Geology/History
Also referred to as Idocrase, in 1795 Vesuvianite was named by the famous German mineralogist Abraham Werner. He had discovered crystals in limestone blocks that had been ejected from the volcano at Mount Vesuvius in Italy. The Greek derivative Idocrase meaning ‘mixed form’ was allocated by R. J. Haiiy in 1796. due to its chemistry including elements of both neso & sorosilicates.
Formation occurs through the metamorphic process when hot magma contacts with impure limestones & skarn deposits. It is also found in granulites & marbles accompanied by Calcite, Diopside, Wollastonite & Grossular + Andradite Garnet. Occurrence has also been noted in Metasomatic seams & serpentanised ultramafic rock & very rarely in pegmatite’s
This calcium aluminium silicate has a complicated formula. Wide variations in composition can give this crystal greatly varying physical properties. Different localities will yield varying colours & therefore varying properties. Elements such as tin, lead, manganese, chromium, zinc & sulfur are responsible for the varying colours & physical properties.
Metaphysical Properties
Born of fire, this phoenix stone has a central focus on burning away the old to give birth to the new, more powerful & evolved self. It instils strength, resilience & the ability to ‘rise from the ashes’. When everything seems lost or pointless Vesuvianite gives hope, shinning light on all the new opportunities & vast possibilities. It is Excellent for people enduring hard times or dealing with depression, anxiety & stress. It teaches reverence for the cycles of life & the power of three bringing understanding to the processes required to grow & evolve. It also removes the fear & anger around growth that stagnates or causes one to become ‘stuck’ in life.
Vesuvianite dissolves dogma & negative programming. It casts of the confines of societal norms & promotes freedom through self expression & exploration. It encourages the notion of it’s good to be you, it’s good to be different & it’s good to walk your own path. It guides one to their truth, to their authentic self & facilitates loving self acceptance. It is particularly good for young people going through fast growth as it keeps negative influences away & nurtures a self loving positive mindset.
Working with Vesuvianite is akin to pressing the ethereal restart button, it helps release trauma, past hurts & negative emotional energies. It dissolves karmic ties & contracts. It severs entity attachments or energy vampires & provides a protective barrier to the carrier.
Vesuvianite activates all the chakras, blasts away dense energy & brings a harmonic balance to the energetic body. It strengthens the Higher self connection boosting intuition & ones sixth sense or gut instincts. Excellent for meditation, transrealm travel or past life exploration it provides a solid anchor on the Earth plane. Vesuvianite helps one to see the beauty in life & enjoy every tiny aspect of it.
Great to use around the dark or full moon in rituals or incantations. It support the manifestation of spell work. Vessuvianite does have a moral high ground & does not resonate to the darker arts.
Crystal Healing
Good for burns, frozen shoulder, joint problems, headaches, muscular issues, addictions, hair loss, knees & spine. Excellent through pregnancy.
Mineralogy
Group: Silicates - Sorosilicate
Crystal System: Tetragonal
Composition: Ca10(Mg, Fe)2Al4(SiO4)5(Si2O7)2(OH,F)4
Form/Habit: Short pyramidal to long prismatic crystals common, massive to columnar
Hardness: 6-7
Cleavage: Poor in one direction
Fracture: Conchoidal to uneven
Lustre: Vitreous or greasy to resinous
Streak: White
Specific Gravity: 3.3-3.5
Transparency: Subtransparent to translucent
R.I: 1.70-1.75
Colour: Yellow, green, brown; colorless to white, blue, violet, bluish green, pink, red, black, commonly zoned
Birefringence: 0.004–0.006
Pleochroism: Slight in coloured varieties
Strunz Classification: 9.BG.35