Proteus is a variety of the gemstone garnet that’s been treated to have a metallic coating and dual appearance in different types of lighting. Reflected light makes proteus garnets look metallic and dark gray, while transmitted light makes them look dark red.
The term “proteus” was originally a marketing term for what was believed to be the first treated garnets commercially available as gems.
Today, proteus garnets are no longer commercially sold, at least for now. But they’re still relevant to the modern history of garnet gemstones.
Today, we’ll fill you in on all the proteus garnet facts, from the history and meaning of these gems to their benefits and properties.
Proteus is a semi-precious gemstone in the garnet family. The proteus garnets created were of the garnet species pyrope, almandine, or a mixture of these two.
Garnets are January birthstones as well as zodiac stones for Capricorn and Aquarius signs. Garnet is also the traditional 2nd wedding anniversary gem.
Almandine garnets, specifically, are the state gemstone of Connecticut, USA, the “Constitution State.”
Outside the gem world, garnets have various industrial uses.
Because of its superior Mohs hardness among garnets, almandine is great for abrasives. These abrasives may be used in sandpaper or replace silica for sandblasting.
Industrial-grade garnets produced for abrasives may be called “rock garnet.” Some unexpected applications for abrasive garnet are woodworking and water filtration.
Additionally, garnets can help geologists study the temperatures and pressures that rocks form under in a field called geothermobarometry. They can similarly indicate geological timelines when used as a geochronometer or thermochronometer.
The term “garnet” actually describes a large, complex group of gemstones split into two series (pyralspite and ugrandite) and species within each series. Pyralspite has the species pyrope, almandine, and spessartite. Ugrandite has the species uvarovite, grossular, and andradite.
Each species can have its own varieties, many of which are hybrids, like the pyrope-almandine hybrid rhodolite.
Proteus garnets are in the pyralspite series, which are iron-rich and have the formula [Mg,Fe,Mn]3Al2(SiO4)3.
What is a pyrope garnet? Or almandine garnet?
Pyrope garnet is a magnesium aluminum silicate with the formula Mg3Al2Si3O12 or Mg3Al2(SiO4)3 in pure form, though no pyrope is pure. Almandine garnet is an iron aluminum silicate with the formula Fe3Al2Si3O12 or Fe3Al2(SiO4)3.
Here are the proteus crystal’s properties:
Mineral family: Pyrope-almandine garnet
Mohs hardness: 6.5-7.5
Color: Dark red in transmitted light; Metallic dark gray in reflected light
Crystal structure: Isometric (cubic)
Luster: Metallic
Transparency: Subtransparent to opaque
Refractive index: 1.73-1.83
Density: 3.65-4.30
Cleavage: None
Fracture: Conchoidal
Streak: White; Coating may come off as metallic gray
Luminescence: None
Pleochroism: None
Birefringence: None
Dispersion: 0.022-0.027
Next, we’ll look at proteus garnet’s meaning symbolically.
The meaning of proteus garnets matches the meaning of garnets like red pyrope garnets and other varieties. Garnets traditionally symbolize friendship, passion, and commitment.
Ancients believed garnets lit the way for travelers, protecting them from harm. Medieval physicians used the stone to treat the Black Plague, resolve conflicts, and encourage fidelity. Christian clergy during this time saw garnets as symbols of the blood and sacrifice of Christ.
Image credit: Dolan Clark | Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license
The name "proteus garnets" is a reference to the Greek mythological figure, Proteus.
According to mythology, Proteus was a prophetic seaman or sea god (depending on the story). He’s one of the gods Homer called the “old man of the sea.”
Though Proteus could see the past, present, and future, he’s better known for his ability to shapeshift. In fact, he’d often shapeshift to avoid telling others of his knowledge.
This shapeshifting ability is what led to proteus garnet’s name, as the stone has a dual appearance in different lighting.
The figure’s shapeshifting also led to the word protean, which means “versatile” or “able to change frequently or easily.”
Protean also appears in various works of literature throughout history. 16th-century German alchemist Heinrich Khunrath described Protean as representing the subconscious mind and anima mundi, a belief that all living things are connected.
Shakespeare used Proteus in Henry VI Part 3 to highlight Richard III’s devious plans for attaining the crown.
Even famous 20th-century Swiss psychologist Carl Jung used Proteus to represent the unconscious and compared him to alchemy figure Mercurius, who he called “a world creating soul.”
Etymology-wise, Proteus comes from the Greek prōtos, meaning “first.” This also connects to the way proteus garnet was marketed as the first treated garnet.
Garnets are one of the gem species (like spinels) that don’t tend to respond to typical treatments like irradiation or heat treatments, so treated garnets weren’t really an option for many years.
However, the first report of successfully treated garnets was published in the 1975 issue of Gems & Gemology. The gem, thought to be a cuprite initially, was actually an almandine garnet with a “sputter” coating — meaning it had a thin film deposited onto it — resulting in a metallic luster.
In 1994, Austrian-American chemist Dr. Kurt Nassau successfully made a purple-colored rhodolite take on a “hessonite-type brownish color” by heating it to around 600°C. The stone had a metallic coating that was likely due to iron oxidation.
In 2007, German gem carver Gerhard Becker tried heat treatments on purple Brazilian rhodolite garnets. He heated them in a furnace at increasing temperature increments, cooling and analyzing the stones in between each increase.
At 700°C, the stones started changing color, further changing color up to 900°C and eventually developing a metallic coating resembling hematite. This coating could be polished away.
Proteus garnets, like any garnet or any gem for that matter, can be used as healing stones. The deep red coloring makes these gems helpful for increasing vitality and passion, like other red gemstones. The gray metallic luster also grants them the benefits of gray gemstones such as offering balance and stability.
Purported physical benefits of proteus garnets include increasing:
Strength & endurance
Fertility & libido
Blood circulation
Iron absorption
Immune system function
It’s also said to help with:
Arthritis
Sore throat
Inflamed or burned skin
Digestive issues
Immune system function
Emotionally, proteus garnets can help lift you up when you feel anxious or despondent. They’re also believed to boost feelings of motivation, resilience, and connection with others.
Chakra healing involves opening or balancing blocked energy centers (chakras) to allow energy to flow freely throughout the entire system.
Proteus garnets are great root chakra stones, the center of physical needs and connection. When this chakra is blocked, you may feel fearful, frustrated, or on high-alert. Opening it with proteus garnet brings feelings of safety, energy, and stability.
Since proteus garnets aren’t commercially available anymore, they aren’t graded. However, you can check out our guides on almandine and pyrope garnets to see how factors like inclusions, color, faceted cuts vs cabochon cuts, and carat weight affect these garnets’ value.
Before this stone becomes a “proteus garnet” through treatments, it starts as a pyrope-almandine garnet.
Pyrope and almandine garnets form when aluminum-rich, sedimentary rocks undergo metamorphism from pressure and heat, altering the minerals inside into new minerals like garnet.
Because garnets are so tough, they’re one of the only minerals left behind after intense weathering. Almandine-pyrope garnets are mostly found in metamorphic rocks like mica schists.
According to the International Gem Society, only some almandine-pyrope garnets mined in the US will accept the treatments and become proteus garnets.
The only other garnets known to be heat-treated are demantoid garnets, but this treatment simply enhances their color.
Pictured above: Rhodolite garnet
Proteus garnets aren’t sold anymore, though they may be created again to be sold at some point. Since they’re treated and darker in color, they’d likely be lower in price than other red garnets like pyrope.
The pyrope garnet price per carat differs significantly based on variety and quality, ranging from $5 to $6,000 per carat. You can see specific prices of pyrope varieties in our Pyrope Info Guide and browse our pyrope garnets for sale like rhodolite, Malaya garnet, color-changing garnet, and more.
Garnet gemstone care is pretty straightforward. You may want to opt for protective settings in a more vulnerable garnet ring to prevent scratches, though.
You can clean garnets gently with mild soap, warm water, and a soft toothbrush. Don’t use mechanical or steam cleaners. Store garnets in a cool, dry place away from other gems.
Proteus garnets are rare and unique, capable of showing an effect most garnets can’t. Though proteus garnets aren’t available now, you can find similar garnets to suit your fancy like color-changing garnets or dark red Mozambique garnets.
Proteus 是石榴石的一種,經過處理後具有金屬塗層並在不同類型的照明下呈現雙重外觀。反射光使變形石榴石看起來呈金屬色和深灰色,而透射光使它們看起來呈深紅色。
“變形石榴石”一詞最初是一個營銷術語,被認為是第一種作為寶石在市場上出售的經過處理的石榴石。
今天,變形石榴石不再在商業上出售,至少目前是這樣。但它們仍然與石榴石寶石的現代歷史相關。
今天,我們將為您詳細介紹變形石榴石的所有事實,從這些寶石的歷史和意義到它們的好處和特性。
Proteus 是石榴石家族中的一種半寶石。所創造的變形石榴石屬於石榴石品種鎂鋁榴石、鐵鋁榴石或這兩者的混合物。
石榴石是一月生日石,也是摩羯座和水瓶座的生肖石。石榴石也是傳統的結婚 2 週年紀念寶石。
具體而言,鐵鋁榴石是美國康涅狄格州的州寶石,即“憲法州”。
在寶石界之外,石榴石有多種工業用途。
由於其在石榴石中具有較高的莫氏硬度,因此鐵鋁榴石非常適合用作研磨劑。這些磨料可用於砂紙或代替二氧化矽進行噴砂。
為磨料生產的工業級石榴石可稱為“石榴石”。磨料石榴石的一些意想不到的應用是木工和水過濾。
此外,石榴石可以幫助地質學家研究岩石形成的溫度和壓力,該領域稱為地溫氣壓測量。當用作地球計時計或溫度計時,它們可以類似地指示地質時間線。
“石榴石”一詞實際上描述了一大群複雜的寶石,分為兩個系列(黃銅礦和硬榴石)以及每個系列中的種類。黃銅礦有鎂鋁榴石、 鐵鋁榴石和錳鋁榴石等種類。 Ugrandite 有uvarovite 、 grossular和 andradite 的種類。
每個物種都可以有自己的品種,其中許多是雜交品種,例如鎂鋁榴石-鐵鋁榴石雜交紅榴石。
變形石榴石屬於黃銅礦系列,富含鐵,分子式為 [Mg,Fe,Mn]3Al2(SiO4)3。
什麼是鎂鋁榴石?還是鐵杏仁石榴石?
鎂榴石石榴石是一種純矽酸鋁鎂,分子式為 Mg3Al2Si3O12 或 Mg3Al2(SiO4)3,但沒有一種鎂鋁榴石是純的。鐵鋁榴石石榴石是一種鐵鋁矽酸鹽,化學式為 Fe3Al2Si3O12 或 Fe3Al2(SiO4)3。
以下是變形水晶的特性:
礦物系列: 鎂鋁榴石-鐵鋁榴石石榴石
莫氏硬度:6.5-7.5
顏色:透射光下暗紅色;反射光下的金屬深灰色
晶體結構: 等距(立方)
光澤: 金屬
透明度: 亞透明到不透明
折射率:1.73-1.83
密度:3.65-4.30
乳溝:無
斷口: 貝殼狀
條紋:白色;塗層可能脫落為金屬灰色
發光: 無
多色性:無
雙折射:無
色散:0.022-0.027
接下來,我們就像徵性地看一下變形石榴石的含義。
變形石榴石的含義與紅鎂鋁榴石等石榴石的含義相吻合。傳統上,石榴石像徵著友誼、熱情和承諾。
古人認為石榴石為旅行者照亮了道路,保護他們免受傷害。中世紀的醫生使用這種石頭來治療黑死病、解決衝突並鼓勵忠誠。在此期間,基督教神職人員將石榴石視為基督鮮血和犧牲的象徵。
圖片來源:Dolan Clark | 知識共享署名-相同方式共享 4.0 國際許可
“proteus 石榴石”這個名字是對希臘神話人物 Proteus 的引用。
根據神話,Proteus 是預言性的海員或海神(取決於故事)。他是荷馬稱為“海中老人”的眾神之一。
雖然 Proteus 可以看到過去、現在和未來,但他以變形能力而聞名。事實上,他經常變形以避免告訴別人他的知識。
這種變形能力導致變形石榴石得名,因為這種石頭在不同的光線下具有雙重外觀。
這個人物的變形也導致了千變萬化這個詞,意思是“多才多藝”或“能夠經常或輕鬆地改變”。
Protean 也出現在歷史上的各種文學作品中。 16 世紀的德國煉金術士 Heinrich Khunrath 將 Protean 描述為代表潛意識和 anima mundi,一種認為所有生物都是相互聯繫的信念。
莎士比亞在亨利六世第 3 部分中使用 Proteus 來突出理查三世獲得王冠的狡猾計劃。
就連 20 世紀著名的瑞士心理學家卡爾·榮格 (Carl Jung) 也用普洛透斯 (Proteus) 來代表無意識,並將其與煉金術人物麥丘利 (Mercurius) 相提並論,他稱之為“創造世界的靈魂”。
在詞源上,Proteus 來自希臘語 protos,意思是“第一”。這也與變形石榴石作為第一種經過處理的石榴石的銷售方式有關。
石榴石是寶石種類之一(如尖晶石),通常不會對輻照或熱處理等典型處理產生反應,因此多年來,經過處理的石榴石並不是真正的選擇。
然而,關於成功處理石榴石的第一份報告發表在 1975 年的《寶石與寶石學》(Gems & Gemology) 雜誌上。這顆寶石最初被認為是赤銅礦,實際上是一顆帶有“濺射”塗層的鐵鋁榴石石榴石——這意味著它上面沉積了一層薄膜——從而產生金屬光澤。
1994 年,美籍奧地利化學家 Kurt Nassau 博士將紫色的紅榴石加熱到 600°C 左右,成功地使它呈現出“ 金黃榴石型褐色”。這塊石頭有一層金屬塗層,這可能是由於鐵氧化造成的。
2007 年,德國寶石雕刻師 Gerhard Becker 嘗試對紫色的巴西紅榴石進行熱處理。他在爐子中以遞增的溫度對它們進行加熱,在每次升溫之間冷卻並分析寶石。
在 700°C 時,寶石開始變色,在高達 900°C 時進一步變色,最終形成類似赤鐵礦的金屬塗層。該塗層可以被拋光掉。
與任何石榴石或任何寶石一樣,變形石榴石可以用作治療石。深紅色使這些寶石與其他紅色寶石一樣有助於增加活力和激情。灰色金屬光澤還賦予它們灰色寶石的優勢,例如提供平衡和穩定性。
據稱變形石榴石的物理益處包括增加:
力量與耐力
生育力和性慾
血液循環
鐵吸收
免疫系統功能
據說它還有助於:
關節炎
咽喉痛
皮膚發炎或燒傷
消化問題
免疫系統功能
在情感上,當您感到焦慮或沮喪時,變形石榴石可以幫助您振作起來。他們還被認為可以增強動力、韌性和與他人的聯繫。
脈輪療愈涉及打開或平衡阻塞的能量中心(脈輪),讓能量在整個系統中自由流動。
Proteus 石榴石是偉大的根脈輪寶石,是身體需求和聯繫的中心。當這個脈輪被阻塞時,您可能會感到恐懼、沮喪或高度警覺。用變形石榴石打開它會帶來安全、活力和穩定的感覺。
由於變形石榴石不再在市場上銷售,因此不對它們進行分級。但是,您可以查看我們的鐵鋁榴石和鎂鋁榴石指南,了解內含物、顏色、 刻面切割與凸圓形切割以及克拉重量等因素如何影響這些柘榴石的價值。
在這顆寶石通過處理成為“變形石榴石”之前,它最初是鎂鋁榴石-鐵鋁榴石石榴石。
富含鋁的沉積岩在壓力和熱量作用下發生變質作用,將內部的礦物質轉變為石榴石等新礦物質,從而形成紅榴石和鐵鋁榴石石榴石。
由於石榴石非常堅韌,它們是經過強烈風化後唯一留下的礦物之一。鐵鋁榴石榴石石榴石主要存在於雲母片岩等變質岩中。
據國際寶石協會稱,只有部分在美國開采的鐵鋁榴石-鎂鋁榴石石榴石會接受這種處理,成為變形石榴石。
唯一已知經過熱處理的其他柘榴石是濃綠榴石,但這種處理只會增強它們的顏色。
上圖:紅榴石石榴石
Proteus 石榴石不再出售,儘管它們可能會在某個時候再次被創造出來出售。由於它們經過處理且顏色較深,因此它們的價格可能低於鎂鋁榴石等其他紅色柘榴石。
鎂鋁榴石石榴石的每克拉價格因品種和質量的不同而有很大差異,從每克拉 5 美元到 6,000 美元不等。您可以在我們的鎂榴石信息指南中查看鎂榴石品種的具體價格,並瀏覽我們待售的鎂鋁榴石柘榴石,如紅榴石、 馬來亞柘榴石、 變色柘榴石等。
石榴石寶石護理非常簡單。不過,您可能希望在更易損壞的石榴石戒指上選擇保護設置,以防止刮擦。
您可以使用溫和的肥皂、溫水和柔軟的牙刷輕輕清潔石榴石。不要使用機械或蒸汽清潔器。將柘榴石存放在陰涼、乾燥的地方,遠離其他寶石。
變形石榴石稀有且獨特,能夠顯示出大多數石榴石無法達到的效果。雖然變形石榴石現在不可用,但您可以找到類似的石榴石來滿足您的喜好,例如變色石榴石或深紅色莫桑比克石榴石。
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