What is vesuvianite

Let us know how we can update this page Click for more details. We strive for accurate content and locality information. If you feel any of the content is incorrect, or if you feel we are missing vital locality information, please fill out the form below so we can update the site. If you are requesting a locality be added, please only include significant locality occurences for the mineral. About Minerals. Link Directory Donations Mobile Site. Chemical Formula. Basic calcium magnesium aluminum silicate.

Variable Formula. Brown, green, yellow. Less commonly pink, purple, orange, maroon, red, and blue. Crystal System. Crystal Forms and Aggregates. In short prismatic crystals with rectangular cross-section, occasionally with a pointed termination and sometimes doubly terminated. Crystals may be short and stubby, and may also be elongated or pyramidal. They are less commonly pseudo- octahedral , or with termination faces that appear dodecahedral.

Also columnar , radiating , acicular , grainy , compact, massive , and encrusting. Crystals are sometimes striated. Transparent to opaque. Specific Gravity. Vitreous sometimes resinous. Conchoidal to uneven. In Group. Silicates ; Sorosilicates. The main problem most vesuvianite pieces face are the numerous inclusions they often have as well as the fact that they are often outright opaque in their transparency.

Such crystals are usually used for ornamental purposes and rarely make it to the jewelry sphere. Bluish vesuvianite pendant. See it here. Blue varieties of vesuvianite are also highly valued, again — when they have good clarity and transparency.

More opaque and common vesuvianite gemstones, however, are usually just cut into beads and cabochons and are used in affordable artisan jewelry. Green varieties are usually preferred for their earthy feel and can make for some beautiful earrings, rings, necklaces and bracelets. Outside of jewelry, vesuvianite is often used for simple ornamental pieces such as balls, pyramids, tumbled stones and cubes.

The only vesuvianite pieces that get to highly priced and catch the attention of professional jewelry cutters are the truly rare and spectacular transparent and crystal clear vesuvianite stones. These, of course, are harder to come by. With a hardness of just 6. When storing vesuvianite try not to keep it in the same place as other jewelry or gemstone pieces as most of them will be able to easily scratch the vesuvianite.

If you have to store the vesuvianite together with other jewelry, wrap it in a piece of cloth for some extra protection. When cleaning vesuvianite use warm soapy water with mild detergents and never use strong chemicals as they can damage the stone. Cleavage Poorly defined cleavage. Brittle; fractures produce irregular to subconchoidal surfaces.

Neuendorf, James P. Mehl, Jr. Jackson; American Geosciences Institute, pages, Find Other Topics on Geology. Maps Volcanoes World Maps. What Is Vesuvianite? Most vesuvianite is green, yellowish green or brownish green. Usually opaque to translucent; rarely, subtransparent to transparent. Poorly defined cleavage. Mohs Hardness. Specific gravity; association with carbonate rocks; green, glassy, prismatic crystals.

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