Earthly nature is so beautiful, amazing and multifaceted that you just never stop asking yourself: "What else can she surprise us with?" Famous travelers, whose life path is one big journey, assure that human life is not enough to know all the beauty of the planet Earth! Every corner of the world is rich in something unusual and special that delights us and further stimulates the thirst for life. I want to admire our planet again and again!
Minerals are a part of living nature, one of its important and valuable components. Minerals are created in natural conditions, they have colossal energy, healing and magical properties. But as the statistics of accidents show, not all natural stones are equally useful. Among the thousands of rocks and minerals, there are small inclusions - deadly! The combination of certain elements of the periodic table creates extremely toxic compounds, contact with which for a person can even end in death. Paradoxically, everything poisonous in nature looks as attractive as possible. For example, the fly agaric in the forest grass will be extremely effective! The colorful shells of mollusks and colorful lionfish in the Red Sea are stunningly beautiful and at the same time very poisonous. So are the stones:an unusually bright and attractive pebble can be deadly.
We hasten to reassure you - there are relatively few such minerals in Russia. All of them are found mainly in places inaccessible to an ordinary person - in mines and developments. At the world resorts, where Russian and other tourists of the world most often rest, a thorough examination of all flora and fauna is carried out for objects of nature that are dangerous to life and health. If such are found in recreation areas, then the hotel staff must warn guests about this.
Our story is about the most dangerous specimens that truly amaze with their appearance and are known all over the world. This information will be of interest to everyone who is fond of gems and natural stones.
Deadly stones are very beautiful: each of them has a peculiar color, which cannot be ignored.
Galena
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Galena is an unusual stone, the shape of crystals and colors of which is quite suitable for the definition of modern high-tech style. Such minerals are extremely rare in nature. This is just fantastic geometry and a very stylish color palette! Galena is the main ore from which lead is mined. The structure of galena is based on small shiny silver cubes, perfectly symmetrical and well-defined. As if it was created in an unearthly biological laboratory! The steel color of the mineral with a bluish tint evokes thoughts of distant stars and the vast expanses of our Universe. Mineralogists and crystallographers know very well how dangerous this "cosmic" stone is. Many who came into contact with galena without protective equipment were subsequently struck by serious illnesses. Usually,the victims of this very toxic stone were ordinary amateur naturalists who had no idea that there are natural stones that are deadly to human health. The mineral is so interesting and unusual that it literally attracts attention. You want to consider and explore it all the time. And the more you study it, the more interest it evokes. For example, if you hit it with a hammer, it will crumble into many of its copies! Strikingly symmetrical cubes are split exclusively along their perimeter and nothing else! Almost like a Rubik's cube, but not hinged. Such a cute and deadly toy "hangs" for a long time in the hands of non-professionals, while experienced people keep as far as possible from a beautiful find. Miners are well aware of the consequences of contact with galena,mining lead ore. Poisonous dust that rises in mines during the production process enters the human respiratory tract and often leads to serious occupational diseases.
Thorburnite
Thorbernite is considered a "hellish" mineral for a reason. This natural stone is directly related to the well-known uranium (with all the ensuing consequences). This strange symbiosis of copper, phosphorus, water and uranium looks mesmerizing - the entire surface of the mineral is dotted with small bright green prisms. It is simply impossible not to be tempted and not to grab it! Even experienced researchers fell into the nets of insidious torburnite, which they later bitterly regretted. These beautiful green stones give off the deadly gas, radon, which causes lung cancer. The mineral is so saturated with uranium that uranium deposits are determined by its presence in the rock. The average person is unlikely to ever encounter this deadly stone. Perhaps through the popular building and finishing material - granite. When choosing slabs of natural granite for certain purposes, try to avoid material that contains rich green blotches - it is likely that this is deadly torbernite. The stone is named after the Swedish chemist and mineralogist Thorburn Bergman. The mineral is mined in Germany, Czech Republic, France, Great Britain, USA, Poland, South Africa and other countries of the world.
Chalcanite
Chalcanthite is a deadly mineral, but damn attractive. You can almost 100% guarantee that, having met a stone on your way, you will not be able to pass by! An incredibly bright and seductive mineral that immediately attracts attention. Crystals fused in the shape of a wonderful flower have a very juicy ultramarine blue hue. The name of the stone "Chalcanthit" is translated from ancient Greek - "flower".
The alluring blue chalcanthite crystals are magical and attractive. Why is this flower considered deadly? The mineral consists mainly of copper, with the addition of minor amounts of sulfur and water. The combination of such seemingly natural "ingredients" in certain proportions turns into a toxic substance. The danger lies in the fact that copper, safe and even useful for the human body, in this form is unacceptably easy to dissolve in water and is quickly absorbed into any biological body. As a result, "horse" doses of copper that instantly enter the body are a real poison that can stop the work of internal organs in a matter of minutes and even lead to death. If such a miracle stone falls into your hands, immediately put it back and wash them thoroughly. But that's the point,that chalcanite is unimaginably beautiful! It is impossible to pass by him! If you lightly lick a piece of stone, poisoning of the body is guaranteed. Science knows many cases when novice mineralogists have tried this pebble "on the tongue" to determine the presence of salt in its composition. In such a quick and risky way, poisonous elements in nature are revealed. Copper overdose is no joke. However, any overdose is dangerous to a certain extent. Attempts at industrial mining of chalcanite and the development of this rock ended sadly: the ecological situation deteriorated sharply in the mining areas. If this mineral is mined in a reservoir, all living things die in it. Beautiful and dangerous chalcanite is found in the copper deposits of Nizhny Tagil, in the copper mines of the Northern Urals, Transcaucasia. Professionals are well aware of this insidious mineral, and they try to bypass it.
Stibnite
Stibnite is an amazing mineral. It looks like a bunch of silver arrows or swords sticking out in all directions. It is antimony sulfide, which is found in almost all antimony deposits. In ancient times, these large and very shiny metal crystals were used to make magnificent dishes. However, people quickly realized that silver swords and arrows can really kill them! Silvery bundle-shaped crystals containing antimony sent many people to the next world. Modern mineralogists, collecting collections of natural stones, handle stibnite samples with caution, using special protective equipment. The mineral is so dangerous that you can't even touch it with your hands - this will negatively affect the human body. The largest volumes of stibnite are mined in Japanese deposits. The silvery "arrows" of poisonous stibnite crystals in Japan reach 30 centimeters in length!
Coloradoite
This deadly mineral was discovered relatively recently in the US state of Colorado among igneous rocks. The shiny and attractive mineral proved to be very dangerous for human health - it is an alloy of mercury with an equally poisonous element called tellurium. In fact, it is mercury squared. Such a mineral is categorically contraindicated even to pick up! The toxic threat to the body is extreme. And in hot weather, it is forbidden to even approach the Coloradoite! And, as often happens in nature, the stone is very attractive! The metallic shade of the mineral is identical to the color of mercury balls, the stone is bright and shining. The structure of the mineral resembles mercury: its entire surface is as if strewn with small, round and shiny mercury balls. Curiously, the second component of coloradoite, tellurium, contains gold. This fact was learned back in Australia during the gold rush.
Hutchinsonite
Gutchinsonite is an incredibly cute and extremely dangerous mineral. The "thermonuclear" mixture is thallium, lead and arsenic. This mineral cocktail is able to kill a person and any living creature. You certainly want to take such a beautiful stone in your hands and admire it to your heart's content. But this should not be allowed under any circumstances. And the European miners are well aware of this. Gutchinsonite is found mainly in mines in Europe. It is named after the famous British mineralogist John Hutchinson. It is noteworthy that the less common element of the waist, which is part of this mineral, is much more dangerous than the widely known lead. Thallium is an incredibly heavy and highly toxic substance. This deadly "twin" of lead, even with minor contact, causes hair loss, skin diseases and death.
Asbestos
Asbestos - you have probably already heard this name, since the mineral has long been used in the construction industry, as well as in the automotive industry and rocketry. At the same time, it is the most terrible poisonous substance, which in a certain state poses a mortal danger to humans. It is noteworthy that it is not toxic, like many other dangerous minerals. What is its danger?
Asbestos is made up of thousands of microscopic whiskers that are easily carried through the air. When asbestos is in a dry powdery state, the microcrystals in the process of breathing enter the human lungs. And then really terrible things happen: solid microcrystals of asbestos damage the delicate walls of the lungs, leaving scars on them. This is a real mechanical "sabotage" in the human lungs! Such injuries cause lung disease, sometimes with extremely serious consequences. Despite the fact that asbestos is an absolutely natural element. This is silicon dioxide, one of the common hard minerals on our planet. And of course, very attractive to look at.
Asbestos is found all over the world in any set of silica rocks - in Russia, Canada, South Africa, Brazil, Italy, France, etc. The extraction of such rocks is carried out exclusively in compliance with the strictest safety rules. It is a well-known fact in the professional medical environment that when examining the lungs, a few asbestos fibers are found in many people. This is due to the processes of natural weathering in the Earth's atmosphere.
Arsenopyrite
Arsenopyrite is called "fool's gold" among specialists. The mineral is easy to confuse with gold and it is also easy to go to the forefathers, just holding it in your hands. "Arsenicum" is Latin for arsenic. Arsenopyrite is also called "arsenic pyrite". The stone is damn attractive and does look like a gold nugget. It is found quite widely in nature, even in common rocks of quartz and fluorite. How many prospectors died just from the fact that they touched it with their hands and the poisonous composition got into the body. When heated, the arsenic mineral is especially dangerous, as it releases toxic and carcinogenic fumes, which can be fatal if inhaled. The presence of a deadly gas can be determined by the pungent smell of garlic. Always rememberthat the smell of garlic in unsuitable and unexpected places can threaten you with death! You can also identify an arsenic stone by hitting it with a hammer - sparks will immediately sprinkle, emitting a pungent smell of garlic.
Orpiment
What could be worse than arsenic? Probably the only "arsenic stone" that exists in nature and is called oripigment. Orpiment crystals also contain sulfur and are often found near hydrothermal vents. The mineral, like all poisonous stones, looks very tempting, and one wants to take it and examine it closer. But it is strictly forbidden to do so because of the incredibly carcinogenic and neurotoxic arsenic in its composition. There are many sad stories associated with this mineral in the history of China. The ancient Chinese used "arsenic stone" for the same purposes as cinnabar. The consequences were dire. The mineral was a component of ocher paint and drove many Chinese artists to the grave ahead of time. Orpiment was also used for military purposes. The mineral was crushed to a powdery state,a special composition was created on its basis, with which arrowheads were processed. With such a weapon, many enemies of the Celestial Empire were defeated. But the craftsmen who were engaged in the processing of arrows and constantly came into contact with this dangerous mineral, very quickly fell ill and died.