Prasiolite Gemstone

Prasiolite Gemstone

The word Prasiolite is derived from Greek PRASON meaning "leek" and LITHOS meaning Stone this is in reference to its green-colored appearance. Other ways to write prasiolite are "praseolite" and "praziolite."

Prasiolite is a green variety of quartz that occurs in a trigonal crystal structure. It has a Mohs hardness of 7 (just like most quartz) and does not have cleavage. This means that it is not easily breakable and is suitable for any types of jewellery including rings, bracelets, pendants and as beads.

Prasiolite is of a transparent to nearly opaque transparency. It is formed with a crystal habit of hexagonal prisms. Prasiolite comes in different shades of green. The artificially treated Prasiolite is a darker green quartz whereas the natural Prasiolite is of a very light and translucent green color.

Natural Prasiolite is extremely rare.

Prasiolite as a green quartz is also incorrectly called green Amethyst.

Since Pasiolite is extremely rare in nature, the majority of Prasiolite gemstones sold on the market is a result from a combination of heat treatment and ionizing radiation.

Some Amethyst when heat treated will turn green. Thus, the reason why Prasiolite is called Green Amethyst. However "Green amethyst" is an incorrect name for Prasiolite because Amethyst, by definition, is a purple variety of quartz. Citrine is the dark yellow or reddish brown Amethyst that was also heated.

Light green color Prasiolite is also produced by irradiating natural Amethyst. This procedure is more expensive and thus not used as much as heat treatment.

Synthetic quartz which also comes in a wide range of green colours similar to Prasiolite, are being sold as Prasiolite. However, you can tell that it is synthetic quartz by its very low price.

The Federal Trade Commission Guides for the Jewellery, Precious Metals, Pewter Industries says that it is unfair or deceptive to describe a product with an incorrect varietal name - for example, using "green amethyst" to describe a green variety of quartz.

Besides Green Amethyst, Prasiolite is also called Vermarine and Lime Citrine.

Naturally occurring Prasiolite have been mined since 1950 in Brazil, Poland (lower Silesia) and in theThunder Bay of Canada. However, many of these deposits have been mined out, with the exception of Brazil, but this mine too, is becoming depleted.

If exposed to strong sunlight for long periods of time, heat treated Prasiolite's green colour will fade. It is thus recommended to store your Prasiolite jewellery in a dark jewellery box away from sunlight.

Prasiolite, like most green gemstones, is a spiritual stone that helps with spiritual growth and love. It attracts prosperity, good fortune, luck and success and helps the wearer get rid of self-doubt and negativity. Additionally, Prasiolite is believed to help support the endocrine system and neutralise stomach acid to aid in the absorption of nutrients. And since Prasiolite is Amethyst heat treated, it too carries many of the metaphysical, healing properties of Amethyst crystal. And since, Prasiolite is also a member of the Quartz family, it is a powerful amplifier of energy.