Arfvedsonite is a black amphibole mineral, sometimes cut with a blue flash. It is often mistaken for astrophyllite and nuummite. We do not carry it.
Amphibole (silicate)
Arfvedsonite
Arfvedsonita
- Palette
- Black Blue
- Mined in
- United States, Canada, Greenland, Russia
- Hardness
- Mohs 5.0–6.0 ?
- See-through
- opaque
- Known since
- 1823
- Named for
- Johan August Arfwedson, a Swedish chemist
- Also sold as
- arfvedsonite in feldspar (as sold as tumbled stones)
- Intention
- Protection
- Looking for
- Protection
- Water
- Keep it dry; wipe with a soft cloth
- Dye or finish
- Sellers rarely say what is done to polished arfvedsonite; most pieces appear natural, but check the drill hole for dye before calling a lot untouched.
Not in our pieces now
5 TO 6
Arfvedsonite rates 5 to 6 on the Mohs scale and is dense for its size, with a specific gravity of 3.3 to 3.5.
SODA HORNBLENDE
A partly obsolete name for arfvedsonite is soda hornblende; it is a black amphibole with deep green edges where it is thin.
1792 TO 1841
Johan August Arfwedson, the Swedish chemist the mineral honors, lived only 49 years yet is credited with discovering lithium.
What it is
Arfvedsonite is a black amphibole mineral that shows deep green on thin edges and, in polished pieces sold as gem material, a blue flash that moves as you turn it. It is often confused with astrophyllite and nuummite, which are other dark stones with a flash.
Where it comes from
Arfvedsonite forms in iron-rich alkaline rocks; notable sources are Mont Saint-Hilaire in Quebec, the Ilimaussaq complex in Greenland, the Kola Peninsula in Russia, Mount Malosa in Malawi, and Washington Pass in the United States.
In history
Arfvedsonite was found in 1823 and named for the Swedish chemist Johan August Arfwedson. In 1817, working in Berzelius's lab in Stockholm, Arfwedson had discovered the element lithium in the mineral petalite.
What's said about it
It has no old tradition behind it, and the crystal guides we checked do not cover it. The stone is a recent arrival among collectors.
If the look appeals, the dark, shimmering stones we do carry, black labradorite and silver obsidian, are the nearest match.
How people wear or keep it: On a shelf as a specimen, in a pocket, or in a small cloth pouch.
In crystal practice
In the crystal tradition, arfvedsonite is paired with the throat and third eye chakras, so practitioners rest it there during meditation or lie down with it in place for a few quiet minutes. Day to day, the same tradition suggests keeping it close: on a shelf as a specimen, in a pocket, in a small cloth pouch. People reach for it when they want protection, and many set an intention when they put it on. Most practitioners cleanse a new stone first (running water only if the stone can take it, otherwise smoke or moonlight) and set it aside now and then to rest.
These are beliefs people have held and still hold about the stone, reported as such. Nothing here is a promise or a medical claim. We sell stones as jewelry, not for these effects.
Associations
The chakra and star sign this stone is usually matched with. These are popular traditions, not facts about the stone.
ChakraThroat, Third Eye
ZodiacGemini
Also calledarfvedsonite in feldspar (as sold as tumbled stones)
Care
- Mid-hardness and can be brittle: avoid knocks and hard surfaces.
- Wipe with a soft cloth and mild soapy water, then dry; no ultrasonic cleaners.
- The blue flash is a natural property of the cut surface, so keep the polish from scratches by storing it apart from harder stones.
- Keep away from household chemicals.
How to tell what you have
- Arfvedsonite is a black amphibole that looks deep green at thin edges and shows strong color change between blue-green, yellow-brown, and gray-violet as you turn it.
- It is brittle with perfect cleavage and hardness 5 to 6, so it chips if knocked.
- Dark stones with a flash, such as astrophyllite and nuummite, look similar, so ask what the seller means by the name.
Questions people ask at our table
What is arfvedsonite?
It is a black sodium iron amphibole mineral, named for a Swedish chemist and first described in 1823. Pieces cut as gem material can show a blue flash.
How do I tell it from astrophyllite and nuummite?
Astrophyllite is softer and its flash tends toward copper or bronze, while arfvedsonite flashes blue. Nuummite is a rock, not one mineral, with a gold, blue or green flash. A sample can look alike, so a hardness or density check settles it. Those comparisons come from seller pages we did not confirm.
Where is it from?
Notable sources include Washington State, Mont Saint-Hilaire in Quebec, the Ilimaussaq complex in Greenland and the Kola Peninsula in Russia.
Do you carry it?
We do not. Our dark stones with a shimmer include black labradorite and silver obsidian.
Not in our pieces right now
Stones we do carry that are close to it are listed under related stones.
Stay in the loop
Sign up to hear about new product drops, upcoming events, and the latest from Peritik. No spam, just the good stuff.