Rating of bath stones: which stones to choose for a bath?

Types of stones for baths

Let's start with a simple division: some steamers simply pick up stones, others pay money for them. Let's start with the first category.

So what can you bring home for free? Firstly, natural stones , secondly, artificial materials . Of the latter, they most often look for and bring broken power line insulators . Well, someone can look for suitable hardware - stainless steel or cast iron (although the latter is not suitable for every brand). This means that natural stones remain.

Usually they are looked for either in a field or on the bank of a river (preferably a mountain one). Since it is impossible to predict which stones will be found in a particular area, suitable samples have to be selected at random.

IMPORTANT! It is desirable that the selected stones are strong, do not break when hit by a 5-kilogram sledgehammer, and the sound is clear, as if hitting metal. It is better to have smaller crystalline grains, so much so that the texture appears uniform.

It is usually advised to heat the brought samples over a fire and then throw them into a bucket of water.

IMPORTANT! We do not recommend picking up granite fragments - they are not suitable for your purposes.

As for purchased stones, the names are usually written on the boxes and buckets.
True, it often happens that sellers deceive, they put the wrong stones that are written on the label, so you need to be able to distinguish between a good, correct stone and a low-quality one, or something else altogether.
You will read some tips below. Purchased types of bath stones can be divided into three price categories: expensive, mid-priced, and cheap. Don’t be surprised, but the low price speaks more about the prevalence and ease of extraction than about the quality of the stone.

The most expensive are semi-precious stones, which, of course, do not end up in the bathhouse in jewelry quality. These are jade, jadeite and jasper. The choice of the latter is not entirely clear, because in essence, this is the same quartzite in composition, it is better to take crimson quartzite - it will cost less and is more beautiful than brown jasper.

The cheapest would be gabbro-diabase - it has good characteristics, but there is a lot of it, and it is often used in construction, for laying roads, for example. In a quarry, it generally costs pennies ( other stones are also 50 times cheaper if you take them from a quarry ).

All the others, which you will soon meet, are in the middle price category, some a little more expensive, others cheaper. Chromite is still a strategic raw material, so it's hard to say what traders are actually offering.

In addition to natural fillers for the heater, you can also find artificial ones on sale - these are ceramic balls, cast iron balls , the same power line insulators, if you buy them at the factory, stainless steel balls. In general, metal or ceramics. Often they are taken to be mixed with stone, improving heat transfer or protecting the upper layers from the destructive effects of fire.

Properties of jadeite

Jadeite is a semi-precious stone, from which in ancient times amulets and elements that adorned the ruler’s throne were made. This is a popular type of stone for steam rooms. Jadeite slowly releases heat, maintaining a constant temperature in the room. This stone has the following characteristics:

• strength;
• high quality;
• ability to retain heat;
• heat resistance;
• durability.

Frequent heating does not lead to the formation of chips and cracks due to the dense and homogeneous structure. This stone is used in steam rooms because it almost does not absorb water. But jadeite is used for baths not only because of its characteristics as a mineral rock. This stone is endowed with healing properties. His ability is noted:

• normalize blood pressure;
• have a beneficial effect on the functioning of the heart and blood vessels;
• positively influence potency and nervous diseases;
• participate in the dissolution of salt deposits;
• treat diseases of the genitourinary system, rheumatism.

If the stove is intended to use more than one type of rock, jadeite is placed on top. This will allow you to get the greatest effect from its healing properties.

Bath stones: names

Since in the next chapter we will compare those characteristics that are most important in a steam room, this chapter will present only the names of the stones for the bath and their brief descriptions. Note that for the most popular types we have separate large articles that are worth reading (see the list of articles at the bottom of this page), because in them we do not repeat the advertising hype for the thousandth time, but provide facts, objective characteristics, and explain why one stones have a place in the bathhouse, but others do not.

IMPORTANT! There is one unpleasant thing that accompanies not all, but many stones - sulfides . The stones themselves do not smell, but if they contain an admixture of sulfides, the latter oxidize from the heat, turn into oxides, and these form acids with water, in particular sulfuric acid. A foul odor and burning sensation in the eyes and throat are a sign of sulfides. We have repeatedly taught them to identify and not take such stones. Look at articles about gabbro-diabase, dunite and other stones.

Bath stones: Basalt

This is erupted and solidified lava . The rock with this name is classified as basic (alkaline). ultra-basic ones are most suitable for baths

Cenotype varieties are dolerite, anamesite, basalt. Paleotype - diabase.

Basalt for baths

The physical and mechanical properties of basalts vary widely, depending on the conditions of crystallization and gas saturation of the lava. Porous basalt stone is not suitable for a bathhouse . But varieties such as dolerite and diabase can be used.

White quartz

White quartz is far from the best choice among bath stones. It is quickly destroyed, and the ability attributed to it to ozonize the air and rejuvenate the skin is too exaggerated. You can read in detail about the properties and capabilities of white quartz in the article dedicated to it and crimson quartzite.

Gabbro-diabase

A good bath stone, and also inexpensive . If you buy a batch without sulfides, then there will be no odors or other unpleasant sensations. And you will learn how to choose the right gabbro-diabase from the article about its properties, selection rules and use in the bathhouse.

Bath stones: Karelian granite

People ask a lot about granite stone for baths, in particular about Karelian granite. In fact, there is no difference in where exactly this or that granite is mined, because such stones are completely unsuitable for a bathhouse.

In order not to return to this topic in the future, we will explain the reason for such a harsh verdict. The fact is that any granite consists of certain minerals, in particular mica, quartz and feldspar. They all expand differently when exposed to high temperatures.

And when the expansion is unequal and multidirectional, stresses arise inside the stone, which will result in rapid destruction. Therefore, the best use of granite remains construction finishing, making monuments and the like, where it is not subjected to high temperatures.

Another problem with granite is the frequently encountered increased radioactivity of samples. The reason for this is the place of formation of granites - they crystallize in the earth’s crust, that is, in the upper layer of the earth’s shell, where, among other things, radioactive elements accumulate.

Dolerite

Above, when describing basalt, we already said that this is one of its varieties. In principle, you may well find “dolerite, bath stone” on sale; its properties, as well as its composition, will be identical to another bath stone, which is found on the shelves much more often: gabbro-diabase.

Dolerite (photo source https://k-grupp.ru/)

For those interested in dolerite, we recommend reading a large article about gabbro-diabase, which explains the reason for the different names and describes in detail the properties of the stone, especially for baths (see link above).

Dunit

Another stone about which we have prepared an informative article. Dunite belongs to rocks of plutonic origin, that is, it is formed at great depths, where high temperatures and pressures act.

Dunit.
By Pikarl at de.wikipedia, In this it is similar to jadeite, which belongs to the same class, but differs in its high silica content. The fact that dunite is sold at a price much lower than jadeite only speaks of its greater prevalence. Our advice: dunite is suitable both for filling the bottom of the heater and as the only filler.

Jade

Jade

He is not just a legend, because a lot, in fact, turns out to be true. This is a really good option for a heater. But this is a breed that rarely appears on the surface, and therefore is not cheap. On the other hand, it also has disadvantages.

Compared to jade, jadeite is less resistant to open fire , so they try to protect it from fire and put it on top. However, find out the secrets of jadeite yourself - from the article about it on our website.

Bath stone: coil

Well, our review would not be complete if we did not talk about such a stone for a bath - coil or serpentinite , the properties of which are not at all suitable for it, but at the same time this does not prevent many companies selling stones from selling it to uninformed people by advertising non-existent qualities.

Coil for oven

Serpentinite is a rock that results from the replacement of minerals in the weathering crust of ultramafic and mafic igneous rocks. In addition to the mineral serpentine in several crystalline modifications, carbonates, amphiboles, garnet, talc and olivine, as well as impurities of minerals that usually make up metal ores, can be found in serpentinite.

IMPORTANT! This has been said more than once, but we will repeat it for greater reliability: steel is harder than a coil, so it is easy to identify it by scratching questionable stones or veins with a knife or other steel object.

Bath stone: serpentinite

The fact that serpentine is obtained from basites and ultrabasites makes it a natural companion of these rocks . Namely, they, ironically, are best suited for a bath. The replacement process is called " serpentinization ". It may also be incomplete.

And so, when you buy stones, it may well turn out that they were chosen from a serpentinized area, that is, you, it seems, are selling what is written on the label, but in an altered and unusable state.

This is especially offensive for those who buy jadeite or jade, because the coil is not worth that much money, and it will have to be changed quite quickly. Keep in mind that the stone you buy may have serpentine veins - this will reduce its strength!

Attention! The danger of buying serpentinite out of ignorance awaits buyers of any green stones for a bath. After all, this is the main color of the coil, but it can also vary, for example, a dark gray coil is possible.

By the way, the chemical composition of serpentine and serpentinite differs in that the first is a hydrous silicate of magnesium oxide, and the second is magnesium. This is not a big deal for the heater. Is it just that coils from different deposits have different strengths?

IMPORTANT! We do not recommend coil/serpentinite as a bath stone, the properties of which are such that it cannot withstand high temperatures, quickly begins to lose chemically bound water, becomes porous, and eventually turns into talc or powder.

And yet, serpentinite is not completely barred from entering the bathhouse. It can be used. But only as a facing material. The good news: it looks great, and you can tile not only the walls, but also the stove itself. The main thing is that there are no cracks on the tiles when purchasing.

Bath stone: coil - cladding

Raspberry quartzite

Usually the story about crimson quartzite begins with Napoleon's sarcophagus, but what's the use of this for steamers? Is this stone good for a bath? Yes, without a doubt, it is worth taking not for its beauty (or not only for its beauty), but primarily because it has good characteristics of heat resistance and heat capacity. And it will last longer than the same quartz - which we already wrote about in the article about crimson quartzite and quartz.

Nephritis

If there is a “throne room” in the kingdom of bath stones, then there will be two brothers on the throne: jadeite and jade. Identical in composition, they differ greatly in structure. And jade has a stronger structure because it resembles crystalline felt. Jade tolerates temperature changes more easily, gives off heat longer and heats up faster than jadeite, but it is more expensive. Of course, they can offer you a cheaper one, but it is unlikely to be real. If you want to know how to distinguish genuine jade, read the article about it.

Peridotite for bath

This is not the name of a single rock or mineral, but of a whole family of rocks containing pyroxene and olivine in different proportions. The reason why this name can be found on sale is the great similarity of properties between the breeds included in this family. In the article about dunite, we already said that in a box with “peridotite” you can find harzburgite, lherzorite, dunite, wehrlite and other representatives of pyroxene-olivine rocks.

Peridotite.
Photo from Wikipedia Peridotite is suitable for a bath - these are ultrabasic plutonic rocks that are characterized by heat resistance , that is, they can withstand many heating-cooling cycles. You just need to know that olivine, when it comes to the surface, undergoes serpentinization, and this makes it unsuitable for a bath. Such stones will lose chemically bound water and quickly deteriorate. Therefore, you should always carry out a simple check for the presence of serpentine - it is easily scratched with a knife.

Porphyrite

Porphyrites are rocks of different mineral composition, but with a similar structure, which is called “porphyry”. The easiest way to describe it is like a raisin loaf—the crystals that form will be the “raisins” and the rest will be the “dough.” During geological processes, both the “raisins” and the “dough” are often replaced by other minerals. Therefore, it is difficult to talk about any specific porphyrite without analyzing its composition.

You can learn more about porphyrite and its properties from the article dedicated to it.

Bath stones: rodingite

Again, as with peridotite, we are not dealing with a single rock, but with a whole family of calcium-silicate rocks resulting from the replacement of pyroxene and plagioclase by garnet. Rodingites arise in approximately the same conditions as jade, but at the same time they have a different mineral composition and structure from it, in particular, they are characterized by a low content of silica and an increased content of calcium oxide.

Bath stones: rodingite

Among those who have used rodingite for baths, the reviews are usually positive, unless, of course, this rodingite was sold to them as jadeite . After all, it is significantly inferior to the latter, and this becomes clear only in the bathhouse. The physical and mechanical properties of rodingite are such that it can be classified as a medium category stone suitable for a heater.

Soapstone chlorite

Soapstone - photo

Gray, as if sprinkled with powder, “soapstone”. There is no need to guess about its suitability for a bathhouse - there is a lot of advertising of soapstone, especially imported, Finnish ones. They put it in the stove, and line the stoves with it, and decorate the walls. We have two articles - about soapstone as a heater filler and about tiles made from this stone, including for finishing stoves. It has both undoubted advantages and inevitable disadvantages. Read, there should be enough food for thought.

Chromite for baths

Despite the fact that many companies selling stone offer chromite for baths, this looks quite doubtful, because real chromite is subject to accounting, because the chromium needed by the industry is extracted from it. Therefore, what exactly is sold in each specific case should be clarified with specialists. (Here, however, it is worth noting that when chromite is mined from river gravel, it is no longer subject to violations of the law. Therefore, it is still worth describing it.)

The more the chromium has oxidized, the more weathered the rock is, which means that the greenest stones will fall apart the fastest in the kiln. Better are those that have a metallic sheen.

Chromite is very good for a bath, it is denser than jadeite (which means it has a higher heat capacity), tolerates temperature changes well, and does not crack. But this applies to the chrome spinels that make up the rock. And besides them, there are a lot of other things in ore, so when taking it as a filler for a heater, you just need to check it for strength with a knife. See also a review with a question from our reader whose chromite fell apart.

Bath stones: jasper

This is a rock based on quartz, or more precisely, silica (SiO2). It is formed in two completely different ways : in the first case, it is a sedimentary rock composed of the remains of siliceous skeletons, for example, diatoms, which subsequently underwent partial melting and recrystallization, in the second case, it is a product of alteration of various rocks under the influence of hot mineral waters.

Jasper. Photo from Wikipedia

Jasper for a bath is most often a sealing wax variety, that is, a plain, brown-red jasper,
the properties of which are similar not so much to white quartz as to quartzite, which means it is more suitable for use in a steam room than quartz. Its structure is cryptocrystalline, which indicates good heat resistance .
However, most buyers take it for its status as a semi-precious stone and for its promised “medicinal properties.” We continue to adhere to the opinion that the best stones for a bath are those whose properties can be somehow measured in order to select the most resistant, heat-intensive types, and let specialists handle the treatment.

Well, it would be nice to compare all those bath stones whose names are given above.

Advantages of basalt

The preferred material for the bath is basalt. This black stone is very strong and is not afraid of physical impacts. Basalt stone has many advantages:

• high density;
• resistance to sudden and frequent temperature changes;
• increased heat capacity;
• low water absorption.

Basalt lasts a long time. These stones are used for 6-7 years. They are not afraid of high temperatures; after splashing cold water on them, they get wonderful steam.

But basalt has excellent qualities only if it is a high-quality product. The quality of the sample can be determined by striking it with a small hammer or other stone. A good stone will withstand such exposure. Poor basalt will crumble, forming harmful dust. When hitting, you need to listen to the sound that occurs. A good stone makes a ringing sound.

Basalt helps in the treatment of:

• lung diseases;
• rheumatism;
• low blood pressure.

Choosing stones for a bath

Before we begin choosing stones for a bath, let's first name the qualities that they should have. Nobody wants to go through the heater every month, which means they shouldn’t deteriorate quickly (the fact that sooner or later destruction awaits any rock is beyond doubt).

Destruction depends on the thermal stability of the sample, on its ability to withstand cycles of heating and cooling. What breeds are best suited to this? — Those that were formed at great depths, at high temperatures and pressures. This is fully applicable to the class of plutonic rocks (the deepest lying igneous rocks), to a lesser extent - to volcanic rocks , because when they form, an amorphous structure often appears, that is, volcanic glass, which will be fragile.

Metamorphic rocks are sometimes stronger than their igneous counterparts - we know this from the example of quartzite and quartz. But sedimentary rocks are too weak to withstand heating, even if they are a product of the breakdown of igneous rocks.

The second important quality is heat capacity . In practice, a high heat capacity means that the stone will continue to give off heat for a long time after heating has ended. Heat capacity depends on the structure of the substance, its density and mass. This means that the higher the density, the more heat accumulates.

The third quality is the heating rate, which is a consequence of the thermal conductivity of the material. The better the heat is conducted, the faster the material heats up. Although it should be taken into account that the best conductors cool faster.

So, first of all, let’s categorize the available breeds.
Igneous ones include :

• Basalt;
• Gabbro-diabase;
• Granite;
• Dolerite;
• Dunit;
• Jade;
• Peridotite;
• Porphyrite;
• Chromite.

White quartz is of both igneous and metamorphic origin. The list of metamorphic ones will be shorter:

• Raspberry quartzite;
• Nephritis;
• Rodingitis;
• Soapstone;
• Jasper.

Now it’s worth looking at what values ​​density , heat capacity and heat transfer in each specific case. If a range is given, this means that stones from different deposits may vary within these limits.

You may wonder: why is such heat-intensive basalt not used in heaters? The reason is simple: basalts (not dolerites) often contain volcanic glass, which makes them fragile. In addition, the spread is quite large: from 0.5 to 2.1.

But
porphyrite is undoubtedly an excellent choice of stone for a heater. It is suitable for a bathhouse, and its heat capacity is high.
It does not heat up too quickly, and its density is average, but it will give off heat the longest. Unfortunately, there was no data on chromite, but judging by the reviews, it is quite good for a bathhouse. There are no indicators for jasper either, but its data should not differ much from quartzite.

We also have a sign indicating the “longevity” of the stones in the bathhouse. It should not be considered completely reliable - some figures may be exaggerated, others understated (for example, gabbro-diabase in reality can last more than 6 years, but here they say 2 years), but when choosing stones for a heater, you can approximately use it as a guide. In addition, the service life of artificial fillers is also given here. Yes, and the compilers assumed the frequency of using the bathhouse once a week.

*** In conclusion, it remains to add that it is better to select stones for a bath together with a geologist, and it is most profitable to do this in a quarry. If this is not possible, then at least check the stones before purchasing - for sulfides, serpentinite, and also for strength. We can only wish you good luck!

Find out more in the section on bath stones:

• About laying in the oven and separately about laying in the electric heater;
• How to choose what to pay attention to;
• Rating of the best stones according to readers, in the article about the best stones.

The benefits of soapstone

Soapstone stone is a specimen of volcanic origin. It retains its structure even when the temperature rises to 1600C. Characterized by the ability to give off heat in waves.

This species is characterized by:

• light weight;
• significant density;
• impeccable thermal conductivity.

Soapstone for baths is an excellent choice. With regular visits to a bathhouse with soapstone, the stone will help:

• remove mucus from the lungs;
• increase immunity;
• normalize blood circulation;
• make blood vessels elastic;
• speed up exchange processes.

Soapstone helps in weight loss, which will interest women. According to scientific research, after visiting a bathhouse where soapstone is present, a person loses 0.5-1.5 kg of weight.

History and origin

The origin of rhodonite is sedimentary. This is the result of transformations of carbonate structures plus the accumulation of manganese compounds.

The term “rhodonite” was coined and put into scientific circulation by mineralogist Christoph Jasche in 1819, describing hitherto unknown minerals discovered in his native Germany.

In Russia, the discovery of the first specimens of Ural stone was documented in 1792. The deposit of high-grade rhodonite in the vicinity of Yekaterinburg was the only one on the planet until the twentieth century.

In addition to the scientific name, the mineral has been given other names:

• pink stone;
• eagle;
• dawn stone.

Some of them designate a specific type of stone or are accepted only in one area.

Which form is better

For a stove in a steam room, it is better to choose round, flat stones. They have greater heat capacity and are more convenient to install in the heater. Considering that many minerals have a different shape, you need to select samples of more or less the same size: 5-7 cm and 8-13 cm in diameter.

It is not enough to choose the right stones. It is important to place them correctly in the sauna stove.

Before laying, you need to check them for cracks, sulfides, and dust. Then, soak in saline solution and leave for 2 hours. After that, dry it.

Installation order:

1. Large stone samples.
2. Average.
3. Small ones.

The samples may be approximately the same diameter. But then you need to take into account that the diameter is at least 7 and no more than 15 cm in diameter.

If the heater is iron and small, then it is better to use medium-sized specimens. In electric ovens, due to the narrow spaces between the heating elements, small stones are placed.

In large wood-burning stoves, large samples are used for proper heat transfer. It is possible to use small ones if dense installation is intended. This way, water will not get on the metal elements of the stove, and the steam will not be heavy with a metallic taste.

Combining small and large rocks will increase the specific heat capacity of the heater. If medium- and fine-grained stones are used, this will ensure uniform distribution of water over them and reach the bottom layer of the masonry. So, the steam will be more stable, dry and soft. When the question arises about which stones are best for a bath, you need to rely on these nuances.

During laying it is necessary to harden the stones. To do this, you need to heat them until red and quickly pour cold water on them. After cooling, you should carefully inspect them for defects and cracks. If detected, remove the samples and replace them with new ones.

Although heat transfer and steam formation depend on correct installation, you also need to make sure you pay attention to water. It should be clean and hot. This will increase the life of the stones and provide a large amount of steam.

Laying stones in a sauna stove (video)

Therapeutic effect

Several areas of application of the healing properties of the mineral have been identified:

1. Neuropathology. The color of the stone itself calms the nerves, calms the boiling passions, and puts you in a romantic mood. Rhodonite balls are suitable for massage or meditation for those who sleep poorly or are nervous.
2. Pregnancy. The stone is revered by gynecologists and women who want to become mothers. The first talisman helps to make a more accurate diagnosis. It makes it easier for pregnant women to bear and give birth to a healthy baby. The mineral helps those who desire it to become pregnant. A bracelet on the main hand, a necklace or beads are suitable for them.
3. Vision. Pebbles are placed on the eyelids (eyes closed). In this way, vision is strengthened, eye fatigue is relieved after hard work, and problems are prevented.
4. Thyroid . To treat it, short rhodonite beads are worn.
5. Cardiovascular diseases . Cured or inhibited by wearing beads of medium length.

To boost your immune system, place a pink pebble in your pocket or purse. To enhance the effect, medicinal gems are placed closer to the body.

A brooch or ring with rhodonite is worn to improve brain activity, strengthen memory, and heal the liver.

How to replace dunite

Finding dunite on sale is often quite difficult. Therefore, it is possible to replace this rock with other minerals. They may have a longer or shorter service life, as well as their own advantages and disadvantages. Alternatives worth considering:

1. Gabbro-diabase has the same low cost, is able to retain heat for a long time, and does not emit any impurities during the heating process.
2. Soapstone has good heat capacity and does not emit odors.
3. Jadeite is another green rock with an attractive appearance and healing properties.
4. Porphyrite has a pleasant aroma when heated; it contains various impurities.
5. White quartz is an opaque rock.
6. Chromite is resistant to mechanical stress.
7. Wax jasper has a healing effect and is not afraid of steam.
8. Jade is an expensive green rock.
9. Rodingite comes in green, gray, and blue colors and has a long service life.

Types and colors of rhodonite

The main color of rhodonite is pink. But it varies in shades, creating different types of mineral.

Rhodonite stones

Colors

The color range of rhodonite is from the color of tea rose to rich raspberry and cherry.

Lilac-violet specimens were found in the Urals. This is cobalt rhodonite.

Varieties

The following types of mineral are accepted:

• Ruby homogeneous . The shade is deep red, without additives or inclusions. The most expensive type, set in gold.
• Translucent. Also a rare, expensive mineral. It is used for gold items, where it is combined with diamonds and other first-level stones. Available to very wealthy people.
• Homogeneous pink spar . The color of the mineral is delicate pink, the additions are insignificant.
• Fowlerite. Instances with an admixture of zinc. It creates yellow-brownish inclusions.
• Tape. Ferrous and manganese compounds form inclusions-strips of black (brown, gray) and bright pink shades.
• Bustamit. Grayish-pink background with a dark or black tree-like pattern.
• Dendrite. Similar to bustamite, but the background is pink and the image inclusions are red or black. They resemble twigs or moss.
• Mourning. The black color palette dominates. Goes for funeral paraphernalia. The Russian version of the name is mourning eagle.
• Cobalt. Lilac and violet stone.
• Spotted. Multi-colored spotting on the surface: gray, brownish, ocher, ripe raspberry or tea rose colored segments. The cheapest variety.

The most valuable rhodonites are carmine-scarlet.

Rhodonite and Zodiac

Astrologers claim that according to the horoscope, the pink stone is not contraindicated for anyone, since it emits only positive, soft energy.

Table of compatibility of rhodonite with zodiac signs (“+++” – fits perfectly, “+” – can be worn, “-” – is strictly contraindicated).

Rhodonite is especially suitable for the sign of Gemini and Libra:

• Gemini will become intuitive, strengthen their intellect, and discover new facets of their own personality. They would like to find spotted rhodonite.
• Gives Libra self-confidence before starting a project and assertiveness to complete it. They will love and value themselves more. Precious ruby ​​rhodonite will help men gain success with their fair half.

Other zodiac signs will simply feel calmer and more optimistic.