True Blue - Kyanite

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Back in June I broke my COVID-19 quarantine “rule” of only using beads, stones, and supplies that I had on hand and I purchased some new beads. In my defense, I needed some copper beads and pearls for a commissioned project, but I didn’t “need” everything I eventually purchased.

   

NEW BEADS! New beads are always exciting. At left: A super mix of ethnic African handcrafted beads of copper and glass Krobo beads. At right: Kyanite chips shown with additional stones from my stash that complement  kyanite and fit the everyday denims theme. Shown are kyanite pebbles and ovals, azurite malachite rounds, kyanite shards, aquamarine chips, blue lace agate pebbles, and lapis chips and nuggets.

My impulse purchases sparked a creative surge too, that has resulted in a fun little collection of jewelry that features blue stones with cheerful and colorful African glass beads.

After posting about pink stones earlier this year (with more posts coming), I knew I’d eventually blog about blue stones too. This post is the beginning of that series. In it, I'll introduce you to kyanite. I’ll also give you a sneak peek at the new “Everyday Denims” collection.

Kyanite is named from the Greek cyanos, meaning “deep blue”. It is an aluminum silicate mineral found in metamorphic rock from the alteration of clay minerals at high pressure. Significant deposits exist in Switzerland, Austria, Italy, Burma, Australia, Brazil, Mexico and the USA. Its normal crystal habit is a long blade (longer than wide, like a sword). Sometimes the long skinny crystals can form a radiating pattern in rock. Kyanite specimens are amazing with the long blades poking out of the surface of their host rock.

    

Kyanite mineral specimens showing bladed crystal habit. Left from: https://www.minerals.net/mineral/kyanite.aspx Right from: https://www.stonemania.co.uk/reference-articles-photos/blue-kyanite-stone-properties-meaning

 

It’s interesting to me when I research minerals, that stones I’ve come to know in jewelry making often have important industrial uses. Kyanite is used in porcelain production, refractory ceramics such as the insulators on spark plugs, kiln liners, and foundary molds, and as a binding material in industrial grinding wheels.

Kyanite is remarkable in that it has different hardness along the crystal compared to across the crystal growth. This makes it challenging to cut for use as gemstones, though its color rivals blue sapphire. It does, however, lend itself to cleaving interesting chips, shards, and beads for jewelry-making like those featured above, since the stone is willing to break along the long axis.

Kyanite is commonly light to dark indigo blue, but can be clear, green, orange, black, and rarely purple. Some kyanite gemstones can appear to be different colors when viewed from different angles. The crystal structure gives kyanite a fibrous appearance and sheen like tiger’s eye. The blue stones might look silvery grey in one direction and dark blue if held upside down.

   

Kyanite cut as gemstones. At left range of kyanite colors with stones cut en cabochon. At right, a beautiful sapphire blue faceted kyanite with a tinge of purple. Imagaes from: https://geology.com/minerals/kyanite.shtml

In a metaphysical sense, blue kyanite is a stone you need in your life, especially in challenging times. Blue kyanite is both grounding and calming, helping to repel negative energy. It aids in communication helping you express yourself with clarity, and understand another’s viewpoint. It enhances intuition and connects you to the spiritual plane.

In color psychology, blue is associated with ocean and sky and is useful to promote a sense of calm and order. Blue is sincere, honest, and quiet. Blue relates to communication, enhancing self-expression. Blue can aid in contemplation and prayer and signifies devotion, loyalty, trust, and integrity.

So why not wear a chunk of this intriguing blue stone and let its energy and calming color ease your emotional burdens? I’ve been busy making several new jewelry pieces that include blue kyanite so you’ll soon have some choices in my shops.

Kyanite features prominently in my new “Everyday Denims” jewelry collection. With a nice supply of kyanite slim chips in perfect denim blue colors, I reached for the African glass krobo beads and made other pairings perfect for a summer in blue jeans. Lapis, kyanite in other cuts, azurite malachite, and blue lace agate with carnelian and jasper adding complementary colors all come together in this "everyday Denims" themed collection.

                                                 

   

Blue stone jewelry selections coming soon to Pebbles At My Feet. Top Photo: Kyanite is in every piece either the whole show or accented with jasper and feldspar or lapis and turquoise. In the blue lace agate necklace at right, kyanite pebbles play a supporting role in the tassel. Bottom Left: Colorful Ghana glass krobo bead bracelet is strung with copper beads and lapis and kyanite stones. Some earrings with blue stones are shown too. Denim lapis, azurite malacite, kyanite, and kyanite with aquamarine. Bottom Right: Krobo bead copper necklace with lapis, kyanite, and red agate stones. Earrings feature lapis and jasper, kyanite shards, and kyanite and turquoise.

In case you'd like to read more, I visited these pages to research this post: 

https://www.minerals.net/mineral/kyanite.aspx

https://www.stonemania.co.uk/reference-articles-photos/blue-kyanite-stone-properties-meaning

https://www.mineralminers.com/html/kyagems.stm

https://www.healing-crystals-for-you.com/blue-kyanite.html

https://www.empower-yourself-with-color-psychology.com/color-blue.html

Thanks for reading. I invite you to leave a comment. I really love hearing from you. Did you know or recognize kyanite? What's your favorite piece of jewelry for summertime accessorizing? Is it true blue?

Pamela

Pebbles At My Feet Natural Stone Adornments

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