Feldspathoid Minerals – Lapis Lazuli

The feldspathoids is a group of minerals very similar to feldspars, including solidate, hauyne, nepheline, lazurite, leucite, cancrinite, and nosean. They are all minerals that would have become feldspars if there was more silica present when formed. Feldspars tend to contain three times as much silica, so feldspathoids do not occur in silica-rich rocks such as granite but typically form in volcanic lavas.

Its beautiful, rich blue color makes lazurite one of the most distinctive and attractive of all minerals. Its chemical make-up is quite complex, but the blue color comes from the sulphur that takes the place of some silicate atoms. It is soft and brittle and easily ground to make the rich blue pigment ultramarine, but it is most famous as the major ingredient of the gemstone Lapis Lazuli, famed since the days of Ancient Egypt. Little spots of gold pyrite look like starts in the deep blue lazurite of Lapis Lazuli.

Lapis Lazuli is one of the oldest, most treasured of all gemstones. Its name is a combination of the Latin Lapis for ‘stone’ and the Arabic Azul for ‘sky’ or the ancient Persian Lazhuward for ‘blue’. It usually occurs as lenses and veins in white marble. Consisting largely of Lazurite with spots of pyrite, it has a mottle look. Crystals are sometimes found, but more usually it is massive, and carved to make jewelry, cups and other decorative objects. It was first mined over 6,000 years ago at Sar-e-Sang in the Kokchua valley in Afghanistan, still the source of the world’s finest and most sought after Lapis Lazuli. The ancient royal tombs of the Sumerian city of Ur contained over 6,000 beautifully carved lapis lazuli statues, and it was a favorite stone of the Ancient Egyptians, much used in the tomb decorations of Tutankhamun. The Roman writer Pliny the Elder described it as ‘a fragment of the starry firmament’.

Today, lapis lazuli is mined near Lake Baikal in Russia and at Ovalle in Chile as well as in Afghanistan.

Lapis Lazuli: Wisdom, intuition, awareness, objectivity, clarity, creativity, expanded consciousness, dreams, purity, courage, serenity.
Pearl: Purity, faith, charity, innocence, integrity, focus, wisdom, spirituality, sincerity, fertility.

Custom designed gemstone jewelry available at our website.
Research from various gem-rock-mineral books.

Calming Labradorite

The Calcic, middle-range member of the plagioclase feldspars, labradorite seldom forms crystals, but when crystals do occur, they are tabular. It most often occurs in crystalline masses that can be microscopic or up to a meter or more across, and is commonly characterized by its ‘schiller’ effect – a rich play of iridescent colors, principally blue, on cleavage surfaces. Crystals that display this effect are used as gemstones, cut as cabochon.


The ‘schiller’ effect is caused by the scattering of light from thin layers of a second feldspar that develops through internal chemical separation during the cooling of what was originally a single feldspar. The base color of labradorite is generally blue or dark grey, but can be colorless or white.

Historically, labradorite was discovered at the end of the eighteenth century on a Canadian peninsula of Labrador after which it was named. It is said to be very effective in alleviating bone problems, disorders of the spinal column, and wear and tear of the joints.

Psychologically, labradorite has a calming, harmonizing effect, spiritual connection, transformation, brings clarity, peace and progression to the wearer. Labradorite improves intuition and clarifies the possessor’s own views and objectives.

The stone is the linked to the star sign of Aquarius and is most commonly found in Finland, United States, Canada, Madagascar, Australia, Russia, and Mexico.

*Reprinted from various rock/mineral & crystal books, websites.

Lepidolite Crystal Stone

Discovered in the eighteenth century, it is not a typical gemstone, but a very beautiful purplish type of mica that contains a substantial portion of lithium and is the Earth’s most common lithium-bearing mineral. Lepidolite is from the Greek ‘lepidos’, meaning ‘scale’, and ‘lithos’, meaning ‘stone’. Lepidolite was uncommon mica but in recent years Brazilian finds have made it much more available on the mineral market. Lepidolite, like other micas, has a layered structure of lithium aluminum silicate sheets weakly bonded together by layers of potassium ions. These potassium ion layers produce the perfect cleavage.

The typical violet to pink color of Lepidolite is characteristic and is the only field test available to identify Lepidolite from other micas. Pink muscovite or very pale Lepidolite may confuse identification. Since Lepidolite colors can be confusing, a melting and flame test is desirable if there is any reason - such as the presence of colored tourmalines or of other lithium minerals for suspecting mica to be Lepidolite, rather than the commoner muscovite. The fluorescence and flame tests will also distinguish some of the more intensely colored chromium chiorites, dumortierite, and similar hydrous silicates.

Lepidolite crystals accompany other lithium bearing minerals such as tourmaline, amblygonite and spodumene. Lepidolite crystals can add character and value of these specimens. Crystals can be tabular or prismatic crystals with a prominent pinacoid termination. Lepidolite's four prism faces and two pinacoid faces form pseudo-hexagonal crystal "books". Well developed crystals with a Sharp hexagonal outline are rare. The sides of the crystal often tend to taper. Sometimes borders ordinary muscovite mica, but the cleavage flakes are not quite continuous. Commonly occurs in medium to fine-grained aggregates; One- to two-inch crystals, tapering down to a slender point and more prismatic than tabular, occur at some localities.

Traditional properties of Lepidolite include protection from outside influences, relieve everyday stress, and promote restful sleep when placed near your pillow, attracts good luck and drives away negativity.

Lepidolite provided by Panther Creek Minerals, San Antonio, Texas.
Researched from various websites, mineral-rock-gem and crystal books.

Stones Misidentified or New Name

Nature gives us some of the most incredible stones, fossils and minerals. How they are identified, classified and names remains a mystery to some sorts. Many stones are called by several different names; is it really a new find or is it just a matter of the miner or lapidary cutting the stone on a different plane or grain that gives it a new name? Though it is rare to have new finds these days, some experts will say that many stones are ‘re-born or re-invented’ 5-10 years later with different names. And just like everything else, this gives the stone new life under a different name.

The question being asked is “Is it right or wrong in naming the stone differently?” Again, that depends on which person, expert or source you ask. From what I’ve learn, as long as you keep it within the family, such as agates to agates, jaspers to jaspers, and all the mineral make-up is the same, etc., is there really harm done to the stone to as they say ‘re-invent the stone and give it a new name’.

Here’s what I’ve found so far…..

These stones to the right I purchased from a reputable dealer that I’ve done business with for some time. When purchased, they were sold as Dragon Skin Jasper. True, they are jasper; however, they have also been sold by many other vendors as Variscite, Dragon Skin Jasper, and Sea Sediment Jasper in varying colors of red, pink, purple, green and blue.

These stones to the left are sold quite often as Turquoise. While this is true to some extend, they are at not natural stones, but man made beads. Researching them, they are actually composites of all the tiny fragments left of Turquoise, combined together and molded into a mosaic bead. Giving this bead a very unique effect with a mosaic look, it is what I call a ‘half-n-half’ meaning, it is bits and pieces of actual stone all rolled into one by man.

Lastly, I have yet to see these in bead form, but these pendants referred to as Turquoise Copper to the right have recently made an entry onto the scene. Inquiring about them, what I’ve found is that the jury is still out on this one. Some experts say this is a man made stone by mixing copper and turquoise together and getting this distinctive look; others say this is a true natural stone that was mined back in the 1960-70’s only to die out and then recently reappear today.

So, is it a new find, man made, or an old find getting a new name; just like everything it is re-born, re-packaged and re-marketed to the world. Just remember to ask questions, do your research and make sure to purchase from reputable dealers, vendors, miners and minerals companies.

Trilobite Fossils

Phacops rana (Trilobite) is a fossil organism known as a Trilobite (pronounced “tri-lobe-ite”). Trilobites are an extinct category of jointed-legged animals related to crabs, lobsters, shrimp, spiders, and insects. This group of creatures, called arthropods, are among the most complex of all the animals without backbones and trilobites are no exception. They had well-developed nervous systems and large antennae. Trilobites had many appendages for swimming, walking, or feeding. Although these appendages are relatively rare in most groups of trilobite fossils. Phacops is one of four genera for which they are fairly well known and studied. Trilobites also had a hard outer skeleton composed of chitin, a complex organic protein, and the mineral apatite.

Trilobites are a common fossil in many of the early to middle Paleozoic rocks of central Pennsylvania, i.e., rocks that are between 570 and 365 million years old. Complete fossil specimens are rare because the animals were composed of rigid outer skeletal segments joined by flexible organic connections that decayed on the death of the animal. An interest in trilobites is not restricted to scientists and geological dilettantes. They are prized by lapidarist and jewelry and curio collectors. This interest is a long-standing one. Trilobites were found on necklaces belonging to the prehistoric inhabitants of 15,000 year old rock shelters of Europe. The Ute Indians of the western United States fashioned trilobites into amulets. The Ute name for these fossils was, “timpe khanitza pachavee” which means “little water but like stone house in.”

*Information provided by the resident family gemologist.

Aegerine - A Cool Find

A new find (for me at least) at Tucson is a stone called Aegerine from Zomba Mountains of Malawi; collected from cracks and crevices in the bare granite. It is said that the locals dig it out with primitive tools, sometimes they have to go down a bare rock with rope of 6-10 meters to get to some of the pockets of Aegerine.

It is a favorite among mineral collectors with its dark colorations, dark green to almost black with clear or opaque spots within the stone. It forms long needlelike crystals which often times have a pyramidal finish to the edges, with a vitreous luster.


Aegerine is said to be a high energy stone, often used in energizing a person. It protects against negative energy, and is helpful for broken relationships, eliminating group pressure, and strengthening self-acceptance. Wearing the stone can bring about self-esteem, self-sufficiency, and helps in matters of the heart.

Mystical and spiritual healing lore states that Aegerine is excellent for the immune system, making it great for general healing and helping the body heal itself. It’s corresponding Astrological sign is Pisces.