KYANITE - A Unique Gemstone !

Kyanite is named after the Greek word for "blue". Its color indeed can make it a lovely gem with a near sapphire-like blue. Usually its color is blue but also can be colorless, white, gray, green or yellow. Color is most often not consistent throughout the crystal, often showing white streaks in a medium blue. Luster is vitreous to almost pearly. Its variable hardness is a significant characteristic that has to be taken in consideration by the gem-cutter. It is one of only two gemstones where the same crystal can have two distinct hardnesses, called anisotropic. Hardness is 4- 4.5 when cut parallel to the long axis of the crystal and 6-7 when cut perpendicular to or across the long axis. It is a very nice gemstone for earrings or pendants, but does not do well in rings.

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Deposits of Kyanite are found in Austria, Brazil, India, Kenya, Myanmar, Serbia, Switzerland, United States and Zimbabwe. There are two well known outcrops of Kyanite-bearing pegmatite along the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina, one of which lies within the National Forest boundary. The location is often erroneously refered to as the Balsam Gap Kyanite fields or the Parkway Kyanite location. The site has to some extent been reclaimed by the National Park Service.

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Kyanite is a member of the aluminosilicate series, which also includes the polymorph Andalusite and the polymorph Sillimanite. Kyanite's anisotropism can be considered an major identifying characteristic.

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Currently there are no known treatments for enhancing this gemstone. Kyanite is primarily a collector's mineral, but is used in jewelry and once in a while, especially out of Brazil, there are finds that can be faceted.

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The following is a Necklace and Earring Set combining Kyanite Barrels and Round Beads, with Mother of Pearl Beads and Silver highlights.

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Striped Onyx, Black Agate & Kyanite Necklace and Earring Set !

Once in a while when unusual combinations of gemstones are placed together, they appear to bring out colors that are not obvious when looking at the stones by themselves. Although blue is not a common color to be found in Onyx, sometime the white, cream or ivory colored striping will have a slightly bluish tinge.

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Such is the case with this necklace combination of a very large striped Onyx pendant combined with Black Agate (Onyx) barrels and rondel beads and then highlighted by the unique gemstone called Kyanite, along with silver bead highlights. French hook earrings of matching Kyanite beads and Black Agate (Onyx) rondels complete the set.
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STRIPED ONYX - Onyx is a cryptocrystalline form of Quartz. Striped Onyx is a redundant statement since true Onyx will have color bands that range from white to almost every color (save some shades, such as purple or blue). Commonly, specimens of Onyx that are seen in the market place contain bands of colors of white, tan, and brown. Pure black Onyx is actually Dyed Agate or poor grades of Onyx where the stripes have been dyed to black.

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BLACK AGATE (Onyx) which is truely a died black Agate, is more common and perhaps the most famous variety, but not as common as natural Onyx. Onyx is a crypyocrystalline form of Quartz. The colors of its bands range from white to almost every color (save some shades, such as purple or blue). A picture of a true Black Onyx specimum is seen at the left. True specimens of Onyx contain bands of colors of white, tan, and brown. As stated, the pure black form which most people know as Onyx, is not a naturally occuring variety. Black Agate or poorly colored Onyx is heated and dyed black to come up with the pure black form so well liked within the jewelry industry.

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KYANITE is one of three minerals to have the same chemical composition . These are Kyanite, Andalusite, and Sillimanite. Kyanite is the high pressure polymorph, Sillimanite is formed at high temperature, and Andalusite is the low pressure polymorph. Occasionally, clear and very colorful blue Kyanite is encountered. This material is highly prized by those who cut gemstones, especially the bluer the piece of rough is. It can be cut as a cabochon, faceted, or used to produce beads and pendants. Kyanite is considered to be an "exotic" gemstone because it is not often used in jewelry.

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GEMSTONE JEWELRY - One of the Unique Stones !

Primarily a collectors material and limited usage in jewelry making by its anisotropism and perfect cleavage. Kyanite's importance is due to being one of the index minerals that are used to estimate the temperature, depth, and pressure at which a rocks undergoes metamorphism. With care, Kyanite can be faceted into a beautiful blue gemstone. Lapidarists have found it to be an interesting material when cut and polished. .
This particular design incorporates two styles of Kyanite that has been cut and polished. First are enlongated barrels of a dark blue variety and the second style is light blue rondel shaped beads. These Kyanite beads are paired with Mother of Pearl (MOP) round polished beads and silver-plated balls with a toggle style clasp. Matching French Hook earrings complete the set.

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Kyanite is one of three minerals to have the same chemical composition . These are Kyanite, Andalusite, and Sillimanite. Kyanite is the high pressure polymorph, Sillimanite is formed at high temperature, and Andalusite is the low pressure polymorph. Occasionally, clear and very colorful blue Kyanite is encountered. This material is highly prized by those who cut gemstones. It can be cut as a cabochon, faceted, or used to produce beads and pendants. Kyanite is considered to be an "exotic" gemstone because it is not often used in jewelry.

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Mother of pearl, also called nacre, is an iridescent layer of material which forms the shell lining of many mollusks. Pearl oysters and abalone are both sources of mother of pearl, which is widely used as an inlay in jewelry, furniture, and musical instruments. Mother of pearl comes in several natural colors, and is often bleached and dyed for decorative use. The dye retains the shimmering layers which make mother of pearl so sought after. Depending on the shell the Mother of Pearl is taken from, it may be processed into large flat or curved pieces, small pieces sometimes call nuggets or processed as polished beads. Two substances actually combine to create mother of pearl. The first is plates of aragonite, a material which is secreted by the mollusk. Aragonite contains calcium carbonate and conchiolin, a natural protein. Alone, the plates are very hard, but also very brittle. As a result, the organism also secretes an organic material similar to silk to layer between the plates. The result is a strong, flexible material which can withstand hard use.

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