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== Minerals ==
== Minerals ==
'''Minerals''' (from {{LaS|aes minerale}} "mine ore") are substances formed by natural [[w:Geology|geological]] processes, usually [[crystall]]ised in a solid [[w:Polyhedron|polyhedral]] shape. Unlike rocks, they are formed from a single [[w:chemical element|chemical element]] (e.g. diamond, sulphur, gold) or from a single [[w:chemical compound|chemical compound]] which has a defined structure and composition, but which may vary within certain limits due to the formation of homogeneous solid solutions<ref name="Nickel 1995"> The Definition of a Mineral, Nickel 1995</ref>. Mostly these are inorganic, in rare cases also organic compounds, such as mellite (honey stone) or evenkite ([[w:Tetracosan|Tetracosan]] C<sub>24</sub>H<sub>50</sub>). Currently, about 5000 independent minerals are known<ref>[http://nrmima.nrm.se//IMA_Master_List_%282014-12%29.pdf IMA/CNMNC List of Mineral Names] (December 2014, PDF, 1,5 MB)</ref>. More than 90% of all minerals (quartz included) are [[w:silicate|silicate]]s. The most common silicate minerals are the [[w:feldspars|feldspars]], which comprise about 59.5% of all minerals<ref name="Cloos 1958">Cloos (1958), S. 139</ref>. Particularly beautiful or valuable minerals, rocks or glass melts, but also fossil resins such as amber or other mineralised organic materials are called [[w:precious stone|precious stone]]s or [[w:gemstone|gemstone]]s. Liquids, with the exception of mercury, are not counted as minerals; for example, [[water]] is not considered a mineral, but crystalline [[ice]] is. [[w:Mineralogy|Mineralogy]] is the scientific study of the formation, properties and usability of minerals.
'''Minerals''' (from {{LaS|aes minerale}} "mine ore") are substances formed by natural [[w:Geology|geological]] processes, usually [[crystall]]ised in a solid [[w:Polyhedron|polyhedral]] shape. Unlike rocks, they are formed from a single [[w:chemical element|chemical element]] (e.g. diamond, sulphur, gold) or from a single [[w:chemical compound|chemical compound]] which has a defined structure and composition, but which may vary within certain limits due to the formation of homogeneous solid solutions<ref name="Nickel 1995"> The Definition of a Mineral, Nickel 1995</ref>. Mostly these are inorganic, in rare cases also organic compounds, such as [[w:mellite|mellite]] (honey stone) or [[w:evenkite|evenkite]] ([[w:Tetracosane|Tetracosane]] C<sub>24</sub>H<sub>50</sub>). Currently, about 5000 independent minerals are known<ref>[http://nrmima.nrm.se//IMA_Master_List_%282014-12%29.pdf IMA/CNMNC List of Mineral Names] (December 2014, PDF, 1,5 MB)</ref>. More than 90% of all minerals (quartz included) are [[w:silicate|silicate]]s. The most common silicate minerals are the [[w:feldspars|feldspars]], which comprise about 59.5% of all minerals<ref name="Cloos 1958">Cloos (1958), S. 139</ref>. Particularly beautiful or valuable minerals, rocks or glass melts, but also fossil resins such as amber or other mineralised organic materials are called [[w:precious stone|precious stone]]s or [[w:gemstone|gemstone]]s. Liquids, with the exception of mercury, are not counted as minerals; for example, [[water]] is not considered a mineral, but crystalline [[ice]] is. [[w:Mineralogy|Mineralogy]] is the scientific study of the formation, properties and usability of minerals.
 
[[File:GA208 141.gif|300px|left|drawing from GA 208, p. 141]]
{{GZ|When we look at the original form of the mineral, it is the crystal form, the polyhedral form (see drawing); the mineral somehow appears polyhedral to us. This polyhedral form, which appears to us in one form in the case of one mineral and in another form in the case of another mineral, cannot be understood in any other way than by first looking at the material which has formed itself out of the forces which are active within the space of the mineral. We must imagine: If we have any elongated mineral, then the forces which act in this direction (drawing on the right) are suitable for drawing the mineral along its length. The forces acting in this direction (right, horizontal line in the middle) may then develop a lesser strength - or how we want to express it - which makes the mineral narrower in this direction, and so on. In short, in order to be able to speak of minerals at all, we must imagine, whether these forces act from without or from within, that these forces stand at angles to each other, that they act in certain directions, and above all we must imagine that these forces are there in the universe, at least that they are effective within the earthly sphere.
 
But then, if they are effective, they must also act upon the physical body of man, and the physical body of man must have in itself the tendency to become polyhedral. It only does not become polyhedral in reality because it still has its etheric body, its astral body, which do not allow the human being to become a cube or an octahedron or a tetrahedron or an icosahedron and so on. But the tendency is in man to become such things, so that we can already say: In so far as man is a physical being, he strives to become polyhedral. If you are glad that you do not wander about as a cube or as a tetrahedron or as an octahedron, it is because the other forces, those of the etheric body and astral body, are working against the octahedral or cube forces that are in you.|208|140ff}}


== Literatur ==
== Literatur ==

Revision as of 16:19, 24 March 2021

From the point of view of spiritual science, the mineral kingdom is the fourth and middle of the seven Conditions of Life into which each planetary stage of world evolution is divided. Like all Conditions of Life, the mineral kingdom is subdivided into seven Conditions of Form, which gradually condense from the unformed spiritual (arupa) to the physical and then just as gradually spiritualise again. The mineral kingdom thus encompasses far more than the minerals that appear physically-sensually in nature. The non-physical Conditions of Form of the mineral kingdom and the elementary beings associated with them, however, are only accessible to the imaginative spiritual seeing.

Minerals

Minerals (from Latin: aes minerale "mine ore") are substances formed by natural geological processes, usually crystallised in a solid polyhedral shape. Unlike rocks, they are formed from a single chemical element (e.g. diamond, sulphur, gold) or from a single chemical compound which has a defined structure and composition, but which may vary within certain limits due to the formation of homogeneous solid solutions[1]. Mostly these are inorganic, in rare cases also organic compounds, such as mellite (honey stone) or evenkite (Tetracosane C24H50). Currently, about 5000 independent minerals are known[2]. More than 90% of all minerals (quartz included) are silicates. The most common silicate minerals are the feldspars, which comprise about 59.5% of all minerals[3]. Particularly beautiful or valuable minerals, rocks or glass melts, but also fossil resins such as amber or other mineralised organic materials are called precious stones or gemstones. Liquids, with the exception of mercury, are not counted as minerals; for example, water is not considered a mineral, but crystalline ice is. Mineralogy is the scientific study of the formation, properties and usability of minerals.

drawing from GA 208, p. 141
drawing from GA 208, p. 141

„When we look at the original form of the mineral, it is the crystal form, the polyhedral form (see drawing); the mineral somehow appears polyhedral to us. This polyhedral form, which appears to us in one form in the case of one mineral and in another form in the case of another mineral, cannot be understood in any other way than by first looking at the material which has formed itself out of the forces which are active within the space of the mineral. We must imagine: If we have any elongated mineral, then the forces which act in this direction (drawing on the right) are suitable for drawing the mineral along its length. The forces acting in this direction (right, horizontal line in the middle) may then develop a lesser strength - or how we want to express it - which makes the mineral narrower in this direction, and so on. In short, in order to be able to speak of minerals at all, we must imagine, whether these forces act from without or from within, that these forces stand at angles to each other, that they act in certain directions, and above all we must imagine that these forces are there in the universe, at least that they are effective within the earthly sphere.

But then, if they are effective, they must also act upon the physical body of man, and the physical body of man must have in itself the tendency to become polyhedral. It only does not become polyhedral in reality because it still has its etheric body, its astral body, which do not allow the human being to become a cube or an octahedron or a tetrahedron or an icosahedron and so on. But the tendency is in man to become such things, so that we can already say: In so far as man is a physical being, he strives to become polyhedral. If you are glad that you do not wander about as a cube or as a tetrahedron or as an octahedron, it is because the other forces, those of the etheric body and astral body, are working against the octahedral or cube forces that are in you.“ (Lit.:GA 208, p. 140ff)

Literatur
References to the work of Rudolf Steiner follow Rudolf Steiner's Collected Works (CW or GA), Rudolf Steiner Verlag, Dornach/Switzerland, unless otherwise stated.
Email: verlag@steinerverlag.com URL: www.steinerverlag.com.
Index to the Complete Works of Rudolf Steiner - Aelzina Books
A complete list by Volume Number and a full list of known English translations you may also find at Rudolf Steiner's Collected Works
Rudolf Steiner Archive - The largest online collection of Rudolf Steiner's books, lectures and articles in English.
Rudolf Steiner Audio - Recorded and Read by Dale Brunsvold
steinerbooks.org - Anthroposophic Press Inc. (USA)
Rudolf Steiner Handbook - Christian Karl's proven standard work for orientation in Rudolf Steiner's Collected Works for free download as PDF.

References

  1. ↑ The Definition of a Mineral, Nickel 1995
  2. ↑ IMA/CNMNC List of Mineral Names (December 2014, PDF, 1,5 MB)
  3. ↑ Cloos (1958), S. 139
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