Fuchsite: Properties, Facts and Photos

What is Fuchsite?

Fuchsite is a variety of chromium-rich muscovite. The more chromium present, the richer the colour. In some cases, it can be similar to emerald.

When less chromium is present and aluminium dominates, the shade of green becomes noticeably lighter.

Fuchsite can sometimes fluoresce green under ultraviolet light. Where this occurs, the fluorescence is linked to traces of chromium within the crystal structure.

Fuchsite is often found as tiny mineral inclusions in certain rocks. When it occurs in massive form, the material is commonly known as verdite.   

A relatively soft mineral, fuchsite is rarely found as well-formed crystals and is usually mixed with other minerals. It grades 2 to 3 on the Mohs scale and can feature inclusions of red corundum. This stone, known as ruby in fuchsite, is often mistaken for ruby zoisite, which can look very similar.
The name 'fuchsite' is often mispronounced. The stone was named after German chemist and mineralogist Johann Nepomuk von Fuchs (pronounced fooks), so it should be pronounced 'fook-site.'

Strangely, it's often mispelt as 'fuschite.' 

Article Photos

The fuchsite at the top of our article is displayed in the Natural History Museum, London. Photo: Stone Mania.