Onyx Research Paper

The beauty of gemstones has made them prized possessions for centuries. Gemstones are treasured for their color, luster, and value. Apart from their beauty, gemstones have played diverse roles in myths of human cultures throughout history. Gemstones, believed to have mythical powers, have been used in jewelry to bring benefits to the wearer. One such stone known for its mythical powers and sensuous beauty is the Onyx gemstone.
The semiprecious stone, Onyx, is a chalcedony quartz. It is mined today in Brazil, Afghanistan, India, North America, and Uruguay. Onyx has a fine texture, wax-like luster, and a hardness between 6 and 7 on the Mohs scale of mineral hardness. It features various bands of color, but black is the most popular. Common onyx
The name Onyx stems from the Greek language, which means nail of a finger or claw. According to Greek mythology, one day Cupid cut a sleeping Venus’s fingernails and left them scattered on the ground. Because no part of a heavenly body can die, the gods turned them into stone which later became known as onyx (bernardine.com). Later in history, the gemstone became popular with the Romans, who crafted exquisite seals out of onyx. The gemstone is believed to have protective properties and healing benefits. It brings strength, confidence, and discipline to the wearer. Onyx harmonizes the physical with the spiritual and helps alleviate fears, depression, and anxiety (spiritedstones.com). It helps people in their efforts to be balanced and maintain a positive outlook on life. Onyx also increases concentration, while relieving tension especially in marital relationships.
For physical properties, O¬¬¬¬nyx heals wounds and relieves pain during childbirth. Onyx can be used to improve hearing, eye-sight, and cellular regeneration. It strengthens bones and improves the appearance of skin and nails. Onyx is often recommended to athletes to improve their performance because it boosts endurance, strength, and perseverance. It also eliminates excess energy and contributes to better sleeping
For example, Onyx was used by the German architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe to construct The Barcelona Pavilion. It was created in 1929 in Czech Repubic from glass, steel, travertine, marble, and golden onyx from the Atlas Mountains. The pavilion’s design is based on a formulaic grid system developed by Mies that not only serves as the patterning of the travertine pavers, but it also serves as an underlying framework that the wall systems work within (archdaily.com). The Barcelona Pavilion has a low horizontal orientation that is accentuated by the low flat roof that appears to float over both the interior as well as the exterior (archdaily.com). The pavilion is celebrated as an impeccable icon of modernist