KYANITE

Kyanite comes from the Greek word "kyanos", meaning "deep blue." This name was given because of the mineral’s typical blue colour, although kyanite can also occur in shades of green, black, grey, and orange.
Kyanite is a visually captivating and structurally unique gemstone valued for its rich blue tones and anisotropic hardness. Aluminosilicate mineral known for its vibrant blue colour, bladed crystal habit, and variable hardness. It’s used as both a gemstone and an industrial mineral.

COLOUR VARIETIES:
Blue Kyanite --> Most common, colour ranges from pale sky blue to deep indigo. Often exhibits colour zoning and striations.

Orange Kyanite --> Very rare; discovered in Tanzania. Its colour comes from trace manganese content.
Green Kyanite --> Less common, often translucent, and comes from Brazil or India. May have hints of blue or yellow.

Gemological Features:
Pleochroism: Kyanite often displays different shades of blue from different angles.
Hardness Variation: Unusual among gemstones, which can be challenging for lapidaries.

Formation and Occurrence:
Forms in metamorphic rocks under high pressure
Often found in schist, gneiss, and quartz veins

Major sources:
Nepal (fine blue gem-quality crystals)
India, Brazil, Tanzania, USA (North Carolina)

(Note: Due to kyanite’s anisotropic hardness and perfect cleavage, it is very difficult to cut & left untreated. This limits the application of standard gem treatment.)

KYANITE VARIETIES

blue kyanite

orange KYANITE

Blue colour and strong directional hardness, a mineral that has different hardnesses depending on the axis. It's often translucent with a pearly or vitreous luster and forms in long, striated crystals.
Key Facts:
Colour --> Sapphire blue, light blue to greenish-blue
Luster --> Pearly to vitreous
Transparency --> Translucent to transparent
Cleavage --> Perfect in one direction (makes it fragile to cut)

orange KYANITE

Orange Kyanite is a rare and vibrant variety of kyanite distinguished by its warm orange to golden-orange hue, caused by trace amounts of manganese. Like other kyanites, it features a bladed crystal structure and anisotropic hardness, but its rich, earthy colour sets it apart.
Key Facts:
Colour --> Bright orange to golden-orange
Luster --> Vitreous to pearly
Transparency --> Translucent to transparent
Composition --> Aluminum silicate with manganese

green KYANITE

orange KYANITE

green KYANITE

Green Kyanite is a lesser-known variety of kyanite that exhibits a leafy to deep forest green hue. Like its blue and orange counterparts, it forms in bladed crystals and displays directional hardness. The colour is due to iron and possibly chromium content.
Key Facts:
Colour --> Pale green to dark green
Luster --> Pearly to vitreous
Transparency --> Translucent to transparent

GEMSTONE SPECIES - INORGANIC

KYANITE

KYANITE VARIETIES

blue kyanite

orange KYANITE

orange KYANITE

orange KYANITE

orange KYANITE

orange KYANITE

green KYANITE

orange KYANITE

green KYANITE

This website uses cookies.