Wednesday 29 September 2010

This Earth’s Crust ... its waste, but yet its offerings ...

Humans have evolved, we have always been nosey, inventive creatures ... able to take advantage of our natural environment – the earth’s crust – perhaps to our cost now ... but the elements and ancient humans helped shaped this world of ours as it is today.
We found mineral rich ores from which we were able to fashion simple tools that became the foundation of civilisation; we had tapped into river systems and were controlling the water supplies to feed and create early cities; we explored and were able to track the winds and work out that they had a circular motion .. returning us whence we came – creating trade routes.

On the Yellow River, Xunhua Province (further west than Shanxi Province highlighted below)

Plants and animals in their wasted state became coal and oil, our technological exploitations go on ... our processing abilities continue – the brain amazes ... will co-operation bring the next huge leap forward?


The ancient civilisations of China had settled, expanded, acquired huge reserves of knowledge, and most importantly had the capabilities of feeding their large populations from the wind deposited loess rich soils of inland China (the site of the Terracotta Army) ...


Shanxi Province

.... but were far too early to take advantage of the engineering, scientific and industrial revolutions of the 18th century, while the huge continent did not and still does not lend itself to easy transportation routes – even the rivers are so vast, flowing through high gorges, full of enormous rapids, liable to flooding the lower reaches which makes security of shipping goods nigh impossible.

The elements – earth, wind, fire and water – continue to wreak havoc interrupting at times our progression, yet continue to provide new materials and resources that we learn to utilise.


Some thoughts on some minerals and how we have taken advantage of them over the centuries ... as symbols of power in carvings, the Chinese and Mayans with their jade figurines and masks, Byzantine use of Lapis Lazuli in their churches and palaces as cladding of all things!



A polished specimen of Lapis Lazuli

Muscovite, a silicate mineral, produces large transparent crystals which were once used as window panes in Moscow: hence its name! That supply came from Norway, while material from India is still used in furnace doors, where normal glass would melt – presumably as in wood burning stoves, that we so love here in England.

Silicon – we know makes chips ... zillions of them – not of potato, but from the second most abundant mineral in the earth’s crust – powering or controlling just about everything we do.



Integrated circuit of Atmel Diopsis 740System on Chip showing memory blocks, logic and input/output pads around the periphery

Silica, usually in the form of quartz is the most common constituent of sand; however quartz rocks have been known for millennia – the Roman naturalist, Pliny the Elder, believed quartz to be water ice – permanently frozen in time – hence the word crystal from the Greek word for ice.


Fatimid carved rock crystal (clear quartz) vase, c. 1000

Galena, the main ore of lead, was better known in Cleopatra’s day (3,500 BC) as eye kohl; two thousand years ago the Romans utilised the by-product of silver smelting – lead for their waterworks, and copper; now the by-products include zinc, antimony etc as well as bismuth, whose commercial importance is now being recognised as an alloy replacement for lead, eliminating its toxicity.



Lead pipes - set amongst well trodden Roman pavements

Copper – perhaps is the ‘all metal’ .. we know many of its uses over time – early tools, pots, conductive piping and money; it is 100% recyclable, probably 80% of all copper mined is still in use today. Now it is even used for door knobs in hospitals, because of its antibacterial/germicidal properties.. while copper tubing is used in air conditioning systems to deter the spread of Legionnaires’ disease.


Copper is essential for all plants and animals being distributed widely in the body – in liver, muscle and bone; rich sources of copper are to be found in oysters, beef or lamb liver, Brazil nuts, cocoa and black pepper (of all things!).


Steel too has been known for millennia, arising as a by-product of smelting iron (when carbon is produced) – the most common element in the earth and the fourth most common in the earth’s crust – ancient steel excavations date from 4,000 years ago in Asia Minor and East Africa; the Romans extensively used steel, as did the Chinese over 2,000 years ago.

These old world base metals are now being usurped in the race for supremacy by the search for free elements and rare-earth metals – essential to our modern life for their use in magnets, lasers, xrays, computer memories, telephony etc


The cycle goes round, China the cradle of ancient dynasties, finds itself once again with the wealth in its interior and despite being technologically advanced, its infrastructure simply cannot keep up with the breakneck growth that is going on.

Traffic jams, monstrous gridlocks, and snarl ups are commonplace – jams as long as 60 miles, lasting nine days ... the coal from Inner Mongolia is desperately needed, transported by trucks to fuel its energy needs ... entrepreneurial street vendors take advantage by setting up shop with the basic commodities of human consumption .. no change there then.



This photo of 'Björkskär', the main island, comprising a group of islands in Stockholm outer archipelago, where rare-earth metals were first found in Ytterby village quarry.

If it flies or you talk into it - it has rare-earth metals ... and China for now keeps a steely grip on the market ... by undercutting the competition in Africa, America and elsewhere; market forces however now play their part and have precipitated a rash of proposed mining and processing operations outside China, on the realisation of the enormous hike in market prices and that complacency cannot reign whatever the cost for these essential minerals.

However – is the earth moving in China? Will the closed society of today be more embracing to the rest of world in the future .. will the fact that the People’s Republic of China have embraced the Linux free and open source software ... prelude new beginnings?

What else has this wonderful earth and its crusty outside have to offer us ... more wonders to behold – more hidden secrets to find.



Dear Mr Postman - my mother has been completely awake – we’ve talked about conkers and playing conkers as children (we had a few conker trees in the garden) Warwick Castle, and Alfred the Great and his times .. with a little patience and clear diction .. she participates and asks questions – she continues to amaze us all! Long may it last – particularly her hearing – life is just so much easier and pleasurable.

Hilary Melton-Butcher
Positive Letters Inspirational Stories

63 comments:

Karen Lange said...

Your blog is such a great spot for information! Have you considered putting a book or a series of lessons together with all of this wonderful info? Thanks so much for sharing with us.
Blessings for your week,
Karen

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Karen .. thank you!! I am - but wondering the best route forward - I have some ideas .. and will try some out.

It's the energy and time to think and in recent years I haven't had that much .. now my mother has come to - and things are settling down ... I will get my brain into gear!

I really appreciate your thought and comment - I probably need some teachers' input as to ideas .. but I'll draw on 'blogging resources' in due time!

Sent me off on a happy afternoon - thank you! You too Karen, have a great rest of the week .. Hilary

Betsy Wuebker said...

Hi Hilary - Great subject and beautiful photos. I especially enjoyed learning about "Galena" since my uncle lives in Galena, Illinois. It's true, it was a center for lead mining and provided bullets to the Union Army during our Civil War in the 19th century. My uncle's garden property has an abandoned mine shaft.

Loved the colorful photos of the lapis and learning about the muscovite material as well. Thank you!

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Betsy .. amazing little world – Galena in Illinois and Indiana .. I had a quick look in Wikipedia .. interesting place .. and a dangerous place to play in .. a garden with a mine shaft – when we walk in Cornwall – we used to have to watch out for those .. now they’re enclosed. Must have been fascinating to hear about the history of your Galena – thanks for sharing some of it .. I picked up on the flood gates & how they did stop some major flooding!

It’s interesting isn’t it – how they called the town after the metal .. the Roman Pliny mentions it – but derivation .. unknown – well that I can see and I even looked in my uncle’s 1926 Encyclopedia ..

But what I didn’t mention regarding Kohl ... was that the Egyptians used it around the eyes to reduce the glare of the desert sun and to repel flies, which were a potential source of disease!

Wonderful extra information – thank you .. delighted you liked the photos .. and that you picked up on muscovite ... – lovely seeing .. have a great rest of the week .. Hilary

Chris Edgar said...

It truly is a Yellow River, isn't it -- I realized I'd never even seen a picture of it before, and now I'm raring to go. I've never been to China in general, and I tend to think of images I've seen of Beijing and how crowded and polluted it looks. But of course it's got places like this as well, and I'd definitely like to see it all.

Unknown said...

Hello Hilary,

It is interesting post. Earth, wind, fire, and water. You covered basic principle of oriental philosophy and concept of life.

Where do you get your photos? Your photos look beautiful.

Salute for mother nature!

Shaw Funami
Fill the Missing Link

Anonymous said...

I've always like geology. Its a fascinating topic of hoe the earth constantly reinvents itself. What looks like destruction in the short term allows an abundance of new life in the long term. Again, a very cerebral and fun blog to read. Now I hope I don;t forget what I just read as I need to take a nap.

Stephen Tremp

Davina Haisell said...

Hilary, that is such great news about your mom. I'm happy for the both of you. *smiles*

I had no idea that black pepper contained copper. This Earth has so much to offer and I think we tend to forget how much of our lives are because of her. Thanks for this post. Much enjoyed.

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Chris .. thank you .. yes – the river is ‘yellow’ .. oddly the rough size of the USA is the same as China. Plenty of places to see .. I’d love to go sometime too .. The interior must be magnificent – but travel and restrictions somewhat challenging.

Their traditions, culture, architecture – so much to see and learn about .. that is now available to us .. but so different from our way of life .. I hope you get to take your trip sometime – it would be wonderful –

Thanks – Chris .. great to see you here – Hilary

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Shaw – thank you – lovely seeing you here .. and knowing that the post interested you – as you’re originally from Japan with a Chinese wife ..

The photos all come from Wikipedia .. which is a wonderful resource - & I check out their information to add flavour and colour to the posts! So salute to Wikipedia too ....?!

Mother Nature is quite extraordinary as you say ... thanks so much for your comment – Hilary

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Stephen .. me too .. and as you say the earth does constantly reinvent itself – and amazes us in the process, as we unravel our understanding of times past. I guess it is protecting itself in ways we don’t understand .. as it too changes significantly over aeons.

Thanks – wonderful to know that you enjoyed it .. well you're not the only one .. I learn so much – then I struggle to remember it a few days later – and I’m sure if I had a nap .. I’d forget it then .. !! You’re doing so much .. you probably need a nap, but I suspect you won’t have time for one!

Lovely seeing you here .. at such a busy time – it’ll be a glorious achievement .. Hilary

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Davina .. thank you – yes – I know .. my mother amazes us all! It is lovely being with her and being able to talk to her – so I’m blessed.

Well I was surprised at the black pepper note – but live and learn! We are so lucky to be human and live amongst the splendours and wealth in all its forms of the earth .. which we embrace and appreciate in our human way ..

You appreciate mother nature – your writings express that .. – good to see you - Hilary

Evelyn Lim said...

Fascinating topic! I have always wished that I could learn more. Thanks for taking the time to write an interesting piece about Mother Earth.

Susan Blake said...

Hi Hilary! Fascinating info on the earth's "crust"! We eat trace minerals from the earth in our plant food (and second hand from animals who graze) all the time. We are more a part of it than we think. I have always enjoyed learning about what the earth contains and how we have come to use it so this was indeed info-packed! Thanks for including the photos as well!

As for China, haven't they bought the US yet? I'm being sarcastic of course, but our stores are piled high with Made in China merchandise that I'm trying to avoid, both on principal and on quality issues. The way they are manipulating their currency (to our detriment!) I think they have "plans" for some serious domination and as consumers we are giving them the money to do just that. Sorry, I'm getting political here without intending to.

Great news about your mother! I would give anything to be able to chat with mine - she passed on 25 years ago. I hope she hears me talking to her! I still do!
hugs
suZen

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Evelyn .. pleasure! It’s the kind of thing I like writing about – well actually all the topics! So if I’ve given you a little insight, that you’re appreciating, then so much the better. Mother Earth deserves some band-aid posts sometimes! Reminders of what it offers .. even though this was but a grain of sand .. Great to see you – Hilary

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi SuZen .. thank you! .. the phrase suddenly came to me – I’d been struggling with the post for a while – it started out as informative snippets on minerals – but dull! ... then started to change its course!

As you know with your knowledge . we are so much a part of the earth – it’s where we came from .... many many years ago.

It’s great to know it’s appreciated .. I could have put so much in .. but restrained myself – desperately trying to make it entertaining & readable.

Nope – they haven’t bought the USof A yet .. perhaps Africa though?! It is frightening to hear what else is going on ... and trying to put it into context relative to the world as a whole .. this post somewhat gave me heart ... their infrastructure is miles behind, they are opening up, quality over quantity – your thought .... to what end – what’s the point in domination - people rise up against it. It is an interesting period though ...

Yes – it is wonderful being able to walk in and chat to my Ma again .. it is a big plus for all the negative that’s happened with her strokes – I’ve learnt so much ... I’m sure your mother does hear you and is with you ...

Thinking of you – and thanks for the hugs – a big one or two back .. xoxo Hilary

Joanne said...

I was not aware of the antibacterial properties of copper. It's fascinating how we can use natural resources in such beneficial ways, rather than resorting to chemical or manmade remedies. Thanks for sharing, enjoy the rest of the week!

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Joanne .. I found that bit of information interesting .. but it’s often found that hot water and lemon as a natural cleanser is probably better than the smeary messes we tend to leave with proprietary cleaners. Those natural remedies from years gone by are definitely making a comeback, while new properties are being found through research into minerals and plants.

Thanks for coming by .. and you too enjoy your pumpkins .. it’s a lovely colourful fruitful season .. Enjoy - Hilary

The Exception said...

Hi Hillary –
This is great. It is interesting what we have learned from the earth and what we have used, throughout history, from what the earth has to give. I also love the stories and “properties” of the gems and how they were seen and used throughout history.
It is wonderful news about your mom – Enjoy!

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi TE .. thank you – glad you enjoyed it .. certainly this earth of ours has much to offer as you suggest .. it is amazing how ‘gems’ and stones have been utilised over time .. and what we learnt to do with them ... and continue to do so.

It is good news about my Ma – isn’t it – makes the world of difference to my visits .. thanks for your thoughts .. you enjoy Friday and the weekend .. Hilary

Vered said...

I absolutely adore Brazil nuts! Good to know they're healthy, too. :)

Patricia said...

Another remarkable and noteworthy post - a wealth of information sharing. I am detoxing the mercury out of my system now and healing my liver with copper -

The crust holds us all together whether we are bread or citizens of the earth - This is fascinating when one thinks of how we are connected and formed - how can we be so polarized when we are so dependent.

Had a lesson in water last night..

Glad you hear that hearing has returned as has conversation - this sounds very positive

sending big hugs to you - thank you for your kind words on the blog

Anonymous said...

Hi Hilary. I agree with Karen Lange about putting this wonderful information you share into a book or a series of lessons. I always learn something new when I stop by to visit you blog!

Wonderful news about your mother!
: )

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Vered .. I love nuts .. but Brazils and Macadamias .. I hate – and there’s little food that repulses me .. but for some reason they do. And Brazils as you say – are so good for us , sadly not me!.. – great to see you here – thanks .. enjoy Friday and the weekend .. Hilary

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Patricia .. thank you .. quite a few people are detoxing their mercury out of their system .. and have stopped using aluminium pans .. glad to hear the copper element is helping your liver .. just hope that your health keeps improving.

You’re right .. when I realised that ‘crust’ could apply in two senses .. it seemed to make sense for the title .. but again your perspective .. on how can we be so polarized .. yet when we are so dependent ... is an interesting and thought provoking statement ..

Water – another interesting topic ... its properties and our dependency once again .. sounds like you learnt a lot ..

Thanks re my mother’s hearing .. if she can hear – then she’ll chat happily away – I think she does when her hearing goes, but obviously we can’t communicate .. & she happily talks to herself at times .. quite rational, in a funny way!

You had a wonderful award from an interesting blogger .. so kudos to you – you do so much for us all .. thanks Patricia .. always good to have your thoughts .. hugs to you .. Hilary

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Susanne .. many thanks .. it’s working out how to do it .. the best way of presenting it – I’ll work it out as life gets easier – but delighted to hear you think it’s worth promoting ..

Thanks – I’m pleased for Mum – does make life easier for her .. and she enjoys the information and camaraderie .. Great to see you - Hilary

TALON said...

Hilary when I read conkers, I started to smile. My Mom (originally from Liverpool) taught us how to play conkers as kids and my kids played them too. It's not a usual term here in Canada. I'm going to come back and peruse your blog when I can give it my proper attention because it looks like it's chock-full of lovely stuff!

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Talon .. great to see you here – welcome .. and lovely that you want to come back and peruse across the blog’s realms .. it will love being searched through .. plenty to see!

Conkers – great .. we had such fun as kids – finding them (easy enough), taking off the shell – finding that large fat shiny polished nut inside .. then piercing it with a cooking skewer, threading it with string, tying the knot .. and then banging the hell out of it against another conquering conker! Til splat & one disintigrated .. then start again! Wonderful your Mom taught you .. and now your kids play them .. those old, free, outdoor games were great fun ..

Enjoy the weekend .. and see you again soon – thanks for the visit .. Hilary

Jannie Funster said...

Remember when people drank out of lead cups? Yuck!

The Chinese invented spaghetti too, I think? Very smart, very wise. Kung Fu is a most wonderful export!

Yes, so many cars now in China, I suppose emissions controls will have to be adressed more and more there.

A NINE DAY traffic jam?? Madness upon madness. I should count myself lucky here.

Yes, great mysteries still untapped on this big old planet of ours. We are adaptive. I personally have bought a new travel coffee cup, instead of take-away ones that add to landfills.

LOVE the microchip -- worthy of hanging as art.

Ahh, conkers are trees, the mystery becomes revealed a little better for me.

xoxo

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Jannie .. personally no – I don’t remember drinking out of lead cups .. I’m not that aged!! Though I prefer my china and glass .. like you a good glass of vino!

You’re right the Chinese did invent spaghetti .. made out of couscous, millet etc .. rather than durum wheat .. interesting history .. I’ve never practised a martial art – though thought about it .. glad that today it’s more popular & one day – who knows I may get there.

I know when I read about the traffic jams .. I thought thank goodness I live in little old Eastbourne .. and can usually avoid being stuck for longer than a few minutes – by skirting around. It was the entrepreneurs .. street vendors – humans have always been ready to take advantage of an opportunity ... that struck me - realising that there's probably a job for life there ..

Well done .. we do chuck away way too much stuff .. your travel cup should last a while ..

Ahhh .. yes horse chestnuts .. Talon lives in Canada .. and they seem to have them there – perhaps not on the eastern coast? Beautiful trees .. I love them in the Spring ..

Have a great weekend .. hugs to all ... xoxox Hilary

Liara Covert said...

Thanks for sharing these insights. The Earth's core is full of material to help explain human behaviour on an energetic level. Crystals and stones found on the planet also interact with the electromagnetic field that exists around each human being. Some materials strengthen and others weaken attunement and alignment with those things undetected by the physical senses. Everything contributes to the process of inward awakening, to empowering people t see through their emotions and conditioning.

short poems said...

Hello Hilary,
Great work, your photos look soooooo beautiful :)
Warmly
Marinela x

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Liara .. thank you – I had enough trouble paring and ‘sorting’ this post out .. somehow I had to keep it to a readable length! But you’re so right .. there is so much more .. with electromagnetic fields ... and the crystals and stones that interact too .. it is a fascinating world.

Also the energy fields .. and the empowerment that is there for us .. when we can let that knowledge in .. or absolve ourselves away from it ...

.. always working towards Cosmic Synchroncity .... thanks Liara .. very relevant and pertinent to life itself – Hilary

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Marinela .. welcome back .. thank you – delighted to see you .. and so pleased you found the photos fascinating .. I love finding them .. and deciding which ones to include!

You too .. have a lovely weekend .. Hilary

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Jannie .. - I forgot to mention the microchip .. that's exactly why I included it .. it does seem to be like a work of art ..

and the Bismuth crystal I wanted to include .. but ran out of space .. that's pretty!

I agree .. slightly for some reason reminds me of Mark Rothko .. don't know why! But the Atmel chip perhaps is prettier .. well more attractive!

Cheers .. Hilary

... Paige said...

enjoyed this post very much.

Earth a ball of engery

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Paige .. you're right - it is a ball of energy, within a cosmos of magnitude.

Thanks - good point .. Hilary

Talli Roland said...

What an amazingly detailed post - thank you so much!

PS - It's definitely conker season! I've visited several blogs today that have mentioned them!

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Talli .. you're back! Your pictures were fabulous to look at - and really enticed me to visit NewFoundland and Labrador .. and you obviously had a wonderful time.

Thanks for this - it is the season when those wonderful horse-chestnut flowers give us their fruits - for our old-fashioned game ..

Good to see you - enjoy being back! - Hilary

R.S Mallari said...

Hmmm.Another informative article, I am still baffled with the terra cota soldiers,why have they been created in the first place.

Paul Maurice Martin said...

And I thought a Muscovite was someone living in Moscow...!

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi RS .. my understanding is .. that the Terracotta Army were created as a form of funerary art buried with the First Emperor of Qin in 210 – 209 BC, thus helping Emperor Qin rule another empire in the afterlife. Amazing that nearly the whole of the mausoleum with all its incredible symbolism and sculpture is still in tact .. I saw the Exhibition in London .. the detail of each sculpture is extraordinary.

Thanks for asking the question and coming across to comment .. I hope this helps – there were some good newspaper articles in 2007/8 when the Exhibition was held here at the British Museum ... and perhaps Wikipedia’s site offers some good information – Hilary

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Paul .. really nice to see you .. well me too – that’s why I highlighted the name .. surprising what we learn!!

Have a peaceful and happy week .. all the best Hilary

Sara said...

Hilary -- I loved learning about the all the metals. I found it fascinating about "crystal" and how Pliny the Elder, believed quartz to be water ice – permanently frozen in time.

I also liked the story about Copper and how it's being used for it's antibacterial properties on door knobs in hospitals and copper tubing in air conditioning systems to prevent Legionnaires’ disease.

I'm always so amazed how you come with this information and weave it together.

My favorite line was, "If it flies or you talk into it - it has rare-earth metals..." Good to know this!!!

Thanks for sharing this. I always feel better educated when I leave your site:~)

Keith Davis said...

Hi Hilary
The earth's crust?
I remember studying something called Parallel Plate Techtonics when I was at university.
It's all a bit of a blur now... but the whole subject was fascinating.

As I remember it, the earth's crust is made up of a series of plates, which move over each other.
Occasionally the plates stick and forces build up. When they do eventually move... we get an earthquake - watch out San Francisco?

As ever Hilary a post packed with information.

Andrea DeBell - britetalk said...

Hi Hillary! Thanks for such and informative post. It's wonderful to see all the gifts that the Earth has provided us. It's a mother that keeps on giving. Loving blessings!

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Sara .. thanks for coming by .. I had so much more to put in .. but it was ‘dull’ .. so I needed to liven it up a little .. I got there in the end. Lots of metals, lots of uses, lots of interesting names .. but one or two could not be omitted – the crystal vase for one .. and Pliny’s belief. Then I brought the world in and the 10,000 years of civilisation so far .. to tie it together ...

Minerals have such amazing properties .. and we’re always learning more and more.

Your favourite line is the one that makes me anxious .. as so many of those minerals are in China .. but let’s hope we find other supplies elsewhere in the world ..

Great to know that you enjoyed it .. and it sounds as though ... the rare-earth metals phrase will be on the tip of your tongue for a while = a conversation stopper!!? Have a great week .. Hilary

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Keith .. I know – crust! ... and you’re right tectonic plates et al .. but I liked the title using the word crust – so that was it! Earth’s Crust! - toasted or not!

Theoretically the post was on minerals .. but they got slightly swept away in the story line .. and so ‘crust’ was born!! But tectonic movement and Gondwanaland .. earthquakes occur .. as many have recently in China .. providing another barrier to movement of transport.

You’ve had earthquakes up the Midlands, as we have down here near Dover in the last few years –small ones granted ... but the earth moves more often than we know .. Turkey, the Himalayas .. and as you say San Francisco .. which like you I remember .. and also Krakatoa brings back vivid pictures from my school days ...

Good to see you .. and have a great week ... thanks for the pertinent comment .. Hilary

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Andrea .. good to meet you .. and delighted to hear that you enjoyed the post. The earth provides it all .. as you say all the wonderful gifts we share today. Mother earth looks after herself too – so that she can keep on giving .. We too must protect her and ourselves for the future ..

Have a lovely week ahead .. and thank you for the blessings .. with thoughts - Hilary

J.D. Meier said...

I like the look back on how the Earth's crust has helped shaped us.

I didn't realize copper has anti-bacterial properties.

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi JD .. good to hear .. I enjoyed writing it! The learning too - I thought it was interesting about the anti-bacterial properties of copper - yet so essential to our needs..

Thanks - have a great week .. Hilary

Anonymous said...

Very interesting information and photos! I learned something new today :-)

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Ron .. surprise surprise .. there's still something left for the OLD GEEZER to learn?!

Great you did .. and that you enjoyed the photos ..

Thanks for the visit .. Hilary

Connie Arnold said...

Wonderful, informative post, Hilary! Thanks for sharing all the great information.

Linda said...

That's quite a lot to absorb, but at least I'll be getting my copper from black pepper as the others don't make my list of oft-eaten food. But pepper goes on almost every savory dish.

Lovely pictures and lots of great info. Our earth is a precious thing.

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Connie .. great to see you here – thank you for coming by and the very kind words .. and delighted to hear that you enjoyed the information. Have a good week .. Hilary

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Linda .. there was a lot of information to sift through to give the post some life .. but like you I eat black pepper quite a lot.

I love putting the pictures in .. seems to tie it together .. and as you rightly say – the earth is a very precious place.

Thank you – lovely to see you – have a wonderful week .. Hilary

Megan !!! said...

Hilary, that quartz crystal jug was really something. I don't know that I've ever taken as much time to ponder the metals and minerals of the earth and think about the process they undergo to become the very "stuff" of our lives. I've just taken so much of it for granted, but like everything, I'm now awakening more and more. Thank you for reminding me that the things surrounding me, which I love, were gifts first from Mother Earth.

Much love to you and your mother!

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Megan .. good to see you! Thanks for popping in - isn't the crystal jug magnificent .. and I couldn't leave it out.

I think you're right - we just don't think to realise where all our 'great stuff' came from .. how over the centuries it's been invented, worked on, improved etc .. and the earth gave us the original resources ..

As you say - gifts from Mother Earth .. thank you .. my Mama is always grateful for her blogging love!! Amazes her and brings a smile to her face!

Have a wonderful week ahead .. Hilary

Lenny Lee said...

hi miss hilary! wow you sure know a lot of stuff. now im gonna have to come back and read this again cause it a lot for me to think about. i like all that china stuff. my brother did a trip to china and brought back lots of pictures and books. he did a trip on that yellow river you talked about. i like that blue stone and that neat muscovite window. even that windows got a pretty interesting history. the pictures are cool too.
...smiles from lenny

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Young Lenny! With the smiley face .. wonderful picture.

And – thank you for coming by .. you certainly picked an interesting first post to look at – I covered a lot of ground here ... did you realise that I teach myself as I go along!!

Isn’t that amazing that your brother went to China and actually was on the Yellow River. What did he think of China? Did he go to the Great Wall and see the TerraCotta Army?, Beijing and Shanghai .. that's where I'd love to go ...

I have some jewellery made of lapis lazuli .. a lot of it is found in South Africa and Chile .. I used to live in South Africa .. so you will find some posts from there too - elephants, snakes, animals etc

I really liked the Muscovite story – and learning about the minerals ..

Excellent that you enjoyed the pictures – they make it easier to understand .. though Muscovite windows didn’t get a look in!

Thank you so much for an excellent comment – much appreciated ... and if I can help in any way – please let me know ... your thoughts will be much valued ..

Smiles and a big hug from me too ... have a great week .. cheers Hilary

Liara Covert said...

Love the energy that resonates from the lapus lazuli and the positive intention that vibrates from the depths of your heart and soul. Thanks for sharing such fascinating reflections to inspire readers to embark on deeper soul journeys.

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Liara .. some stones just seem to resonate so much .. I too love lapis lazuli ..

Thanks so much for your comment .. just loved the words .. and just so pleased to hear you think them inspirational .. means so much to me .. really appreciative - Hilary