Sapphirine
Sapphirine
Sapphirine

Sapphirine

€42,00
SKU: A915
Nawatara, Amboasary Sud District, Anosy, Madagascar
A large, complete sapphirine crystal, slightly weathered on the back. It was probably found already detached from the matrix.
4.0 x 3.6 x 0.9 cm
25.3 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.