Earstuds – 8x8MM Kyanite

Kyanite, or Disthene, is a blue, rectangle-shaped mineral. It is often found in combination with other minerals in metamorphic rocks, which form deep in the earths crust. The name Kyanite is a reference to the dark-blue colour, from the Greek kuanos, also the origin of the word cyan. The name Disthene comes from the Greek words for ‘two’ and ‘strong’, because the mineral has a different hardness across the length of the crystal compared to across the width. The hardness across the length is around 5,5 and the hardness across the with is around 7. Even though the blue colour is implied by the name, Kyanite can also come in brown, orange and green. The stone is popular amongst mineral collectors, but also among jewellery-fanatics, because clear, gem-quality Kyanite can also be found. The differing hardness and fragility of some crystals makes Kyanite a challenging gem to cut. The mineral was discovered in 1789.