staurolite crosses are used to make pendants and broaches, and small ones are used to make earrings. Finely ground staurolite can also be used as an abrasive in sand-blasters when a medium that is harder than quartz is required. Blue staurolite can also be used to make pigments.
     Staurolite is found all over the world, but collectible specimens are found in only a few places. Such places include: Russia, Ukraine, Japan, China, Spain, Turkey, and the Appalachian Mountains of North America.