ENSTATITE
ENSTATITE
Enstatite comes from the Greek word ENSTATES which means OPPONENT. This name was given by G. A. Kenngott in 1855 in reference to its high melting point.
Enstatite is a common magnesium silicate mineral of the large pyroxene family, a family of stones which includes diopside, jadeite, rhodonite, spodumene, kunzite and hiddenite. However, enstatite as a gemstone is rare. Since enstatite is rare and rather soft, it is primarily a collector's gem and rarely used in jewelry.
Enstatite comes in a variety of colors: brown-green (main color of enstatite), green and yellowish and even transparent and colorless which is rare. Cat's eye and star (effect) enstatite naturally come in green-gray color. This asterism (cat's eye effect) is due to needle-like inclusions within enstatite. Enstatite usually has a metallic luster because of hematite or goethite inclusions. Moreover, enstatite is usually confused with other like gemstones such as andalusite, kornerupine, idocrase, sphalerite and brownish zircon.
Enstatite can be transparent or opaque. It has a hardness of 5.5 on the Mohs scale.
“Enstatite is one of the few silicate minerals that have been observed in crystalline form outside the Solar System, particularly around evolved stars and planetary nebulae such as NGC 6302. Enstatite is thought to be one of the early stages for the formation of crystalline silicates in space and many correlations have been noted between the occurrence of the mineral and the structure of the object around which it has been observed.
Enstatite is thought to be a main component of the E-type asteroids; in the Solar System, the main example are Hungaria asteroids.”
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enstatite]
There are three varieties of enstatite:
“Bronzite - Dark brown or greenish-brown, weathered variety of Enstatite with a high luster. It often contains impurities of Hematite and Goethite, which are responsible for its bronze-like color sheen. Note: bronzite may likewise display a rare chatoyancy when polished resulting in a cat's eye effect or asterism.
Chrome-Enstatite - Deep forest-green, chromium-rich variety of Enstatite.
Hypersthene - Iron-rich variety of Enstatite, which was historically classified as an individual mineral species until 1998 when it was discredited by the IMA. The chemical form of Hypersthene is (Mg,Fe)2Si2O6.” (https://www.minerals.net/mineral/enstatite.aspx)
Some of the finest enstatite come from Austria, Brazil, Canada (Labrador) France, Germany, India, Myanmar/Burma (Mogok), East Africa, South Africa, Sri Lanka (formerly Ceylon) and the United States (Maryland, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania and Texas).
Enstatite was esteemed as a talisman used by people who worked with their minds such students, debaters, chess players, and so forth. Enstatite crystals are believed to push one to achieve our ambitions and desires. It can also help us in eliminating our fears and past relapses.
Enstatite is rather soft and can be split easily with any knock or blow. It can also be easily scratched. So, avoid putting your enstatite with other harder jewels.
Enstatite comes from the Greek word ENSTATES which means OPPONENT. This name was given by G. A. Kenngott in 1855 in reference to its high melting point.
Enstatite is a common magnesium silicate mineral of the large pyroxene family, a family of stones which includes diopside, jadeite, rhodonite, spodumene, kunzite and hiddenite. However, enstatite as a gemstone is rare. Since enstatite is rare and rather soft, it is primarily a collector's gem and rarely used in jewelry.
Enstatite comes in a variety of colors: brown-green (main color of enstatite), green and yellowish and even transparent and colorless which is rare. Cat's eye and star (effect) enstatite naturally come in green-gray color. This asterism (cat's eye effect) is due to needle-like inclusions within enstatite. Enstatite usually has a metallic luster because of hematite or goethite inclusions. Moreover, enstatite is usually confused with other like gemstones such as andalusite, kornerupine, idocrase, sphalerite and brownish zircon.
Enstatite can be transparent or opaque. It has a hardness of 5.5 on the Mohs scale.
“Enstatite is one of the few silicate minerals that have been observed in crystalline form outside the Solar System, particularly around evolved stars and planetary nebulae such as NGC 6302. Enstatite is thought to be one of the early stages for the formation of crystalline silicates in space and many correlations have been noted between the occurrence of the mineral and the structure of the object around which it has been observed.
Enstatite is thought to be a main component of the E-type asteroids; in the Solar System, the main example are Hungaria asteroids.”
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enstatite]
There are three varieties of enstatite:
“Bronzite - Dark brown or greenish-brown, weathered variety of Enstatite with a high luster. It often contains impurities of Hematite and Goethite, which are responsible for its bronze-like color sheen. Note: bronzite may likewise display a rare chatoyancy when polished resulting in a cat's eye effect or asterism.
Chrome-Enstatite - Deep forest-green, chromium-rich variety of Enstatite.
Hypersthene - Iron-rich variety of Enstatite, which was historically classified as an individual mineral species until 1998 when it was discredited by the IMA. The chemical form of Hypersthene is (Mg,Fe)2Si2O6.” (https://www.minerals.net/mineral/enstatite.aspx)
Some of the finest enstatite come from Austria, Brazil, Canada (Labrador) France, Germany, India, Myanmar/Burma (Mogok), East Africa, South Africa, Sri Lanka (formerly Ceylon) and the United States (Maryland, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania and Texas).
Enstatite was esteemed as a talisman used by people who worked with their minds such students, debaters, chess players, and so forth. Enstatite crystals are believed to push one to achieve our ambitions and desires. It can also help us in eliminating our fears and past relapses.
Enstatite is rather soft and can be split easily with any knock or blow. It can also be easily scratched. So, avoid putting your enstatite with other harder jewels.