Sapphirine
Sapphirine
Sapphirine

Sapphirine

€180,00
SKU: A906
Nawatara, Amboasary Sud District, Anosy, Madagascar
A smaller but complete sapphirine with a beautiful white rim; the remains of another broken crystal are visible above and to the side.
5.5 x 5.0 x 4.6 cm
179.5 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.