Goldstone Glass

Goldstone Glass / Sandstone – The Stone of Ambition

Goldstone, also known as sandstone in some contexts, is a man-made glass infused with particles to create a glittering effect. Traditional goldstone is made by melting glass with copper or other metals like cobalt or manganese for color variation. It’s not a naturally occurring stone but is renowned for its sparkling appearance, reminiscent of a starry night sky.

Etymology

The name “goldstone” comes from its golden sparkles, though it contains no actual gold. It’s also referred to as:

Aventurine Glass due to its similarity to the natural aventurine stone’s shimmer.

Monk’s Gold or Monkstone, from a legend suggesting it was accidentally created by Italian monks.

Stellaria, for its star-like appearance.

Blue Sandstone or Gold Sandstone for colored varieties.

Cosmic Junction

Goldstone resonates with the Sun, symbolizing vitality, ambition, and manifestation. It’s linked to the sacral chakra for creativity and the root chakra for grounding:

Legend of Creation: One story claims goldstone was discovered by accident when copper shavings fell into molten glass, giving it its unique sparkle. This accidental creation is believed to imbue it with energies of chance and luck.

Modern Metaphysical Use: Goldstone is considered a stone of motivation, helping to achieve goals with persistence and determination. It’s thought to enhance one’s confidence and optimism, encouraging a positive outlook.

Techniques for Making Goldstone:

Melting and Cooling: The base glass is melted with copper oxide in a reducing atmosphere (low oxygen) to create copper crystals. The glass is then cooled slowly to allow these crystals to form, giving goldstone its characteristic glitter.

Color Variation: For blue goldstone, cobalt is used instead of copper; for green, chromium oxide; and manganese for purple, each altering the glass’s color while maintaining the sparkling effect.

Annealing: After the formation of crystals, the glass is annealed to relieve internal stresses, ensuring the goldstone is durable and less likely to crack.