Kyanite Description PDF Print E-mail

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THE ROCK PROFESSOR
 

Example of KYANITE in the Rock Professor
Kyanite Specimen

 

Image of FACETED KYANITE in the Rock Professor
Faceted Kyanite

 

KYANITE



The name, KYANITE, is from the Greek "kyanos" meaning blue. It is an aluminum silicate and is a metamorphic mineral. Kyanite is a polymorph with two other minerals: andalusite and sillimanite. (A polymorph is a mineral that shares the same chemistry with another mineral, but that has a different crystal structure).


The mineral forms blue fibrous blade-like crystals, often with a darker blue color near the center and a lighter color towards the outer edges of the blades.


Kyanite is a beautiful gemstone when faceted, but it is difficult to process as it has two different hardnesses depending upon direction. Parallel to the length of the crystal, kyanite has a hardness of 5. At right angles to this direction it is 7.

 

 


Chemistry: aluminum silicate, Al2SiO5 ♦ Crystal system: Triclinic ♦ Habit: columnar, forms columns ♦ Habit: Fibrous crystals ♦ Moh's hardness: 4 to 5 in one direction 6 to 7 in another direction ♦ Transparency: Transparent to translucent ♦ Luster: Vitreous to pearly ♦ Color: Blue principally, but also white, gray or green. Color is often not consistent throughout the crystal ♦ Cleavage: Good in one direction parallel to the flat blade face ♦ Fracture: Brittle ♦ Localities: Brazil, Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia, Switzerland, Russia, Serbia, India and Kenya.

 

Image of Kyanite Specimen MIN 620

Kyanite
Specimen
$42.25
MIN 620

                  

               

 

 

 

 

 

 
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