Hemimorphite is a natural zinc mineral, often soft blue to blue-green with white banding. It is soft and dissolves in acid, and it is easy to mistake for smithsonite or turquoise. We do not carry it.
Silicate (zinc sorosilicate)
Hemimorphite
Hemimorfita
- Palette
- Blue Green White
- Mined in
- Mexico, China, United States, Belgium, Germany, Italy, Thailand
- Hardness
- Mohs 4.5–5.0 ?
- See-through
- translucent
- Known since
- 1853
- Named for
- its crystals have different shapes at each end (hemimorph form)
- Also sold as
- calamine, blue calamine, electric calamine
- Intention
- Love
- Looking for
- Relationships Peace
- Water
- Keep it dry; wipe with a soft cloth
- Dye or finish
- Hemimorphite is usually sold in its natural state; lower-grade pieces may be dyed or stabilized with wax or resin.
Not in our pieces now
54.2% ZINC
Hemimorphite can be up to 54.2 percent zinc by weight, and it was long mistaken for smithsonite under the shared name calamine.
253.7 NM
Some hemimorphite crystals glow green under shortwave ultraviolet light (253.7 nanometers) and weakly pink under longwave.
LA CALAMINE
The Belgian town now called Kelmis was known in French as La Calamine, after its zinc mine.
What it is
A natural zinc mineral, often a soft sky-blue to blue-green with white banding, found as crusts and rounded masses. It is easy to mistake at a glance for smithsonite, turquoise or chrysocolla.
Where it comes from
Bright blue hemimorphite comes mainly from Wenshan and Dulong in Yunnan, China, while Mexico (Mapimi and Santa Eulalia) is the most prolific source of collector pieces.
In history
Hemimorphite was long mixed up with smithsonite under the name calamine, and the two zinc minerals were told apart in the second half of the 18th century. It was named for the one-sided shape of its crystals.
What's said about it
In crystal lore today, blue hemimorphite is the stone people set where a group meets, for better cooperation. Some keep a piece at home in the room the family uses most.
An older account describes Mexican miners placing a piece of blue calamine, the same stone, beside a small cross at their work. People today carry it in a pocket or purse.
How people wear or keep it: In a shared room, in a pocket or purse, or on a conference table.
In crystal practice
In the crystal tradition, hemimorphite is paired with the throat 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 shared room, in a pocket or purse, on a conference table. People reach for it when they want relationships, peace, 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
ZodiacLibra
Also calledcalamine, blue calamine, electric calamine
Care
- It is soft, about 4.5 to 5, so it scratches and chips easily.
- It dissolves in acid, so keep it away from cleaners, perfume and sweat.
- Wipe with a soft dry cloth and skip water, ultrasonic and steam cleaners.
- Store it wrapped and apart from harder stones.
How to tell what you have
- Hemimorphite is soft sky-blue to blue-green with white banding, hardness 4.5 to 5, and it dissolves in acid. It is easily mixed up with smithsonite, chrysocolla and turquoise.
- Check for color pooling at the drill hole or color that rubs off; an even, very bright blue with no banding may be dyed stone.
What sets the price
Price follows how bright and even the blue is; the vivid blue pieces are much scarcer than the common white or gray material, and larger, cleaner pieces cost more.
Rules and sourcing
Lower-grade hemimorphite pieces may be dyed or stabilized with wax or resin. The FTC jewelry guides call for a seller to disclose dye, wax or resin.
Questions people ask at our table
What is hemimorphite?
It is a natural zinc silicate that forms blue to blue-green crusts. Its name refers to crystals that end in two different shapes.
Is it the same as chrysocolla or turquoise?
No. It is a different mineral, though similar colors make them easy to confuse. Hemimorphite is a zinc stone, and it is also confused with smithsonite.
Is it dyed?
Natural blue stones exist, but the blue can be dyed or sold under other names, so ask a seller how a piece was made.
Where does it come from?
It has been found in Mexico, China, the United States and across Europe, including the Belgian-German border and Sardinia. Gem-quality blue material is a smaller share of that.
Can I get it wet?
Better not. It is soft and dissolves in acid, so a dry soft cloth is the safer way to clean it.
Not in our pieces right now
Stones we do carry that are close to it are listed under related stones.
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