Kyanite
Kyanite was named in 1789 by Abraham Gottlieb Werner from the Greek word "Kyanos", meaning "Blue", the common color of this gemstone. The French spelling, "Cyanite", was commonly used by mineralogists for much of the 19th and early 20th centuries.
Blue Kyanite was found in Nepal in the late 1990s. Orange Kyanite pellets from Tanzania were introduced to the market in the mid-2000s. Teal chromium and mint green Kyanite were found in Orissa, India in 2013 and 2014.
Kyanite is loved and sought after by many gem collectors, especially in its Blue color.
A very common habit of kyanite is blue bladed crystals. Image by Aelwyn
- Chemical formula: Al 2 SiO 5 . The three minerals Kyanite, Andalusite and Sillimanite have the same chemical composition.
- Colors: Blue to Colourless, Blue-Green, Yellowish-Green, Brown & Orange.
- Hardness: 4 - 5 Mohs in crystal length and 6.5 - 7 Mohs in crystal width.
- Mining in: USA, Brazil, Kenya, Mozambique, Tanzania, Namibia, Zimbabwe, India, Nepal, Madagascar, Myanmar, Switzerland, Austria, Italy.
- Kyanite can be confused with other gemstones: Blue Sapphire , Blue Spinel , Tanzanite , and Idocrase.
A faceted Kyanite gemstone with a beautiful deep blue color. Geology
Most gem-quality Kyanite is Blue. Blue Kyanite may at first glance be confused with Blue Sapphire, but is easily identified by its various impurities and optical structure.
Due to its physical properties, Kyanite is very difficult to facet. So these stone rings - Kyanite Beads Bracelet - on the market are more popular than faceted Kyanite Jewelry.
These gem-quality kyanites (0.99–6.17 ct) were reported mined in the eastern Indian state of Odisha. Photo by Gagan Choudhary. FAMILY
These Yellowish-Green Kyanite rough crystals range from 1.4 to 5.1 grams, while the cushion cabochon weighs 4.84 ct. Arusha mine, Tanzania. Photo by Don Mengason. FAMILY
Orange Kyanite Crystal from Tanzania. Marine Minerals
Kyanite appears nicely inside other gemstones such as: Diamond , Corundum, and Garnet.
Source: GIA , Mindat , Gemsociety , Geology
