Sapphirine
Sapphirine
Sapphirine

Sapphirine

€255,00
SKU: A752
Nawatara, Amboasary Sud District, Anosy, Madagascar
The world's best sapphirine crystals currently come from the south of Madagascar. These black crystals are characterized by sharp edges and attractively structured surfaces. In addition, they are embedded in white anorthosite in the matrix, which forms an attractive contrast to the crystals and the dark matrix of biotite, anorthosite and sillimanite.First presented in Tucson in 2024, these pieces often command four-figure prices on the market. The asking prices in Madagascar are also very high as a result. In the meantime, no more good crystals have been found for months, so work in the mine has been stopped.A very nice specimen with a half-covered sapphirine crystal without significant damage.
6.1 x 4.5 x 3.8 cm
105.1 g

Sapphirine is a magnesium-aluminium silicate and is therefore not related to sapphire/corundum. The name was chosen in 1790 by the discoverer of the mineral because of its blue color and hexagonal crystals. Sapphirine is quite hard (Mohs=7.5), brittle and has a monoclinic crystal structure. In addition to blue tones, greenish or gray/black color nuances also occur.