Does anyone know anything about Prehnite? I picked up a few
cabochons at a show because I love the lemon-lime color. I would
also love some recommedations for a source of these for the future.
Thanks to all for consistent, caring advice.
Lise, Miami, FL
Lise re Prehnite Prehnite is in the zeolite family hardness 6-6.5. My
which may be outdated because of more finds of the
material is that single crystals of this material are rare.
Specimens I have seen have been just that, not suitable for
jewellery, generally a mass of fine radiating crystals.
I agree, a lovely soft green colour. Enjoy them
Keith Torckler, Cornwallis, New Zealand
Prehnite: Calcium Aluminum Silicate Hydroxide Ca2Al2Si3O10(OH)2 Crystal
StructuRe: Orthorhombic Hardness: 6 - 6.5 Specific Gravity: 2.90 - 2.95
RI: 1.62 Color: Yellow-green to gray to white Luster: Vitreous Named
after the Dutch Colonel, H. Von Prehn
For specimens try The Mineral Gallery:
http://mineral.galleries.com/minerals/silicate/prehnite/prehnite.htm
Charles Heick
Cincinnati
Does anyone know anything about Prehnite?
Prehnite is a Calcium aluminium hydroxysilicate (orthorhombic with a
hardness of 6 on Moh’s scale) and considered an ornamental stone
rather than a gemstone. It is sometimes clear enough to be faceted but
generally it’s a translucent material with a radiating crystalline
structure which occasionally can give a cat’s-eye effect. It’s found
in Scotland, France and at Prospect, near Sydney, Australia.
Not sure of sources, especially in Miami. Hope this is of some
interest.
Renate, Adelaide, South Australia