Description
Agalmatolite is an opaque decorative semi-precious stone, a variety of pyrophyllite mineral. Agalmatolite is used in cutting different figures and decorations. There is no coincidence that its name arises from Greek words Agalma - statue and lithos - stone. The agalmatolite term was first introduced into mineralogy nomenclature in 1797.
Agalmatolite could have white and grey with greenish and yellowish shades. The stones of red and even dark-cherry color are found more seldom. Thanks to its smooth surface agalmatolite is called a wax stone or soapstone. Besides South East of Asia the deposits of agalmatolites are found in South Ural, in Uzbekistan, in Ukraine, in Czech Republic, Romania and USA. Spacious deposits of agalmatolite are found on the territory of Mongolia.
In ancient Russia agalmatolite was used to cut architectural details of Orthodox Churches and even icons. Therefore agalmatolite was called figure or figurative stone. In China, Korea, Mongolia and Japan agalmatolite was used for cutting stamps, household utensils and small artistic articles. The figures cut out of agalmatolite were frequently used during sacrifice in place of sacrificial animals. In pre-revolutionary Russia one could buy small decorative pagodas out of this stone and therefore this stone is sometimes called pagolite.
Healing stones
In Mongol folk medicine agalmatolite was used for curing rheumatic diseases. In particular, the figures and pieces of agalmatolite were used to relief the joint pain. It is considered that this mineral possesses receptive energy Yin.
