What is the difference between turquoise and variscite?
Turquoise ranges from greenish blue to bluish green, while variscite ranges from yellowish green to bluish green. People who are familiar with the minerals might recognize yellowish green specimens as variscite, but might not feel confident about bluish green specimens.
What is Lucin variscite?
The Utahlite Hill Variscite Gemstone Mine is near Lucin, Utah. The ore mined is composed of variscite with waste material consisting primarily of limonite and chalcedony. The ore body takes a tabular and irregular shape extending 304 meters (1,000 feet) long, 121 meters (400 feet) wide, and 15 meters (50 feet) thick.
What is variscite used for?
Variscite is a powerful heart activation stone, helping to release judgement and allowing disparate people and views to be united. It is used to enhance higher brain functions such as learning, logic and reasoning and to help in finding self acceptance.
What is variscite stone?
Variscite is a hydrated aluminium phosphate mineral that is often confused with Turquoise. It’s a rare stone that forms in varying shades of green. Variscite is also known as Utahlite because it is usually found in Utah in the USA.
How do you identify variscite?
Variscite can often be distinguished by its splintery fracture, brittle tenacity and its striking colors and patterns. Variscite is usually greener than turquoise. In addition, gemologists can also easily identify variscite from turquoise by the presence of copper; turquoise contains copper, whereas variscite does not.
What type of rock is variscite found in?
igneous rocks
Variscite occurs in Germany, Austria, Czech Republic, Congo (Kinshasa), and Australia and in commercially important quantities near Fairfield, Utah, U.S. It also occurs with apatite on islands where phosphatic solutions from guano (seafowl excrement) have altered aluminous igneous rocks.
How is variscite formed?
Variscite is a secondary mineral formed by direct deposition from phosphate-bearing water that has reacted with aluminium-rich rocks in a near-surface environment. It occurs as fine-grained masses in nodules, cavity fillings, and crusts.
Where is Variscite stone found?
Variscite occurs in Germany, Austria, Czech Republic, Congo (Kinshasa), and Australia and in commercially important quantities near Fairfield, Utah, U.S. It also occurs with apatite on islands where phosphatic solutions from guano (seafowl excrement) have altered aluminous igneous rocks.
Is Variscite a crystal?
Science & Origin of Variscite Variscite, also known as Utahlite, is a very rare hydrated aluminum phosphate mineral that crystallizes in the form of masses and crusts. Rarely does it occur in crystal form, but when it does it is seen in an octahedral shape.
Where is variscite stone found?
What makes variscite green?
The green color of variscite is created by the chromium content found in the mineral. Other colors of variscite include light blue-green, purple, orange and very rarely red. The higher the iron impurities in variscite, the more brown the color will become.
Is variscite a rare stone?
While variscites are relatively rare, they occur in many localities across the globe. However, the state of Utah is the principal source of gem-quality material. Fairfield County, Utah produces nodules with rich colors up to 24 inches across mixed with other massive complex phosphates.