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Speculations on rocks
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Posted on April 20, 2011 at 15:33:04 | ||
Posts: 5851
Joined: April 13, 2010 |
Posted here, because of the speculative nature of the content. Fact: Diamonds have good bass but rolled off highs Fact: Citrine follows in the similar sound quality. Fact: Amethyst has very good top end and upper midrange energy. Fact: Diamonds and most other crystals, are thermoluminescent, whereby the crystals pick up stray electrons, trapping them in their latticework, and can release them later along with a photon (QED). This fact is utilized by archeologists to date buried artifacts ( flint and other material normally not datable by carbon), by heating the crystals up to 900 degrees and having a photomultiplier present as they do so to count photons released. Apparently, exposure to even light purges the stray electrons within the crystal thus "resetting" the crystal back to zero, giving a rough time line as to when the crystal or rock was reburied., as the natural radiation i the earth "recharges" the crystal. Fact: Amethyst transforms itself into clear quartz when heated to 450 degrees C and into citrine when hated to 550 C. Fact: Clear quartz does not quite have the openness of amethyst. Fact: In addition to the trace amount of iron, amethysts are supposedly to obtain the darker shades of purple by exposure to natural radiation contained in the soil in which they are buried. The darkest shades seem to come from deeper within the earth. Speculation: Being that the piezo effect means that an EMI field hitting a piezo electric crystal can generate movement and thus help dissipate energy, could it be possible that the citrine and diamonds have their unique sound signature because they are absorbing some of the electrons? Perhaps amethysts have a lattice work which is "full" and thus more energy is transformed into mechanical motion. While some mineralogists warn that prolonged exposure to sunlight will bleach out the coloring of stones, most amethyst is fairly stable color wise. I have tried heating some matched amethyst beads with an alcohol lamp and have succeeded in creating clear and a slight citrine coloration. The experiment was interesting because I could listen to the purple application and then heat the crystals up and reevaluate. One caveat: the crystal can "pop" like popcorn and they are very hot! Theoretically, the crystals remain unchanged except for the application of heat. The molecular structure is supposedly unchanged, but there are distinct differences in color and in sound when applied, with the top end distinctly being rolled off. Incidentally, if you missed it over on Tweaks, sugar is also piezo electric and using a sugar cube certainly makes an effect. The cool thing about sugar cubes is that you can shape the cube and it most certainly has an effect upon the sound ( see the post on Tweaks for more information, a reply to FidPup's query about crystal alternatives). Again YMMV. Stu |
RE: Although, posted on April 21, 2011 at 18:31:29 | |
You said you got no change from sugar, which is piezoelectric. That actually supports my position. Nyah, nyah, nyah. |
only on, posted on April 25, 2011 at 11:38:53 | |
Posts: 5851
Joined: April 13, 2010 |
on electronic playback systems, although I have come to similar conclusions when applied to mixers and such. Stu |
Mpost interesting! (nt), posted on May 4, 2011 at 16:47:05 | |
Posts: 5851
Joined: April 13, 2010 |
STU |
RE: I notice, posted on May 17, 2011 at 09:28:46 | |
Posts: 41
Joined: March 25, 2011 |
I'm gonna be busy ;) |
RE: Speculations on rocks, posted on May 17, 2011 at 11:40:14 | |
Are you guys putting these on top of your equipment or what? |
RE: Innocent question...., posted on May 17, 2011 at 14:00:08 | |
Interesting, isn't it? After all, they're just rocks. |
The Haldol must be kicking in, posted on May 20, 2011 at 14:46:35 | |
Hey, I'll do the pharmaceutical jokes here, if you don't mind. Geez, try to come up with some new material. |