Blue mystery stone!

[Kim Bruun]

I'd like to think that I have some knowledge of colored stones. I may not have a gemmological education, and I can certainly be fooled, but I have read much literature and studied many cut stones, of many species, intensely. But this one has me stumped:



My mother has had it in her collection for many years now, and it has always puzzled us. It is a little rough chip of vivid blue stone - it really is the colour shown in the photo! She once had it examined by a jeweller, who stated that it was harder than sapphire. Now, I have trouble with that, because that leaves, to my knowledge, moissanite and diamond.

I know you guys are reluctant to ID a stone based on a photo, but is there anything you know of, natural or synthetic, that can have this colour? And can the shape of the chip provide any clues?

 

[Upgradable]

What do you mean by "rough"? Is the surface of the stone rough, like lots of little crystalline pieces? (If so, I'm guessing drusy)

 

[Kim Bruun]

No, it's not a drusy - it's a single piece of transparent pebble, like a fragment of crystal with some wear on some of the edges.

 

[Upgradable]

hmmmmm......

 

[RedSpinel]

I dont see how it could be harder than sapphire, and not be a diamond, unless its a man made stone, but doesnt look it. There is no other natural gemstone that is harder than 9..... The next closest thing is Chrysoberyl at 8.5, and supposedly Spinel can get up to 8.25 and certainly can be blue, but that still not harder than 9.

I know! Maybe it's Fluorite! Thats harder than sapphire!

 

[Kim Bruun]

I dont see how it could be harder than sapphire, and not be a diamond, unless its a man made stone, but doesnt look it. There is no other natural gemstone that is harder than 9..... The next closest thing is Chrysoberyl at 8.5, and supposedly Spinel can get up to 8.25 and certainly can be blue, but that still not harder than 9.

I know! Maybe it's Fluorite! Thats harder than sapphire!

Like I said, I doubt that the jeweller was correct in his assessment of its hardness, but I'm not about to damage the stone to find out.

I doubt that it's flourite, though. As you can see in the photo, it doesn't seem to have the same cleaving habits as flourite, which cleaves into octahedrons.

I can't say that I've seen this particular blue in sapphire, and much less in spinel. Based on the colour, I only have one guess, but it's a fairly rare mineral, and not something you'd expect to just drop into your lap...

 

[cm366]

Does that fairly rare mineral start with an H? Because that was my first thought on its' size and colour....

If so, what an amazingly cool idea for a ring!

 

[Kim Bruun]

Does that fairly rare mineral start with an H? Because that was my first thought on its' size and colour....

If so, what an amazingly cool idea for a ring!

It does indeed. And the rough in the ring looks similar in shape and colour to other pieces of rough H that I've seen offered online. And the size, as you said, also points in that direction. But I don't have much first hand experience with H, so it's only a guess on my part. I'm glad, though, that I'm not the only one to venture that guess.

I also like the idea of using rough H in jewelry. Since they're so small anyway, there doesn't seem to be much point in facetting them into even tinier gems - the attraction of hauyne is that glowing blue colour, after all. And it doesn't really need a cutter's assistance to perform in that department!

 

[cm366]

No, I think it'd be gorgeous with minimal help from anyone, really... ashamed I didn't think of that before, I've seen enough horrible stuff with rough diamonds or great honking chunks of quartz! There are a few really nice ones out there though (Maybe LD has one?), and they'd definitely be spruced up by some chips of hauyne! I just love the colour of the stuff - so out of this world!

 

[innerkitten]

Does that fairly rare mineral start with an H? Because that was my first thought on its' size and colour....

If so, what an amazingly cool idea for a ring!

It does indeed. And the rough in the ring looks similar in shape and colour to other pieces of rough H that I've seen offered online. And the size, as you said, also points in that direction. But I don't have much first hand experience with H, so it's only a guess on my part. I'm glad, though, that I'm not the only one to venture that guess.

I also like the idea of using rough H in jewelry. Since they're so small anyway, there doesn't seem to be much point in facetting them into even tinier gems - the attraction of hauyne is that glowing blue colour, after all. And it doesn't really need a cutter's assistance to perform in that department!

H?

 

[innerkitten]

Oh I get it now. Is that harder than a sapphire?

 

[Kim Bruun]

Oh I get it now. Is that harder than a sapphire?

No, H is 5 to 6 on the Mohs scale. But like I said, I'd seriously contest said jeweller's claim that it was harder than sapphire. That really only leaves diamond.

No, I think it'd be gorgeous with minimal help from anyone, really... ashamed I didn't think of that before, I've seen enough horrible stuff with rough diamonds or great honking chunks of quartz!

I actually think those sugary diamond crystals can be really pretty in jewelry!

 

[Quantz Studios]

Can you get any clearer pictures and from different angles showing the 'stone's' shape? It might be helpful to see, if it is natural, etc., it might be possible to narrow it down by the shape of the possible crystal. The only things I can think with that blue possible are hauyne, sapphire (syn or natural), spinel (syn. or natural) or CZ. Are they any inclusions? If so, what kind?

 

[distracts]

I have a pendant with a rough piece of hauyne in it that is kind of a similar shape, though I think it is smaller. It's this: http://www.etsy.com/transaction/75307453 and it is really about that color. In case that helps any.

 

[chrono]

My first thought is hauyne because of that blue glow and the fact that it's tiny. Other than that, it is merely a guess since I don't know its other characteristics.

 

[partgypsy]

I love the setting of that ring! It looks like it was inspired by the stone's bumps and shapes.

I've actually seen a piece of this gemstone before in a piece of jewelry, and assumed it was glass. You learn something every day.

 

[Kim Bruun]

Can you get any clearer pictures and from different angles showing the 'stone's' shape? It might be helpful to see, if it is natural, etc., it might be possible to narrow it down by the shape of the possible crystal. The only things I can think with that blue possible are hauyne, sapphire (syn or natural), spinel (syn. or natural) or CZ. Are they any inclusions? If so, what kind?

Here you go:







As you can see in the close, the stone is cloudy and included in areas. It also has a conchoidal fracture face.

 

[0-0-0]

Whatever it is, I really like it! A really unique piece.

 

[wordie89]

I thought it might be hauyn as I've recently seen some for sale. I.wondered what you'd do with such tiny stones and this is a unique setting. Thanks for sharing.

 

[chrono]

Looks more likely to be hauyne in the new pictures. Neat that it is left in its crystalline state, probably due to the inclusions.

 

[Kim Bruun]

Neat that it is left in its crystalline state, probably due to the inclusions.

I like it too. And I've seen pictures of faceted hauyne that was so included that I thought to myself: "Why go to the trouble of faceting it? It's not like it enhances the beauty of the material."

 

[Quantz Studios]

Looks more likely to be hauyne in the new pictures.

How do you figure that?

How often was this ring worn Kim. Is the stone dichroic at all? I think your best bet is to take it to a Gemologist. Some simple tests will determine what that sweet little blue thing is.

 

[chrono]

Ryan,
It is just a guess based on the limited information available. Could it be wrong? Sure! Even Kim acknowledged that nobody can ID the stone online but he is open to guesses anyway, just for the heck of it.

 

[Quantz Studios]

Okay, I was just wondering if you saw something conclusive in the new pictures that I didn't see. : )

 

[Kim Bruun]

How often was this ring worn Kim. Is the stone dichroic at all? I think your best bet is to take it to a Gemologist. Some simple tests will determine what that sweet little blue thing is.

My mother hasn't worn it that much. A "prong" is missing, and she fears the stone might fall out. Regarding the dichroism, I'm not sure, I'll have to check it again. I certainly didn't mean to imply that I was walking away from this thread with a certificate for a hauyne. Like Chrono said, it was guesswork for the heck of it!