Turitella Fossil Stone

Turritella is a genus of medium-sized sea snails with an operculum, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Turritellidae. They have tightly coiled shells, whose overall shape is basically that of an elongated cone.  Turritella Agate has inclusions of fossilized turret shells. Turritella is one of the most common Mesozoic and Tertiary fossils in North America

The name Turritella comes from the Latin word turritus meaning "turreted" or "towered" and the diminutive suffix -ella.

Despite its name, “Turritella agate” is not made of fossil snails of the genus Turritella. Professionals and many amateurs have realized this for a long time, but the name (and the confusion it promotes) has persisted. The snails are actually properly referred to as Elimia tenera, in the family Pleuroceridae.

The rock in which they are so abundant varies from soft sandstone to a dense chalcedony. It is this dense silicified rock that is so popular with gem and mineral hobbyists, and also with purveyors of "new age" ideas such as crystal healing.

Elimia agate comes from the Green River Formation in Southwestern Wyoming, Northeastern Utah, and Northwestern Colorado, from layers deposited in a series of ancient lakes that geologist call Lake Gosiute and Lake Uinta, in the early and middle parts of the Eocene Epoch, between around 53 and 42 million years ago.  These rocks, in other words, formed in fresh water.  The real Turritella is a group of snails that live only in the ocean.  The shells of Elimia are distinguishable from real Turritella by being generally shorter and wider, but especially in having axial as well as spiral sculpture on the shell.

It has a strong connection with the earth. It is believed to be good for earth healing. Turritella crystals are connected with survival instincts and helpful supporting through change. 

Beneficial for emotional trauma; self-confidence; concentration; perception; analytical abilities; aura stabilization; negative-energy transformation; emotional disease; digestive process; gastritis; eyes; stomach; uterus; lymphatic system; pancreas; blood vessels; skin disorders.

It can be carried as a protective amulet. Turritella agates are among healing stones called "record keepers" and can be used to attain knowledge of past events in history.

Blue Peruvian Opal

Blue Peruvian Opal is relatively rare and is only found in the Andes Mountains near San Patricio, Peru. Since 1000BC, the Peruvian opal has been used as stylish jewelry, adornments on clothing, decoration on vessels and rituals. This gemstone has been considered sacred by the people of Peru since pre-Hispanic time. Even until today, the local Quechua Indians are still treating the Peruvian opal with respect.

Blue Peruvian Opal is a gemstone that ranges in color from slightly blue to blue- green. Jewelers describe it as being the color of the Caribbean Ocean. Stones can have dark inclusions that look like fern plants. The color intensity of the stone can vary within a single specimen. They are vitreous to pearly in luster, and transparent to translucent. The fracture of the Blue Peruvian Opal is conchoidal, meaning they are brittle and have smooth, curved surfaces. The streak is white. 

This is the national stone of Peru and, unfortunately, in recent years dyed stones have been mass marketed by unreputable dealers as Blue Peruvian Opal. If the blue color is uneven you are probably looking at a dyed stone. Dyed stones are quite common and sell very cheaply at gem shows and on internet auctions.

Blue Peruvian Opal ranges between 5.5 and 6.5 on the Mohs scale of hardness.

Blue Peruvian Opal is quartz with trapped water and prized for its amazing color. It is referred to as Gem Silica, Andean Opal or Jelly Opal because of its jelly-like appearance.

Blue Peruvian Opal is a sedimentary stone formed at low temperature from igneous rock with high silica content. The composition is mostly silicon, hydrogen, and oxygen. The formula is SiO2•n(H2O). The stones are not radioactive. The specific gravity is 2.10 gm/cc. The water content of Blue Peruvian Opal can be very high, with ranges from 3 to 20 percent. The silica in the stone is amorphous, or non-crystalline. The high water content makes Blue Peruvian Opal very delicate and prone to heat damage. Heat can cause the stones to loose luster or crack.

Luster: Vitreous to pearly.
Transparency: Transparent to translucent.
Fracture: Conchoidal.
Streak: White.

Along with Tourmaline, Opals are a birthstone for October. Ancient Greek cultures believed the Opal guarded them from disease. Unlike other stones, Blue Peruvian Opals can be cleaned with just warm, soapy water. Owner Warning! Because Blue Peruvian Opals are basically "wet" rocks with water trapped in their crystal structure (as are all Opals), protect your gemstone from chemicals, heat, and sun exposure.

This stone has soft relaxing energies, and lore tells us that it has the ability to remove the tension from any communication to help ideas to flow freely. It is told to soften the impact of stress from the outside world, helping one to release the trauma of old wounds, facilitating facing the future with a tranquil self healing nature. It is good for quieting the mind and helpful in aiding sleep.

 

Blue Peruvian Opal is an emotional soother that helps to realign one to their spiritual purpose. It is useful when past life experiences are affecting the present life, these can be healed through the etheric blueprint.

The Blue Peruvian Opal has soft relaxing energies. Legend says that it takes the tension out of communication and helps ideas flow freely. It softens the impact of stress from the outside world and can help one to release the trauma of old wounds. It facilitates facing the future with a tranquil healing nature.

This stone is reported to be good for quieting the mind and as an aid to sleep.

Pink Peruvian Opal

Pink Peruvian Opals are fairly new on the scene. The stone was only discovered in 1989. Peruvian Pink Opal is relatively rare and is only found in the Andes Mountains near San Patricio, Peru.

The Pink Opal derives its color from trace amounts of included organic compounds known as quinones. These Opals range from opaque to translucent, and depending on how the stone is cut, the color will either be clear or show the stone’s matrix and inclusions. (Like Agates, some Peruvian Opals show the scenic fern-like dendritic inclusions.) Peruvian Opal is also known as Andean Opal.

Available at www.tntings.com $45

Opal was formed many millions of years ago, when a combination of silica and water flowed into cracks and spaces in the ground. This then gradually hardened and solidified to become Opal. Opals contain water, which makes them very sensitive to heat. They are soft and can be cracked or chipped easily.

Peruvian Pink Opal ranges from 5.5-6.5 on the Moh’s scale.

 

Birthstone for October

Lucky stone for Libra

Anniversary gemstone for the 14^th wedding anniversary

Pink Peruvian opal is associated primarily with the heart chakra.   It is a stone of love and gentleness.  It brings energies of gentle love and kindness to both romantic relationships and relationships of other kinds.  

As with other Opals, it also brings inspiration, imagination and creativity.  Sleeping with pink opal or holding it while in meditation helps to bring compassion and a gentle resolution of painful memories. It can help release inhibitions and brings happy dreams.  It also eases the process of change.

Physically, Pink Peruvian Opal is helpful for eyesight, heart disease and injury, Parkinson's disease, lungs, and spleen.  Peruvian pink opal is also said to help with stress reduction, fatigue, and weight loss. 

Despite its natural color, this is not a soft pillowy kind of energy, but rather incredibly vibrant and stimulating. It raises ones spirit and elevates the mood. This "euphoria" is not the kind that you lose your thought process, but it more attunes you to the natural pulse of love, which of course brings about the shift in attitude, mood and mind. Which in turn helps in balancing the art of giving and receiving. Often we are drawn to one or the other, and have trouble balancing...this Opal will help one to see that both side (like ying & yang) are necessary and both are needed for wholeness.