The Tingle Factor Box

They're Like The Night Sky - Lapis Lazuli

Imagine you are a painter living in the Renaissance. You have just been given a wonderful commission work to complete and finally, you are able to restock your paints. It will be wonderful to buy some new pigments, but they can be so expensive, particularly colours like ultramarine. It is such a wonderful, vibrant blue, but being made of crushed gemstone, it is also so expensive.

When I showed the children these small pieces of lapis lazuli they were stunned by the beautiful stone. ‘It’s such a beautiful colour’ as the children said, but the thing which really intrigued them was the sparkles of yellowish gold colouring. As one child put it ‘it almost looks like the sky at night, with all those stars’. When I told them that it was the stone used in making paint and of course for the blue on Tutankhamen’s funeral mask they were amazed and wanted to know more.

Lapis Lazuli is a semi precious stone which has been sought after and prized since ancient times for its deep, vivid blue colouring. In fact, there is evidence that some lapis lazuli mines in Afghanistan were in use in the Neolithic period and certainly beads made of the beautiful blue stone have been found dating from this time. The ancient Egyptians were known for their use of lapis lazuli, using it in making seals, carving it for vases and statues and even using the ground up rock as a cosmetic, particularly for around the eyes. It was also used in funeral goods, including as the blue colouring in the famous funeral mask of King Tutankhamen.

By the middle ages lapis lazuli was being exported from the Middle East to Europe where it was commonly used for its vivid blue pigment. The stone would be finely ground and mixed into a paint used by many of the famous Renaissance and Baroque artists. The colour was called ultramarine and was the most expensive, finest and most highly prized of all of the blue pigments available. In the early 19^th century though a much cheaper chemical version of lapis lazuli became available and this largely replaced the use of the stone in painting. Today, lapis lazuli is most commonly used in jewellery or decorative ornaments as the stunning blue, often shot with shining ‘gold’ (though of course, this isn’t really gold) can be beautifully polished.

It's Incredible! Tektite

Imagine you are exploring a meteorite crater. It is an amazing thing, of enormous size and you can just imagine the impact which must have happened when the meteorite hit. It would have been huge, and of course also very hot – there are tektites everywhere. You can’t imagine how hot it must have been to melt the rocks themselves!

When I showed this tektite to the children, at first they were a little underwhelmed. The heavy, black ‘rock’ appears, at first glance, ‘pretty boring’, but when I explained that the rock was actually a type of natural glass, how it had been created and exactly what it was they were amazed. The idea that this small lump of ‘glassy rock’ as the children called it was the result of a meteorite melting, vaporising or throwing (earth) rocks around when they hit an area was ‘incredible’

Tektites are a type of natural glass which has very little water remaining inside it. They are amazing things which, as far as we are aware, only occur within four areas on earth. These areas are known as ‘strewn fields’, where the tektites landed after forming and they occur in Australia, Central Europe, the Ivory Coast and North America. The types of tektites and indeed the colours vary (between brown, black, grey and green) in these strewn fields, as they are based on the types of rock and terrestrial (earth based) material which was used in making them up. The shape of the tektites also varies, with the most common being what is known as the ‘splash type’, usually round, teardrop shaped or even shaped like dumbbells. Aerodynamically shaped tektites mainly occur in Australia and are similar to splash type tektites, but have a secondary ring around them (some look a little like tiny flying saucers). The third type is Muong Nong tektites, which are layered and usually much larger than the other types. They often have other minerals within them, like zircon or coesite.

So how do these amazing ‘glassy rocks’ form? There are two main theories, but the one which is most widely accepted is the ‘terrestrial source theory’. According to this theory, tektites are made up of material which was already on the earth prior to a meteorite hitting. When a meteorite hit, the rock and earth around the impact was melted or vaporised and thrown up into the atmosphere. After being thrown up the molten material began to form lumps and when they re-entered the earths atmosphere they cooled very quickly, forming lumps of glassy rock which then fell back to earth, sometimes landing hundreds or even thousands of kilometres away from where the meteorite actually hit! The other main theory was that the tektites originated from the moon, but in the 1960s, following the landing on the moon, this theory lost credibility, though there are still some people who believe that the moon is where tektites originate from.

It's Like A Time Capsule - Amber

Imagine you are a woman and it is your birthday. You have received all sorts of lovely gifts from your friends and family, with books, clothes and even jewellery in the mix. Your favourite gift though would have to be the beautiful amber bracelet which your husband gave you. You have always been fascinated by amber and the way which plant resin hardened to a fossil. Sometimes it even trapped little creatures inside – like a time capsule on a different age. Just amazing.

When I showed the children this amber bracelet, they thought it was beautiful, but they wondered what was particularly interesting about it. When I explained to them about amber they were fascinated. To think that this ‘stone’ could be a glimpse into a different time, a different place. As one child said “it’s like a time capsule to a different world!”

Amber is a translucent, fossilized resin which comes from a type of coniferous tree which is now extinct. It is usually a yellow or brown colour and has been used as part of jewellery for thousands of years. Amber is actually found worldwide, but the most famous and largest deposits are in Europe, particularly Russia and the Baltic Coast. Sometimes the amber is mined and removed from rocks, but it is also torn from the sea floor by the currents and waves and then washes up on beaches where it is collected.

Amber has been used by humans for many thousands of years, with amber discovered at several Neolithic sites which are far from the shores of the Baltic Sea, where much of this early amber originated.  By the bronze age, it appears that there were long distance trading routes which transported amber to various different civilisations in Europe, the Middle East, Asia and even the Far East. These cultures used amber not just in creating ornamental jewellery, but as part of religious beliefs, creating amulets and sacred objects using the fossilised resin. In Egypt amber was even inserted under the skin of the hands of mummies as they believed that amber prevented the mummy from being destroyed or decaying. Today, amber continues to be popular in jewellery, but it is also used in cosmetics and even some natural ‘medicines’!  

It's Shiny! Moonstone

Imagine you are a fashionable woman. You love nothing more than appearing wearing the most beautiful of clothes and jewellery, and you love to purchase new items to add to your wardrobe. Recently, you came across a beautiful necklace with a piece of Moonstone, and you thought it would be the perfect addition. You can’t wait to show it off to your friends.

When I showed this moonstone pendant to the children, they were amazed by it. They have seen many rocks, but the moonstone was one which intrigued them, with its colour and lustre, seeming to shimmer with light. One child even asked if it was an opal, because of the flashes of colour which the children thought were so spectacular.

Moonstones have been used in jewellery for centuries, including by ancient civilisations. The Romans loved moonstone and thought it was born of solid rays of the moon. The Greeks and Romans alike associated the stone with lunar Gods and Goddesses. According to legend, blue moonstones, which are traditionally the most famous and precious, are washed up on the shone only on the night of the blue moon (a blue moon is the second full moon to fall within a single month and so is reasonably rare). More recently, moonstone was a prized gemstone in the Art Nouveau period, with many famous jewellers, including Rene Lalique creating pieces which featured the stone.

So what is moonstone? Moonstones belong to the mineral group of feldspars, which make up nearly two thirds of the rocks on earth. It is a potassium aluminosilicate, and goes by several names, including dream stone and selenite. The word selenite comes from the Greek selene which means moon. The most sought after aspect of moonstone is the shimmer of light for which they are famous. This sheen is caused by light diffraction within the layers of stone. Although many moonstones are blue or white, they can be found in many colours including grey, orange, pink and brown.

I've Never Seen Anything Like It! Titanium Drusy

Imagine you are a mother and it is your Birthday. Your son has been so excited about the present he bought you, and is nearly bouncing around waiting for you to open it. When you remove the wrapping, there is an amazing pendant inside – and one you have wished for! You first saw a titanium drusy when a friend wore one, and the spectacular shapes and colour enthralled you. You are thrilled to have one of your own!

When I showed this titanium drusy necklace to the children, they were really taken with it – in fact they noticed what I was wearing before I even had a chance to show it to them! Many of the children are fascinated by rocks and gemstones, but this beautiful, multicoloured crystal was something they had never seen before. They thought it was amazing, but what impressed them most was the fact that it is actually a coating applied to the quartz crystal – it isn’t naturally that colour at all!

A drusy, also called druse or druzy, refers to crystals which form either inside or on the surface of other stones. They formed thousands of years ago when water carrying dissolved silica leaked or was forced into porous areas of rock. When the liquid rapidly cooled, crystals formed on the rocks around the water. Most commonly, these crystals were made of quartz. Often the crystal took on the colour of the rock which it formed on, so they can be found in all different colours. The colours featured by titanium drusies are not naturally occurring colours though!

Drusies, particularly neutral coloured quartz drusies are often dyed to enhance their beauty. One of the most popular processes to do this is to coat the surface of the drusy with a metal vapour, leaving behind a layer of metal which is only a few atoms thick! Metals including gold and platinum are used in this process, but the most common is titanium. The metal is deposited on the drusy crystal in a vacuum chamber, using a chemical vapour and the metal residue which is left behind sparkles with a variety of colours. Titanium drusy can come in colours ranging from a white, through to deep blues and royal purples – like the one I showed the children.

It's Massive! Fossilized Oyster Shell

Imagine, you are a mother living thousands of years ago. You have children to look after, and all of the other family members to support too, so when the men go out hunting, you can't rely on them alone to bring home enough food to feed everybody. As a young, healthy woman you have to do your part, collecting fruits and grains, and of course the shellfish which are found in the shallows of the sea near where you live. Oysters are a wonderful food, so plentiful and easy to find, they can be used to feed the family when the hunt is unsuccessful.

Who Knew That Old Wood Could Be So Pretty? Jet

Imagine you are walking along a beach in Whitby in England. You are kicking stones and looking at the beautiful scenery when you notice that some of the stones are unusually dark in colour. In fact they are almost black, but they aren’t like the shiny black pebbles you find in other places. You’re curious about whether this could be the famous Whitby Jet you have heard about, but it doesn’t look very much like the beautiful stone you saw in the museum and for sale in the shops!

When I took these jet earrings to show the children, they were intrigued. They assumed that the stone was a type of plastic or glass because they had not seen such a beautiful, shiny black in other jewellery made with precious or semi-precious stones. When they discovered that the earrings were made with not just any stone, but an ancient, fossilized wood, they were even more interested. As one child said, ‘who knew that old wood could be so pretty’

Jet is a product which is created from wood which decomposed millions of years ago. Over time the wood is compressed and becomes a stone. It is quite easy to carve, but also very easy to damage or even shatter when it is being shaped so people who could work with jet were highly skilled and the things they made were expensive and a sign of wealth. Not all jet is the same though and the best quality jet, and indeed the most famous, comes from Whitby in England.

Jet has been used to make jewellery for many years, dating right back to the ancient world. In fact, it is one of the earliest stones to be used in creating jewellery. Carved pieces of jet in the shape of insects and animals have been found which date right back to the Stone Age. These carved animals are thought to have been worn as pendants as many of them had holes drilled in them. It was during the Bronze Age though that jet really began to be used widely and many burials from this time contain jet beads. Many of the beads appear to have originally come from Whitby, but they are found a long way from the town, so it is thought that there was a trade in mining and selling jet even in the ancient world! Over time, jet continued to be used for making items, particularly jewellery. In England examples of jet jewellery have been found dating the time of the Romans, Angles, Saxons, Jutes and Vikings amongst others. It was also famously popular as a material to be used in mourning outfits in the Victorian era with jet being used for buttons, jewellery and beading on clothing.

It's Really From Space? Meteorite

Imagine you are living in the ancient world. You are going about your business as usual when suddenly the sky changes, an almighty flash of light flies over and rocks begin to fall. You run for cover, fearing the Gods are unhappy and will smite you. Some of the rocks are only small, but larger rocks make great holes in the ground, and some tear through the rooves of the village buildings. Finally, the storm ends and people come out of hiding. These stones were from the Gods, and you must make sure to collect them together and treat them with the correct reverence. The collecting begins.

When I showed the children this tiny piece of meteorite, they were overawed. Space is something which all children seem to find fascinating, and many dream of becoming astronaughts and ‘visiting the stars’ as one child remarked. To see a piece of rock which actually came from space was thrilling and the children’s reaction to holding it was very intriguing. Usually, with natural items the children are less afraid of damaging the item, but the meteorite was treated exceedingly carefully and almost with great reverence!

Since the time of the ancient world, and indeed well into prehistory, meteorites have occasionally fallen to Earth. As meteorites enter the Earths atmosphere they can appear very bright and sometimes are seen as different colours (red and green have both been reported). If the meteorite breaks up in the atmosphere, which is most often the case, it can produce flashes of light, while during the actual fall to Earth explosions, booms and other sounds like hissing and whistling can be heard. Sometimes, if the meteorite survives its fall it leaves behind a crater, while other meteorites which break up cause ‘meteorite showers’ with many smaller pieces of rock falling over an area known as the ‘strewn field’.

Of course, with such amazing phenomenon accompanying their fall, in the ancient world and even into more modern times, meteorites have been both feared and revered as sacred objects. In times before the iron age, iron meteorites in particular were prized as they could be used to make very strong weapons and were seen as sacred. Weapons made from iron meteorites have been found in the tombs of Egyptian pharaohs and in the graves of leaders of various other civilisations including the Aztecs. The piece of meteorite I showed the children is a piece of such an iron meterorite and came from the Odessa Crater in America. The Romans, Greeks and civilisations from the Middle East also saw meteorites as sacred and when they were captured as the spoils of war they were sometimes carried home in processions and worshipped. We know that pieces from the Canyon Diablo meteorite, which fell about 50000 years ago in America, were traded and venerated by the Native American people. Another meterorite, the Winona meteorite was even kept in a special stone box called a cist by the Native Americans! In the Middle Ages in Europe, with Christianity being the main religion, meteorites do not seem to have held quite the same position of reverence, but even today they are seen by some as good omens and by others as portents of bad things to come.

It's Beautiful - Desert Rose Rock

Imagine, you are walking in Oklahoma. It is hot and the area around you is dry and mainly bare. There is not enough water for too many plants to grow. It is still beautiful though, and although there may not be typical plants and flowers, there are some which are more unusual - the desert rose rock. These beautiful rocks look like clusters of blooming roses, and with their beautiful shades of red and brown, they provide plenty of interest on you walk!

When I took this desert rose rock specimen to show the children, they were amazed. They have seen many and varied specimens of rocks and minerals but, as one child put it "none so pretty shaped".To them, rocks can be beautiful colours and interesting shapes, but to see one which seemed to be covered with delicate petals and flowers was amazing. They could understand the names given to the rock, and admire the shapes of the formations, but what surprised them most though was the weight and feel of the rock. As one child said "it looks so delicate, but it weighs a ton and those petals are sharp!"

The desert rose, also known as flower of the desert, rose rock and sand rose, is a type of mineral which is only found in hot, dry places. Rock roses are found in several arid areas of the world including Egypt, Libya, Mexico and California. However, it is Oklahoma which is perhaps most firmly associated with this type of rock with the barite rock rose being named the state rock in 1968. There are two rocks which form the basis for the rose rock. The first is barite, which is the base of the Oklahoma State Rock, and the other is a type of gypsum called selenite. The gypsum is very soft and easily scratched, broken or destroyed, but either of the forms is delicate. In fact, when the rose rocks rise to the surface of the desert they must be collected quickly as water and wind quickly erode the beautiful crystal petals.

Being such a beautiful rock, the rose rock is popular with collectors. The rock which is so famous in Oklahoma was formed 250 million years ago, during the permian age when oceans covered much of the land. The rock formed when the mineral barite precipitated out of the water and crystalised around tiny grains of another rock, quartz (or in other words, around grains of sand). Although the rock rose is indeed rock, the crystal formations often appear like the petals of a rose, hence the name 'rose rock'.

It's Actually Really Quite Pretty - Giant Worm Poo Fossil

Imagine, you are walking through the bush when you kick something on the ground. It is quite a hard something, and you look down to see what it is. It looks like some sort of rock, but not like any rock you have seen before. It almost looks like dried poo, but it's much to hard when you kick it to be just poo! You decide to take the rock with you and visit the museum to see if somebody there might know what it is. When you show them the rock though, you are amazed to discover it is poo after all, just millions of years older than you expected.