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Copyright of Architectus is the property of Oficyna Wydawnicza Politechniki Wroclawskiej and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

On site production from local raw material has its specific characteristics. Rock crystal and quartz are raw materials, which were widely used during prehistory. However, an example of their exploitation at the proximity of the source was missing from the Czech Republic. The article discusses attributes of the lithic production from local raw materials using the example of rock crystal. There is a presentation of the lithic collection from the site of Soutice 1 (Central Bohemia), which was recently discovered at the confluence of the rivers Sázava and Želivka. The site was discovered by surface survey during 2023. More than 500 lithic pieces were collected. The assemblage is dominated by rock crystal. The site is situated in archaeologically understudied area. One of the origins of this raw material often seen in this region is the area of the Bohemian-Moravian Highlands. Usually, this raw material forms only a small part of the known collections, but it was present in low numbers at various locations even quite distant from the origin. So, it seems that rock crystal as a raw material was quite popular. The discovery of a site that is near the possible source of this raw material can help us understand specific characteristics of the production of this raw material and some aspects of the production from these local raw materials in general. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This archaeometric study aims at characterizing the archaeological finds belonging to the lithic industry from La Calvera rock shelter (Camaleño, Cantabria) and at hypothesizing the possible provenance of each material. The site, located in the mountainous area of Picos de Europa National Park (more than 1000 m a.s.l.) close to the megalithic complex of Peña Oviedo, is characterized by the presence of hearths and charcoal remains, ancient pottery, and a rich lithic assemblage composed of siliceous rocks dating back to >8000 BP and linked to the first Holocene occupations of the Cantabrian Mountains. For the study of the rock shelter's lithic assemblage, a multi-analytical approach was used: SEM-EDS and XRD analyses were performed to define the microtextural characteristics of samples and to identify the amorphous/crystalline phases; physical and mechanical tests were conducted to define the petrophysical properties (density, porosity, imbibition and saturation indexes, mechanical strength) of the samples. Preliminary data of chemical compositions, obtained by portable XRF, are also presented. The results show that the different siliceous materials (quartzite, cherts, hyaline quartz) can be distinguished through the basic analytical techniques used here. In addition, most of the archaeological samples have mineralogical and petrographic features similar to the natural samples coming from nearby outcrops, corroborating the hypothesis of a local material supply. The presence of local sources of useful raw materials could have favoured the site's occupation. Finally, the diverse compositional and textural feature of the analysed materials result in different mechanical properties (porosity, density, hardness, workability), so they likely had different uses and technical functions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents the results of theoretical and experimental research on improvement of water preparation technology for non-alcoholic production of kombucha fermented drink. Complex action of the studied materials with adsorptioning, ion exchanging and redoxing properties provides the water conditioning, which allows improving the organoleptic indicators of the final product and increases its biological value. The expediency of using in the technology of preparation water for making kombucha drink has been established for clinoptilolite, rock crystal and activated carbon. While treating water from various sources with the proposed materials it's overall softness and the total iron content were decreased, the content of biologically active substances in the final drink increased and organoleptic characteristics improved. The content of polyphenols substances in the final drink increased on the average 1.6 times compared to the untreated artesian water and the water from centralized water supply network. It was found that the high water hardness had a negative effect on the fermentation caused by the Medusomyces gisevii yeast culture and it made the organoleptic qualities of the final drink worse. The correlation between water indicators, wort fermentation dynamics and organoleptic evaluation of final drinks had been defined. The highest organoleptic values had been got by the samples of the drink prepared using water treated with clinoptilolite, activated carbon and rock crystal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Boletin del Museo del Prado is the property of Museo Nacional del Prado and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

With the development of synthetic gem technology, a large number of synthetic rock crystals, such as natural and synthetic amethyst and natural and synthetic smoky quartz, have emerged in the market. Research on how to identify natural and synthetic amethyst, and natural and synthetic smoky quartz is of great significance. This paper systematically studied the mineralogical characteristics of natural and synthetic amethyst and natural and synthetic smoky quartz through X-ray powder diffraction, energy spectrum analysis, infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and ultraviolet visible light absorption spectroscopy. The results showed that the basic gemstone properties of natural and synthetic amethyst, natural and synthetic smoky quartz were very similar. The synthetic amethyst and smoky quartz could be seen bending cracks, with a small amount of bread crumb-like black inclusions under the polarizing microscope. Natural amethyst and smoky quartz had Raman characteristic peaks of about 697 cm−1 and 1160 cm−1, while synthetic amethyst and smoky quartz had no vibration peaks in these bands. Compared with the synthetic amethyst, the natural amethyst lacked the characteristic infrared absorption peak of 3500 cm−1; compared with natural smoky quartz, synthetic smoky quartz lacked the 3484 cm−1 infrared absorption peak. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper studies the names of objects of vein quartz and rock crystal deposits (placers, deposits, crystal manifestations, quarries, mines, veins, and other artificial and natural objects) located on the territory of the Circumpolar and Southern Urals (Chelyabinsk Region, Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug and the Komi Republic). The timeframe of crystal mining in these regions can be set for mid-late 20th century. The study investigates systemic connections and the etymology of deposit names to identify the motivation and principles of their naming. This includes 339 toponyms of which 282 units belong to the Circumpolar Urals and 57 to the Southern Urals. A considerable part of the names is formed by metonymic transfer or copy of the names of natural places. In terms of linguistic affiliation, most toponyms in the Polar Urals have Komi-Zyryan and Mansi origin, whereas in the Southern Urals, the majority is Russian. By motivation, some of the toponyms refer to properties of the object that are most relevant for production (mineral composition, geographical position, etc). The already established system of geographical names denoting natural objects should also be accounted for the formation of a toponymic system related to crystal deposits. Characteristically, the toponymic system of the Circumpolar Urals and the Astafyevskoye field deposits in the Southern Urals (developed by a regular industrial method) show more relation to artificial systems while the Svetlinsky field, where the development took the prospecting method, demonstrates the features of a natural naming system.

In this work, it is shown that the image formed as a result of the passage of coherent radiation through the crystal has certain characteristic features. When the crystal is rotated with respect to the propagation axis of the investigated beam, the formation of the intensity distribution of a complex structure associated with the transformation of the «flat image» into «volumetric» was detected at the output. Crystalline plates can be used to form the distribution of a continuous «flat» light field in the implementation of a real 3D scene, which can provide a three-dimensional image on a television screen, as well as on a computer monitor screen. It can also be used in billboards. The three-dimensional image obtained in this way can be observed directly with the eyes of a person (without using special glasses. Thus, the information capacity of the image on the screen increases, and the perception of the picture approaches real conditions.

Archaeological excavations at Unguja Ukuu recovered a rock crystal cabochon seal with the word lillāh ("for God") inscribed in the Kufic script on its domed surface. The artifact is an intaglio amulet seal engraved in the negative. Microscopic examination of the seal surfaces reveals that a rotary tool was used to make the initial inscription. At some later point, a diagonal spall was removed across part of the inscription. The diagonal spall appears to be along a natural crystal plane. It is impossible to determine if this was the result of intentional defacement or an accidental process that might have resulted in the eventual deposition of the seal. Strata dated by radiometric and relative methods coupled with the style of the Kufic script date the seal to the late-8th to 9th centuries CE. This artifact is the earliest known example of an Islamic amulet seal and of writing in the Zanzibar Archipelago. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the development of synthetic gem technology, a large number of synthetic rock crystals, such as natural and synthetic amethyst and natural and synthetic smoky quartz, have emerged in the market. Research on how to identify natural and synthetic amethyst, and natural and synthetic smoky quartz is of great significance. This paper systematically studied the mineralogical characteristics of natural and synthetic amethyst and natural and synthetic smoky quartz through X-ray powder diffraction, energy spectrum analysis, infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and ultraviolet visible light absorption spectroscopy. The results showed that the basic gemstone properties of natural and synthetic amethyst, natural and synthetic smoky quartz were very similar. The synthetic amethyst and smoky quartz could be seen bending cracks, with a small amount of bread crumb-like black inclusions under the polarizing microscope. Natural amethyst and smoky quartz had Raman characteristic peaks of about 697 cm−1 and 1160 cm−1, while synthetic amethyst and smoky quartz had no vibration peaks in these bands. Compared with the synthetic amethyst, the natural amethyst lacked the characteristic infrared absorption peak of 3500 cm−1; compared with natural smoky quartz, synthetic smoky quartz lacked the 3484 cm−1 infrared absorption peak.

Background. Any exploration work involves difficulties associated with a rapid assessment of the development prospects of the discovered ore occurrences, flanks and deep horizons of the exploited fields, new vein bodies within the known ore fields and nodes. Under these conditions, knowledge of the genetic models of formation of gold and crystal mineralization, genetically associated with quartz veins, gains a particular importance.Aim. There is a widespread opinion that the presence of industrially applicable crystal is characteristic only of barren quartz veins. As a result, it is such formations that attract the interest of researchers searching for deposits of rock crystal. However, a large number of ore minerals have been found in the crystal-bearing quartz-vein deposits in the Urals, both in the vein bodies and in the crystal cavities.Results. The analysis of a large amount of factual material carried out to reveal regularities of location of quartz-vein formations in the Ural deposits of crystal-like and gold mineralization testifies to the confinement of quartz-vein fields to suture zones, representing narrow extended tectonic ensembles of a complex geological structure, genetically and spatially associated with long-lived faults of deep laying. The formation of quartz veins refers only to certain stages of the deposit development, while the deposits themselves are always confined to certain structural elements. These structural elements determine the subsequent formation of ore fields, which frequently undergo significant transformations.Conclusions. The metamorphic and metasomatic zonality, various thermodynamic conditions of formation are manifested in the typomorphic features of vein quartz: its internal structure, chemical purity, light transmission, presence of microdefects. These features reflect the peculiarities of quartz genesis and can be used as criteria for forecasting and evaluation of geological objects, particularly during initial stages of the exploration work.

I balsamari in pietra dura e cristallo di rocca sono una particolare espressione della glittica antica, oggetti di grande valore economico e simbolico. I pochi esemplari noti raramente provengono da contesti archeologici: tesaurizzati già in età antica, sono confluiti in collezioni private o musei, generalmente privi dei dati di rinvenimento e quasi sempre pubblicati insieme a vetri e gioielli.Il presente lavoro si configura come il tentativo di creare una classificazione tipologica di questi vasi, attraverso l’osservazione della foggia vascolare, il confronto con balsamari realizzati in materiali diversi e l’analisi dei dati di contesto, al fine di individuare degli intervalli cronologici di riferimento.In generale, si vuole fornire una panoramica dei balsamari in pietra semipreziosa di età romana come categoria “autonoma”, indagando datazione e distribuzione ma anche destinazione d’uso e significato simbolico, indispensabili per comprendere il valore attribuito a questi oggetti dagli Antichi. The toilet bottles in hard stone and rock crystal are a particular expression of the ancient glyptic, objects of great economic and symbolic value. The few known examples rarely come from archaeological contexts: already hoarded in ancient times, they have merged into private collections or museums, generally devoid of data of discovery and almost always published together with vessels in hard stone, glass and jewelry.This work is an attempt to create a typological classification of these vessels, through the observation of the vascular shape, the comparison with the ones made of different materials and the analysis of the context data, in order to identify chronological intervals of reference.In general, it is an overview of the semi-precious stone toilet bottles of the Roman age as an "autonomous" category, investigating dating and distribution but also intended use and symbolic meaning, essential to understand the value attributed to these objects by the Ancients.

An excavation of a 12th-century rock crystal workshop in Cologne/Köln (Germany) unearthed raw pieces, waste, grindstone fragments and iron hammers. Keywords: Rock crystal; mineralogy; Islamic art; luxury goods; Fustat; artifact biography; connections across the Islamic world; Islamic objects in non-Islamic contexts; archaeology and art history EN Rock crystal mineralogy Islamic art luxury goods Fustat artifact biography connections across the Islamic world Islamic objects in non-Islamic contexts archaeology and art history Seeking Transparency: Rock Crystals across the MedievalMediterranean, edited by Cynthia Hahn and Avinoam Shalem.Mann Verlag 2020. [Extracted from the article]

Native tungsten (IMA2011-004), W, is officially described as a new mineral from gold placers in the Bol'shaya Pol'ya river valley, Prepolar Urals, Russia, associated with yttriaite-(Y) and from quartz veins in the Mt Neroyka rock-crystal field, Ust–Puiva, Tyumenskaya Oblast', Russia. Tungsten forms polycrystalline grains and masses, and rarely cubo-octahedra. It is silver white to steel grey in colour, with metallic lustre and grey streak. The calculated density is 19.226 g/cm3. The Vickers hardness (VHN25) is 571.45 kg/mm2. In plane polarised light, tungsten is white with a pale-yellow tint and optically isotropic. Electron microprobe analyses of Bol'shaya Pol'ya river valley material provided W 99.27, Mo 0.06, Mn 0.04, Fe 0.01, total 99.38 wt.%. The five strongest powder X-ray diffraction lines are [dobs Å(I)(hkl)]: 2.2422(100)(110), 1.5835(25)(200), 1.2929(48)(211), 1.0010(23)(310) and 0.8457(24)(321). Tungsten is cubic, Im $\bar{3}$ m, a = 3.1648(4) Å, V = 31.69(4) Å3 and Z = 2. Some additional occurrences of native tungsten and technogenic tungsten found in Nature are also described. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper comprises gemmological and other data on several specimens of faceted rock crystal gemstones from two localities in the Madan ore field, Smolyan Province, and Krumovgrad Municipality, Kardzhali Province, of the Rhodopes, Bulgaria.

Introduction. The influence of drinking water, which was prepared with the help of clinoptilolite, rock crystal and activated carbon, on the amino acid composition of wort and kvass was determined. Materials and methods. Water was prepared by treating it with clinoptilolite, activated carbon and rock crystal. The fermented wort was obtained by fermentation of rye-based wort with yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae MP-10. The amino acid composition of wort and kvass was determined by ion exchange chromatography, the dynamics of kvass wort fermentation was determined by fermentation test. Results and discussion. As a result of water treatment with clinoptilolite, activated carbon and rock crystal, the total hardness was reduced from 4.5 to 1.1 mmol/dm3, the permanganate oxidationwas reduced from 4.0 to 0.5 mg O2/dm3, iron and residual chlorine were removed completely. The change in the mineral composition of water significantly affected the course of the technological process, quantitative and qualitative amino acid composition of wort and kvass. The use of prepared water improved the qualitative amino acid composition, increased their total content in the initial wort from 3.3 to 8.87 mg/100 g, in particular amountof essential amino acids improved from 0.44 to 3.31 mg/100 g, which reduced their resynthesis, reand deaminationby yeast cells. The total amount of amino acids in the fermented wort with using prepared water was 9.88 mg/100 g, in the control it was 5.57 mg/100 g. The ratio of amino acids in the wort had significant differences, in particular the content of proline, which is difficult to digest by the yeast cell when using prepared water, was 14%, and for the control sample it was 30%. Intensification of the process of yeast cells culturing increased their concentration in the culture fluid for 24 hours from 96.8 to 85.1 million/cm3, as well as reduced the duration of fermentation of kvass wort from 15 to 13 hours. The amino acid score of kvass, which was made withusing prepared water in the stages of yeast cultivation and fermentation of yeast wort, was more acceptable compared to the method with untreated water. Conclusions. The use of prepared water with clinoptilolite, rock crystal and activated carbon in kvass technology improves the qualitative amino acid composition and increases their total content in the initial and fermented wort. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Synthetic rock crystals often show a typical infrared (IR) absorption band at 3585 cm−1. However, the authors recently found this band in a natural rock crystal with blue coating. The origin of this IR band is controversial as yet. In this paper, the infrared spectra of several natural and synthetic rock crystal samples which were heated to 673 K and 1073 K were measured after these samples returned to room temperature. Comparing the infrared spectra of samples before and after heating, we found the absorption band at 3585 cm−1 was induced by the thermal process, which indicates that this band cannot be used as diagnostic evidence for synthetic rock crystal alone. In addition, the LiOH bands decreased while AlOH bands increased upon thermal processing. And the negative correlation between the LiOH bands and the 3585 cm−1 band was also distinct. The above results reveal that the thermal process destroyed the LiOH defects, leading to the formation of a new AlLi defect. And the isolated OH− defect inside dislocations generated upon thermal processing is considered to be the exact cause of the 3585 cm−1 band.