Chiastolite is andalusite with a dark cross inside each crystal. 'Cross stone' is also a trade name for staurolite, a different mineral, so ask which one you are buying.
Nesosilicate (andalusite) · Andalusite
Chiastolite
Quiastolita
- Palette
- Gray Brown Black
- Mined in
- Spain, France, United States, South Africa, Brazil, Sri Lanka
- Hardness
- Mohs 6.5–7.5 ?
- See-through
- opaque
- Known since
- 1798
- Named for
- the Greek letter chi (X), for the cross seen in cut crystals
- Also sold as
- cross stone, lapis crucifer, macle, andalusite with a cross
- Intention
- Protection New Beginnings
- Looking for
- Protection Safe travels
- Water
- Fine with water and mild soap
- Dye or finish
- Chiastolite is not known to be altered; the beads are usually sold natural.
Not in our pieces now
FRONDEL
Frondel's 1934 explanation of the cross is that graphite impurities gather on andalusite's fast-growing corners, slowing growth there and leaving four feathery arms.
25%
The Glomel mine in Brittany's Côtes-d'Armor supplies about a quarter of the world's andalusite, the mineral chiastolite belongs to.
1 FORMULA, 3 MINERALS
Andalusite, kyanite and sillimanite share one formula, Al2SiO5, and andalusite is the one that forms at lower pressure.
What it is
Chiastolite is andalusite with a dark cross running through each crystal, so a slice shows a neat black X or plus sign on a gray, tan or brown ground. The cross is graphite or clay trapped as the crystal grew. 'Cross stone' is also a trade name for staurolite, a different mineral, so ask which one you are buying.
What gives it its color
The dark cross in chiastolite is made of carbon or clay inclusions arranged in a pattern inside a gray andalusite crystal, and it shows when the stone is cut across.
Where it comes from
Chiastolite is found in Spain (Asturias), Portugal, China (Henan), Australia and Chile, as well as Massachusetts and California. Andalusite itself was named for Andalusia but first described from Guadalajara, Spain.
In history
Pilgrims returning from Santiago de Compostela in Spain carried chiastolite across Europe as souvenirs and amulets from the 1500s on. The first printed picture of one appears in Laet's 1648 book De Gemmis et Lapidibus, and older mineralogy books call it lapis crucifer, 'cross stone'.
What's said about it
In crystal lore, a cross stone is the one people keep for protection. It's said to make a quiet shield, and it is traditionally carried in a pocket on the non-dominant side.
Pilgrims returning from Santiago de Compostela brought chiastolite home across Europe as a souvenir and charm. In older gem lore the cross made it a religious sign against evil spirits.
People carry it in a pocket or on the wrist, or keep it near the heart in a layout.
How people wear or keep it: In a pocket on the non-dominant side, on the wrist, or over the heart in a layout.
In crystal practice
In the crystal tradition, chiastolite is paired with the heart chakra, 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: in a pocket on the non-dominant side, on the wrist, over the heart in a layout. People reach for it when they want protection, safe travels, 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.
ChakraHeart
ZodiacLibra
ElementEarth
Also calledcross stone, lapis crucifer, macle
Care
- Hard enough for everyday wear, but the cross can split along its lines under a sharp knock, so avoid hard impacts.
- Water is fine for natural stones; wipe with a soft damp cloth and dry it.
- Keep it from harsh cleaners and sudden temperature changes.
- Check with the seller that a 'cross stone' bead is chiastolite and not staurolite or a dyed or carved imitation.
How to tell what you have
- Chiastolite is andalusite with a dark cross or feathered pattern of graphite running through it, formed as the crystal grew.
- Look for the pattern to run through the stone rather than sit on the surface.
Questions people ask at our table
What is chiastolite?
It is andalusite, a hard aluminum silicate, whose crystals grew with a cross of graphite inside. Cut across the crystal, the cross shows as a dark X or plus sign.
Is a cross stone the same as chiastolite?
Not always. Some sellers use 'cross stone' for staurolite, whose crystals twin into a cross shape. Chiastolite is the one with the dark cross inside a gray or brown crystal.
Why is it tied to Santiago de Compostela?
Specimens from Asturias in Spain were sold to pilgrims who took them home as souvenirs and amulets. That is why European mineral books call it the cross stone.
Is it dyed or fake?
Natural chiastolite is not usually dyed. Carved or molded look-alikes exist, so a seller's word and a clear natural crystal edge are your best checks.
Do you carry chiastolite?
No. Brown aventurine, bronzite and wood jasper are the stones in our pieces with a similar earthy brown look.
Not in our pieces right now
Stones we do carry that are close to it are listed under related stones.
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