Actinolite Gemstone: Characteristics, Meaning, and Cost
Introduction:
Actinolite gemstone is a transparent gemstone that ranges in color from green to black and can occasionally exhibit a “cat’s eye” look. Like tremolite, this fibrous amphibole mineral frequently crystallizes into glassy, flattened prisms. Is actinolite common or rare? Although translucent, gem-quality actinolite stones are rather uncommon, actinolite crystals are fairly widespread all over the world. Additionally, since it’s a lesser-known stone, mainstream jewelry stores won’t carry it. You most likely know jade even if you’ve never heard of actinolite before. Actinolite, after all, is a substantial component of one of the two jade stones!
Want to learn more? Follow along as we uncover actinolite varieties, gemstone options, properties, and more!
Describe Actinolite Stone
Because of its matching rich green hues, actinolite, a semi-precious gemstone, is frequently compared to emerald, a costly stone. Indeed, emerald-green actinolite masses of superior quality are occasionally referred to as “emerald spar.”
Actinolite, then, is a less expensive birthstone for May than emerald. Actinolite is also a zodiac stone for Aries and Scorpio, two signs ruled by Mars, as well as a star stone for Mars.
What is actinolite used for? The mineral has a few industrial uses, like:
- Paint
- Cement
- Gardening
- Insulation & fire-proofing
This mineral belongs to the amphibole subgroup of the asbestos family. Hold on, asbestos? Does actinolite pose a risk? Actinolite is safe when it comes to gemstones, especially when it has an acicular (needle-like) habit; nonetheless, we will talk more about safety in a moment.
What is the composition of actinolite, in terms of minerals?
Specifications and Features of Actinolite
The mineral actinolite is an amphibole silicate that includes silica, hydroxide, calcium, magnesium, and iron. In a mineral sequence that also includes ferroactinolite and tremolite, it is the middle member. Chemically, ferroactinolite contains more iron while tremolite has more magnesium. The magnesium and iron contents in actinolite fluctuate, with the iron level seldom rising above 50%.
Actinolite and tremolite are frequently almost identical. Tremolite can become even more similar to actinolite when iron takes the place of magnesium. White or gray tremolites are low in iron. Raw actinolite can appear as masses of dense fibers or as lengthy crystals. While most actinolites are green, under a microscope they appear light green or colorless.
- Mohs hardness: 5-6
- Color: Light to dark green, grayish-green, greenish-black, black, or colorless
- Crystal structure: Monoclinic
- Luster: Vitreous (glass-like) or silky, sometimes dull
- Transparency: Transparent to translucent, sometimes opaque
- Refractive index: 1.61-1.64
- Density: 2.95-3.30
- Cleavage: Perfect or good on [110] with 2 directions (120° and 60° intersections)
- Fracture: Uneven or splintery
- Streak: White
- Luminescence: None
- Pleochroism: Present, yellow or yellow-green to green or brown
- Optical effects: Chatoyancy
Types of Actinolite
Actinolite has one recognized variety, while additional stones are occasionally regarded as variations. We’ll also talk about stones that frequently include actinolite.
Smaragdite:
The only “official” actinolite variant is smaragdite. Despite having a lower refractive index than actinolite, this stone is marginally heavier. The term “green” or “emerald,” derived from the Ancient Greek smaragdus or Latin smaragdos, refers to the hue created by chromium impurities.
In the past, several green-colored rocks and minerals were referred to as “smaragdite.” The phrase is sometimes applied to rocks found in the European Alps that include lengthy, green actinolite crystals. The terms actinolite, zoisite, diopside, and green quartz are also used by others. Some still call glass emerald substitutes “smaragdite.”
Disregardful
A fibrous mass or needle-like crystal known as byssolite (or amiant) is occasionally mistaken for an actinolite variant. Usually made up of a hair-like mat of tiny, intertwined actinolite or tremolite crystals, this stone ranges in color from green to teal. The feathery “horsetail” inclusions in demantoid garnet that have the ability to raise a gem’s value are caused by byssolite in addition to chrysotile.
Cat’s Eye Actinolite
Cat’s eye actinolite is an uncommon type of actinolite gemstone that exhibits chatoyancy, or the “cat’s eye” look. It is not an “official” variety per se. These translucent gems’ parallel and aligned fiber bundles cause light to reflect over the stone’s surface in the form of a thin, white beam. Sellers occasionally refer to this stone as “cat’s eye jade.” Is actinolite a jade, though?
Nephrite Jade
Although actinolite is not a type of jade, it can play a crucial role in nephrite, the less costly but more frequent of the two jade stones (together with jadeite). Many gemologists consider this gem a part of the actinolite mineral series, as nephrite is largely formed of thick, fibrous tufts of either actinolite or tremolite.
Nephrite exhibits dark green hues akin to actinolite when actinolite (or ferroactinolite) is the primary constituent. Since nephrite fibers aren’t parallel, many specialists believe that chatoyant “nephrite” is a tremolite or actinolite cat’s eye. Nephrite is typically paler, resembling the yellowish-white “mutton fat jade,” when it is made up of tiny, thick, and intertwined bunches of tremolite crystals. White stripes known as “water lines” may appear in the nephrite if tremolite crystals are merely an inclusion.
Concerning inclusions…
Actinolite Quartz
Actinolite is less common as a standalone gem and more frequently occurs as a component of other gems. The most frequent form of actinolite is found in quartz, where it takes the form of green to black acicular (blade- or needle-like) formations. The stone is referred known as “Witch’s Finger” if inclusions of actinolite, tremolite, rutile, and mica are found in the quartz.
What does actinolite signify, in the context of the mystical?
Actinolite Meaning & History
The word “actinolite” is derived from the Ancient Greek word “aktinos,” which means “beam” or “ray” about the stone’s fibrous structure and radiated crystal habit. Aktinos also means “brilliance” or “splendor” in figurative language. Actinolite also represents bright light.
Because of its supposed ability to aid with dream interpretation and past-life exploration, actinolite is sometimes referred to as the “Stone of Dreams”.
Actinolite, also known as Yang Gi Shi, is used in Traditional Chinese Medicine to treat renal issues as well as male and female infertility. Cat’s eye stones, such as cat’s eye actinolite, have been used for protection against the evil eye since ancient times. The evil eye is the belief that an envious glance may either intentionally or unintentionally injure the recipient.
History
Although the exact discoverer of actinolite is unknown, the name was allegedly given to it in 1794 by the eccentric Irish geologist Richard Kirwan.
In actuality, “actinolite” was a translation of the German word “strahlstein,” which can mean either “jet stone” or “radiated stone,” depending on the translator. Remarkably, the word “strahlstein” also denotes “strong” or “masculine.” The descriptions of actinolite (and other minerals) in Kirwan’s 1794 book Elements of Mineralogy were crucial in establishing mineralogy as a respectable science, even though it’s not certain if he was the first.
In 1797, the French mineralogist René Just Haüy, known as the “Father of Modern Crystallography,” named the class of minerals “amphibole.” Because of the components’ erratic characteristics and appearances (at the time, actinolite, tremolite, tourmaline, and hornblende), the term derives from the Greek word amphibolos, which means “ambiguous.”
Actinolite Healing Properties
Actinolite comes in many forms, and some of them have therapeutic qualities inherent in their hue. In addition to transforming negative energy into positive ones, green gemstones for the heart chakra include green actinolite and nephrite. Dark actinolite, nevertheless, shares common applications with other dark gems for guarding against harm and balancing the root chakra.
Physical Healing
Physical actinolite benefits touted by crystal healers include:
- Detoxifying the body
- Boosting metabolism
- Strengthening the immune system
Like jade, actinolite is similarly said to treat the kidneys and encourage better physical balance.
Emotional Healing
Actinolite is supposed to give you more courage, emotional fortitude, and self-assurance. According to spiritual healers, it can assist those who are dealing with severe emotional scars by enabling them to absorb their pain without becoming overwhelmed by it. Additional alleged emotional advantages include stress reduction and internal or external protection against negativity and negative energies.
If you’re looking for spiritual value, actinolite has it. But what about actinolite’s value as a gemstone?
Actinolite Gemstone Properties
Not every kind of actinolite is used to make gemstones. Though translucent actinolite crystals may also be used, nephrite, cat’s eye actinolite, and actinolite in quartz are the most common types of gemstones.
These stones’ color, cut, transparency, and clarity all contribute to their value.
Color:
Actinolite is predominantly found in various shades of green to black, with the intensity of green being influenced by higher iron content, especially in stones like nephrite. Uncommonly, some specimens are entirely colorless, and these are considered more valuable.
Cat’s eye actinolite exhibits a diverse range of colors, including colorless, white, yellow, brown, gray, or black, with a prevailing yellow to green-hue. The most prized form of nephrite is the rare white variety.
Cut:
Actinolite crystals are generally challenging to cut, making faceted shapes a rarity and highly desirable. Although actinolite crystals are typically small, those sourced from Vermont, USA, have yielded 10-carat faceted gems.
While faceted nephrites are a relatively recent trend, traditional forms of cutting for both jades involve carvings, beads, or cabochons. Particularly, large bangles crafted from nephrite are considered highly valuable. Cat’s eye actinolite gems are commonly fashioned into cabochons to showcase the unique optical effect, while smaragdite may be either faceted or carved.
Transparency :
The most prized actinolite gems are those that are transparent and faceted, enhancing their overall value. In quartz containing actinolite, increased transparency in the quartz enhances the visibility of the embedded actinolite needles, contributing to a higher value. Cat’s eye actinolite may range from translucent to opaque, with translucent varieties generally holding higher value, although a pronounced cat’s eye effect remains the primary consideration.
Nephrite, on the other hand, is seldom close to transparent, making any transparent specimens exceptionally rare and consequently highly sought-after.
Actinolite Formation & Sources
Actinolite is generated through the process of low-grade metamorphism, which is a rock alteration phenomenon occurring at relatively low temperatures (200-300℃) and low pressure. This metamorphic transformation can take the form of either regional or contact metamorphism, typically manifesting in calcium-magnesium carbonate rocks such as dolostone.
During regional metamorphism, both pressure and heat play pivotal roles in reshaping the rock and its mineral composition. In contrast, contact metamorphism primarily relies on heat for the transformative changes to occur.
The primary location for mining most actinolite minerals is within schists, with actinolite schist being a foliated rock predominantly composed of actinolite. Additionally, actinolite is commonly found in amphibolite, a metamorphic rock rich in amphibole minerals like actinolite.
As for mining locations, actinolite is distributed globally, and key sources include Brazil, Canada (notably for cat’s eye varieties), China, Madagascar (known for cat’s eye and dark green, facetable actinolite), New Zealand, Russia, Taiwan (cat’s eye), Tanzania (transparent actinolite and smaragdite), Wales, and the USA, which historically had numerous actinolite amphibole mines but ceased operations on the last one in 2002.
Actinolite Price & Value
You may wonder: is actinolite worth anything? Yes, though some varieties are significantly more valuable than others.
Cat’s eye cabochons have a broad range of price points, from $10-$135 per carat, but most are $10-$20 per carat.
Quartz with actinolite for sale also varies in price. Tumbled stones can be as low as $4, whereas cabochons and faceted gems range from $30-$50 each. Raw crystals are the priciest, starting at $30 and reaching $1,500.
Faceted actinolite gemstones are the rarest and thus, highly valuable. These gems range from $50 to upwards of $450.
Activate Your Spirit with Actinolite!
Actinolite gemstone variants are worth a closer examination despite their somewhat obscure position. Whether worn as a bracelet or used in meditation, a cat’s eye actinolite can offer protection, a spiritual connection, and self-assurance.
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