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Amazonite Properties, Facts and Photos

amazonite mineral in a museum display cabinet
Contents

1. What is Amazonite?
2. More About Amazonite
3. Amazonite Healing Properties
4. Article Pictures
5. Shop Amazonite

What is Amazonite?

Amazonite is a blue-green variety of microcline whose colour comes from trace amounts of lead.  The more lead present, the deeper the colour.

For many years the colour was believed to come from copper.

Microcline is one of the most common of all feldspar minerals. Feldspar is a rock forming mineral that accounts for more than half the Earth's crust.

Amazonite which is not a particularly common mineral is also known as Amazon Stone.

In the past it came almost exclusively from Miyask in the Ilmen Mountains not far from Chelyabinsk in Russia. More recently it has been found in Colorado and a few other places in the United States as well as Madagascar.

Only blue-green varieties of the mineral microcline are correctly known as amazonite.
polished amazonite in a museum display cabinetAlthough named after the Amazon River in Brazil amazonite is not found there.  It's believed to have been mixed up with another green stone that was found in this area around the same time.

According to Dr J. Kourimsky author of 'The illustrated encyclopedia of minerals and rocks' the stone that was discovered close to the Amazon was nephrite jade.

Amazonite can be found elsewhere in Brazil particularly the state of Minas Gerais.  Other sources include Canada, Namibia, Australia, Italy and the Ural mountains of Russia.

Some of the world's finest material comes from Pikes Peak in Colorado.  Much of the amazonite from this locality occurs alongside smoky quartz.  Fine crystals of amazonite have recently been found in Ethiopia.

More About Amazonite

Amazonite beads that have been found date back as far as the 5th millennium BC.   The ancient Egyptians used amazonite for carving deities and considered it to be a catalyst between the living and the Gods.

During the Dynastic period which began around 3100 BC, certain gemstones were mentioned frequently in ancient Egyptian texts.  These included amazonite, carnelian, lapis lazuli and turquoise.

These stones were in high demand because of their colour and rarity.

Turquoise is believed to have come from the Sinai Peninsula whilst lapis lazuli was transported from the Badakhshan province in north east Afghanistan. 

Amazonite was mined in Egypt during the 18th Dynasty.  This period which lasted from 1549 BC to 1292 BC was one of the most significant and prosperous periods in ancient Egypt.
rough specimen of the mineral amazoniteAmazonite has also been found in Neolithic sites in Sudan.  Material has been dated to the period between 6000 BC and 5001 BC.  Archaeologists did not originally know where it came from.  

Scientific analysis on the chemical makeup of these artifacts was compared to amazonite found in other parts of North and East Africa. Only then was it discovered the source of the stone was southern Ethiopia.

This suggests people in North Africa were exchanging materials with people from other parts of the country. It also indicates that crafting was becoming more important during this period.

During the late 1800's Colorado became the most important mining source for the finest grade amazonite.  This U.S state gradually replaced Russia as one of the world's leading suppliers.  

Amazonite grades 6 to 6.5 on Mohs scale of mineral hardness.

Translucent crystals of amazonite are incredibly rare but have been found.

The vast majority of amazonite is opaque and exhibits a 'massive' crystal habit.

Crystals that from in this way do not have the space to form distinctive shapes or faces.  The result is a solid often irregular shaped mass or lump.

Amazonite Healing Properties

Amazonite is a captivating stone that encompasses harmony, clarity and balanced communication.

With its striking shades of blue and green it's often associated with the water and nature.

When used for its healing properties amazonite promotes the truth to be spoken.  It enhances intuition and the ability to articulate thoughts and emotions in a genuine and authentic manner.

Amazonite can take you on a journey of self-discovery, bringing inner strength and helping with the release of negative energies.

Its healing properties can encourage you to embrace the world around you.  Regarded as a powerful healing crystal amazonite brings courage and improves self esteem.

It's believed to offer protection from geopathic stress and electromagnetic fields (EMFs).

Despite its strength amazonite calms mental chaos particularly caused by stress.

On a physical level it balances masculine and feminine energies.  It works with the heart and throat chakras to strengthen the flow of energy between the two.  This improves the ability to communicate well especially in matters relating to the heart.

Amazonite enables you to look at situations objectively and to see both sides of the story.  This healing property makes it a great stone for relationships.

It can also be used to soothe tension, ease frustration and help restore harmony and trust.

For those who want to get a better understanding of themselves and to find out where they're going in life, working with amazonite can help you tap into deeper feelings.  It removes uncertainty replacing it with a clear and more positive vision.

Amazonite is beneficial for those who are afraid to connect with or to show deep inner feelings.  

As a tumbled stone it can be used as a worry bead.  Its soothing energies bring an intense sense of calmness whilst gently releasing fear and anxiety.  It may also be used to dissipate anger and negativity.

For those who are emotional amazonite can help regulate ups and downs hence producing more balanced feelings.
small wooden bowl of amazonite tumbled stones

Article Pictures

Pictures 1, 2 and 4 were taken by Stone Mania.

Picture 3 is courtesy of Stan Celestian.

All photos are clickable.  The amazonite in pictures 1 and 2 are in London's Natural History Museum. The tumbled stones are from our collection.

shop now explore our collection of amazonite
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