Howlite heart pendant Zimbabwe A stainless steel (20mm)

Dimensions:

20mm

20mm howlite heart with a stainless steel bail.
Colors and patterns may vary from stone to stone.

Howlite is a stone belonging to the calcite group. It is composed of silicon, calcium silicate and a significant amount of boron. More precisely, it is a hydroxylated calcium borosilicate. Its crystallization system is rhombohedral, that is, resembling a kind of cube with faces that are not square, but diamond-shaped.

This stone is partly recognizable by its white, opaque and porous appearance. It has black veins that appear randomly. Similar to marble, white howlite has a much lower hardness. In fact, its hardness is between 3.5 and 4 on the Mohs scale (which goes from 1 to 10). As a result, it is a soft and fragile stone. In addition, it is soluble in hydrochloric acid.

White howlite is found in borax deposits in dry lakes in desert regions. It is mined in compact masses or irregular nodules often mixed with gypsum or anhydrite.

This porous stone is unfortunately regularly used to imitate certain stones such as turquoise, lapis lazuli or coral. It has the ability to absorb different shades and has been widely used by counterfeiters.

The history of howlite is very recent since it was discovered by Henri How in 1868. Henri How (1828-1879) was an Anglo-Canadian chemist, geologist and mineralogist. He found this stone in the mines of Windsor in Canada. He named it silico-boro-calcite, but the mineralogist and geologist James Dwight Dana (1813-1895) named it howlite in honor of the one who had first identified it.

The oldest texts mentioning white howlite stone are those of the American Indians. They called it "sacred stone of the bison" or the "stone of the white bison". For them, white howlite was as rare as the white bison. They used this stone during sacred rites or as a healing stone. Indeed, they gave it protective and even curative powers. Thus, they made many amulets in white howlite to protect themselves from animals when they went hunting.

Nowadays, this stone is widely used in lithotherapy and jewelry. Many necklaces or bracelets are made with this white stone veined with black. You can also find decorative objects made of white howlite.

The main deposits are in Brazil, Zimbabwe, Canada, the United States, Russia, etc.

In lithotherapy, howlite has soothing and stabilizing properties. It is extremely useful for all stressful situations. Thus, during tense family meals or tense professional meetings, this stone can absorb negative energies. It thus promotes calm exchanges and keeps anger away.

It is known to be a stone of discernment and thus facilitates the making of good decisions in complicated situations. In fact, it clarifies ideas during decisive choices and provides support in difficult times. It comforts its wearer during distressing situations. It has the particularity of dispelling fears.

Howlite fights stress and helps to overcome phobias. It provides peace and serenity. It gives composure and removes anxiety. This stone reduces negative thoughts, increases concentration and strengthens memory. It absorbs harmful influences and purifies the environment.

This stone brings joy, serenity and removes feelings of anger and resentment. It helps not to lose patience and allows to manage impulsiveness. It calms anxieties and promotes quality sleep. It is extremely beneficial for hypersensitive people.