Ulexite (TV stone): symbolic properties and care

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Ulexite, or TV stone, is a white borate whose fibres carry light: placed on a text, it projects the image onto its upper surface. Very soft, it dislikes water.

Key points

Colours	white, colourless, translucent
Mineral family	hydrated sodium calcium borate, NaCaB5O6(OH)6·5H2O
Mohs hardness	2.5
Feature	parallel fibres that guide light, like tiny optical fibres
Solubility	slightly soluble in water
Deposits	California and Nevada (United States), Chile, Kazakhstan, Argentina
Common names	TV stone, TV rock, cotton ball

What is ulexite?

Ulexite is a borate: a mineral made of boron, sodium, calcium, oxygen and water. It forms in ancient salt lakes as they dry out, among other salts (evaporites). There it grows as "cotton balls": tufts of very fine, white, silky fibres. Its name honours the German chemist Georg Ludwig Ulex (1811-1883), who carried out the first chemical analysis of it.

This mineral is mainly mined for its boron, used in the manufacture of heat-resistant glass, fibreglass, detergents, fertilisers and flame retardants. A small part of production goes to mineral enthusiasts. Most specimens come from the Boron mine in California.

The secret of the TV stone

Ulexite fibres run parallel to one another and behave like natural optical fibres: each one transmits light from one end to the other without scattering it. If a block is cut and polished on two faces perpendicular to the fibres, then placed on a text or an image, that text seems to appear on the surface of the block, like on a small screen. Hence the name "TV stone".

It is a physical effect, with no mystery: the image is not enlarged or altered, merely carried through. The thicker the block, the less sharp the image becomes.

Symbolism

This ability to "see through" makes it, in modern wellness, a symbol of clarity, perception and inner vision. Some authors link it to intuition or meditation. Ulexite has no ancient tradition: it has been known to collectors since the 19th century.

These associations are personal and recent, with no medical or predictive value. The optical effect, however, can be checked, and it delights children and adults alike.

Traditional correspondences

Area	Most commonly cited association
Chakra	third eye and crown, according to authors (see third eye chakra)
Element	air, water
Signs	no established association
Keywords	clarity, perception, intuition

How to use it

As an object of curiosity: placed on a word or a drawing, the stone is an optical toy for the whole family.
As a desk stone: on a stack of sheets, an original paperweight.
For meditation: look at an image through the stone to train your attention.

It is not worn as jewellery: it is too soft and dislikes moisture.

Care

Ulexite is soft (2.5) and slightly soluble in water. Humidity, sweat and greasy fingers dull it and make it cloudy.

Do not use water, soap or cleaner. Remove dust with a soft, dry cloth or a very gentle brush.
Handle it by its sides to avoid fingerprints on the polished faces.
Store it dry, in a cloth or a box with a moisture-absorbing sachet.
Avoid impacts, heat and scratches (the smallest grain of sand will scratch it).
Symbolic cleansing: gentle smoke or moonlight, without water (see cleansing and recharging your stones).

It contains boron: do not put it in your mouth, do not prepare an elixir with it, and wash your hands after handling raw pieces (see toxic stones).

Recognising real ulexite

A genuine TV stone is a plate or block polished perpendicular to the fibres, soft and light, which carries the image. If the effect is absent, the piece was cut in the wrong direction (the most common fault) or it is not ulexite.

Imitations: blocks of glass fibres or fibred glass, also sold as "fibre optic", can mimic the effect; they are harder and heavier.
Other fibrous minerals: fibrous selenite ("satin spar"), which is even softer, is sometimes confused with it, but it does not carry the image.

A small experiment to try

Place the ulexite block on a printed page, a photo or a tarot card. Change the text, turn the block, compare the sharpness at different thicknesses: the image is carried fibre by fibre. Try it with a coloured sheet to see the shade appear on the surface. For comparison, try the same experiment with a block of glass or acrylic: the image does not come through in the same way.

How to choose it

Choose a block 1 to 3 cm thick with parallel polished faces, free of cracks or cloudy areas. Test the effect with a text in the shop if possible. For other translucent white stones, see selenite or celestine.