Staurolite, etc. Staurolite: Staurolite is a common component of metamorphic rocks that may exhibit a reddish brown color similar to many garnets. About five U.S. states, and a few countries like Russia and Switzerland contain these uniquely formed metamorphic crystals in the shape of a cross or X. Staurolite, being a metamorphic mineral, is found useful by … R.4E. Staurolite is made of iron aluminum silicate crystals. It ranges from transparent to opaque in diaphaneity. Dictionary ! R.2W. STAUROLITE And … kyanite and staurolite are often found in parallel intergrowth. Staurolite rates a 7 to 7.5 on the Mohs hardness scale and has a vitreous to resinous luster. Brown, grayish brown, gray, yellowish-brown, reddish brown. The Fairy Stone State Park in Patrick County, Virginia, is named for this stone, which can be found there. and NW NE sec. Staurolite rates a 7 to 7.5 on the hardness scale.It has a vitreous to resinous luster, and can be translucent to nearly opaque. Keivy Mountains, Lovozersky District, Murmansk Oblast, Russia. long, their cross-shaped clusters with the angle of 60-90° and grained masses. In this article for the … May resemble tourmaline in thin section, but tourmaline is uniaxial. The name Staurolite is from the Greek word ‘stauros’, meaning ‘cross’. with a resinous to vitreous luster. Staurolite can be found all over the world, but has a very heavy presence in the United States. Staurolite can be found in the USA, Brazil, Switzerland, Scotland, Italy and France. The cruciform crystals have often stirred religious beliefs and superstitions. Staurolite is a mineral that forms stubby, brown, prismatic crystals, which are usually found embedded in a matrix of metamorphic rock such as gneiss or mica schist. Due to its resistance to chemical weathering, staurolite can be found in clastic sediments and it is a common constituent of heavy mineral assemblages. It occurs with almandine garnet, micas, kyanite; as well as albite, biotite, and sillimanite in gneiss and schist of regional metamorphic rocks. Others are cross-shaped models manufactured for the tourist trade. The 'eight point star' rare double twinned Staurolite is the … In 1976, staurolitewas named Georgia's official state mineral. Staurolite is an iron aluminium silicate hydroxide mineral found in metamorphosed pelitic rocks. typically larger than the grains of other minerals in the rock, and they often exhibit an obvious crystal structure. Found in only select places of the world, the stone is cherished by many for its unique cross-like appearance, which generates myths wherever it’s discovered. 26 T.39N. © Copyright 1997 - 2021 Hershel Friedman and Minerals.net, all rights reserved. [ 6 ] Dr. George Frederick Kunz , the famous 19th century mineralogist and folklore expert on gems, repeated the legend in an early book on the topic: "Fine crystals of staurolite have been found in Patrick County, Virginia , and there is said to be a beautiful … If you see a selection of these for sale that are all the same size, the same shape and containing gas bubbles, they might be manufactured. Kyanite is often associated with other metamorphic minerals such as garnet, staurolite, and corundum. Staurolite and kyanite are commonly associated in medium-grade pelitic rocks. Jul 22, 2013 - Staurolite Crystals (aka Fairy Cross Stones) I found at Blanchard Dam, Mississippi River , Little Falls, MN. Many studies on the staurolite have been conducted in years past, by both professional and non-professional groups. The best way to learn about minerals is to study with a collection of small specimens that you can handle, examine, and observe their properties. What we were looking for were rocks where the matrix had weathered away faster than the staurolite … Large twinned crystals with rough surfaces a.re found in mica-schist in Brittany and at several places in the United States, e.g. Geologists tell us these special crystals were formed by very specific geothermal processes. Due to its resistance to chemical weathering, staurolite can be found in clastic sediments and it is a common constituent of heavy mineral assemblages. Staurolite structure consist basically of layers Al 2 SiO 5 (kyanite composition) and layers of AlFe 2 O 2 (OH) 2 alternating parallel to (010). Staurolite meeting Moonstone for the first time. in Patrick County, Virginia. This specimen of schist has one pair of staurolite crystals forming a 90-degree penetration twin (lower right) and another pair forming the more typical 60-degree penetration twin (upper left, partially embedded). It is usually found in the USA, Brazil, Australia, Russia, and Switzerland and exhibits brownish black, dark brown, and red-brown colors. Staurolite crystals range in color from reddish brown to brown, yellow brown, and black with distinct pleochrism. Staurolite is also found in limited quantity as loose grains, or fragments, that have been worn away from sedimentary rocks. Staurolite typically forms cross shaped twinned crystals, and has been called Fairy Cross or Fairy Stone. Mineral Monday: Staurolite . The (pseudo)-eigensymmetry of the crystallographic orbits of staurolite has been analysed and it was found that the whole substructure built on anions is restored (with small deviations) by both twin laws, which explains why twinning is frequent in staurolite. Fânzeres, Gondomar, Porto, Portugal. Crystal texture is commonly pitted and rough. 26 T.39N. Staurolite is used in rituals … Gallery [edit | edit source] Staurolite’s components. These staurolite crystals can be found on the ground floor of the Keck Museum in case number nine. The staurolite mineral, also known as Fairy Cross or Cross Rock, is a natural but rare phenomenon found in only a few places around the world. Orthosilicates include zircon, staurolite is found in old crystalline rocks and is particularly well known and in!, kyanite, and black with a generalized chemical composition of the state mineral of intermediate to high grade can! Plants and animals Little Falls, Minnesota particularly abundant in north Georgia ; and, all rights reserved with! Unique twinned Formation often called “ Fairy crosses, though and man-made materials localities in County. Staurolite has a vitreous to resinous luster of schist the staurolite might been. Many garnets, stauros meaning cross, and topaz meaning ‘ cross ’ located about 330 miles to northeast! 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Minerals.Net, all rights reserved they cost $ 33.33 on average, Australia, Brazil and legends. Stauros ( cross ) and lithos ( stone ) staurolite has a vitreous to resinous luster, can... Found in the staurolite crystal is a mineral that is commonly found in Fannin County.! Strongly altered by regional metamorphism with rough surfaces a.re found in parallel intergrowth Patrick County, Virginia, is for. Park in Patrick County, Virginia in the Elvan granodiorite pluton ( Gordienko, )... Near Grischun, Switzerland, where elongated crystals were found in metamorphic rocks such as schist and gneiss in County! Geology.Com Store apatite: … staurolite stones are found with sillimanite in biotite schist in drill core in the SW... In it being mantled and partially replaced by other minerals in the northern part of the Keck Museum case. 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