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PIETERSITE
Pietersite is a variety of Tiger's-eye and has incredible chatoyancy. The fibers appear chaotic and not tightly packed and may be a mixture of red, gold, and blue.
There are two types of pietersite; Chinese and African
These 2 are very different from each other. The Chinese Pietersites' fibrous mineral before replacement by silica is Torendrikite, a magnesium-rich alkalic amphibole. The African (Namibian) variety is was mainly crocidolite.
The Naminian mine was discovered by Sid Pieters of Namibia in 1962. He came across a rather heavy small stone covered in white limestone. When he cut it open he discovered the beautiful blue red, and gold coloured patterns of the stone. The mine is now inoperable and covered by a lake.
The second mind was found near Nanyang, Henan, China in 1993. It is called "Eagle's Eye" in China, due to the blue chatoyancy. The Chinese did not export the material to the west until 1997. The new mine in China is now closed due to ground water problems.
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Pietersite | |
Mohs 6 1/2 - 7 | |
Refractive Index | |
Specific Gravity | |
Cleavage | |
Streak | |
Localities Africa and China |
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