Indigolite: characteristics and properties

Indigolite is a rare type of tourmaline mineral. He, like the last, is part of the rocks. In its color, this stone is blue, dark blue, bluish-black. Rarely, but still you can find greenish-blue specimens.

In nature, this mineral can be found in the form of prismatic crystals in the voids of gangue rocks. Currently, it can be found in the Pamir mountain system in Tajikistan, as well as in countries such as Afghanistan and Pakistan. In addition, indigolite deposits are located in Finland and some states of America. In Russia, deposits of this stone were discovered at the end of the 19th century. They are mainly concentrated in the valley of the Urulga River, but a small amount is available in the Irkutsk region.

The leader in terms of the volume of extracted indigolites in our time, of course, is Brazil. The country supplies 75% of these stones, so this mineral is often called Brazilian sapphire. In the state of Minas Gerais, the most diverse in color and beautiful indigolites, known all over the world, are mined.

The name of this mineral is derived from the word "indigo", which means a shade of blue between dark blue and purple. In Russia, indigolite used to be called a baus. This name applied to all precious and semiprecious stones of blue color (kyanite, sapphire).

Indigolite is a mineral that belongs to silicates. They have a complex structure and chemical composition, so the color of the stone depends on the specific composition of the rock. The blue color is due to the high iron content. Pleochroism is inherent in the indigolite, that is, the mineral under the same illumination and depending on the angle of view can change its color from dark blue to blue. The stone has a characteristic glass luster and is able to refract light.

The crystals of the mineral are brittle, have the shape of a prism or columns, a transparent or opaque structure. Indigolite is characterized by trigonal syngony, characterized by a fracture with irregularities and the absence of cleavage. The hardness of the stone is 7-7.5 on the Mohs scale (mineral hardness scale).

This mineral is most often used in the jewelry industry as an insert in cut jewelry in the shape of a square or rectangle. In order to reveal the whole beauty of the stone, facet cut is used, as in the work with diamonds. Raw stones, due to their attractive appearance, are popular with collectors of minerals.

The thermoelectric properties of indigolite allow its use in radio electronics. Small, nondescript, having many third-party inclusions, the samples are used in optics. They are melted and added to glass.

In order to be sure of the authenticity of the stone when buying, you should pay attention to the following properties that the original always possesses:

• natural indigolite is heterogeneous in color shades and color intensity;
• from a natural mineral for a long time there remains a feeling of coolness if you warm it in your hand or rub it;
• the presence of cracks is also evidence of the authenticity of the stone;
• in a natural mineral gas bubbles are often found.

It is believed that this mineral is associated with the chakra of the will of Vishuddha. It is used during meditation, as it helps to concentrate on positive emotions. Therefore, indigolite strengthens the nervous system, relieves depression and insomnia (especially if you keep it under a pillow at night). It is useful for strengthening the immune system and the endocrine system. Stones of a greenish tint have beneficial effects on the liver, a blue indigolite cures diseases of the central nervous system, and a bluish mineral relieves headaches and normalizes vision.

It is believed that indigolite magically gives its owner a wise outlook on life and sanity. He is able to neutralize aggression and the manifestation of negative emotions. In addition, pendants and pendants with this mineral make the voice more pleasant and confident. If you wear a stone on your right hand, you can find luck in any endeavors. But indigolite jewelry on the left hand is worn in order to pay attention to the opposite sex.

Indigolite is most suitable for representatives of the fire element, that is, Leo, Sagittarius and Aries. He gives luck to all these signs in his plan, success in business, good health. In addition, this stone protects Aries from envy and gives them courage, and Sagittarius gives confidence in their abilities and stability. Of the signs that are not related to the elements of Fire, indigolite is of great importance for Libra, which helps to make the right decisions.

It is best to purchase indigolite in a frame of silver, which is able to reveal all its positive aspects. But you can wear this stone in combination with gold. In order to overcome serious family conflicts, jewelry with this mineral should be used by both spouses.

Indigolite goes well with stones such as ruby ​​and alexandrite, since they have a similar energy. This stone is rarely used in rings because of the complexity of the cut, so it is better to choose bracelets, earrings and pendants.

Having good strength, this mineral is resistant to mechanical stress. But hot steam and high temperatures are contraindicated, because they destroy the structure of the stone. For cleaning, it is recommended to use soft tissues and a low concentration soap solution. Indigolite jewelry should be stored in darkened, cool places inaccessible to sunlight. In this case, it is better to wrap them with a fabric with a soft structure.

An overview of the indigolite stone, see the next video.