Sapphirine
Sapphirine
Sapphirine

Sapphirine

€54,00
SKU: A852
Nawatara, Amboasary Sud District, Anosy, Madagascar
We are selling off our stock: Sapphirines of this quality have not been found for several months. The matrix is very hard and often adheres strongly to the crystals, so damage from exposing the crystals or formatting the steps is common. Only rarely do the crystals break away from the matrix undamaged.This is the largest single crystal still in our possession. While attempting to remove matrix residue from the edge of the crystal, some damage was apparently caused to the piece, and it was then left as it was...
5.4 x 4.0 x 1.9 cm
57.8 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, brittle (Mohs=7.5) and has a monoclinic crystal structure. In addition to blue tones, greenish or gray/black color nuances also occur.