Petalite is a pale lithium mineral, usually colorless or white, sometimes pink. We do not carry it. 'Angel stone' is a nickname the crystal trade uses for it.
Silicate (lithium aluminum silicate)
Petalite
Petalita
- Palette
- Clear White Pink Gray Yellow
- Mined in
- Sweden, Brazil, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Australia, Afghanistan, Italy, Myanmar, United States
- Hardness
- Mohs 6.0–6.5 ?
- See-through
- transparent
- Known since
- 1800
- Named for
- Greek petalon, meaning leaf, for its perfect cleavage
- Also sold as
- angel stone, stone of the angels, castorite
- Intention
- Calm Love
- Looking for
- Rest and meditation Compassion and empathy
- Water
- Keep it dry; wipe with a soft cloth
- Dye or finish
- Petalite is sometimes irradiated to alter color, and rarely coated.
Not in our pieces now
CASTORITE
Petalite also goes by the name castorite.
LIGHTEST METAL
Lithium, first identified in petalite, is the least dense metal and one of only three metals that float on water.
1821
The lithium Johan Arfwedson spotted in petalite in 1817 was not isolated as a pure metal until 1821.
What it is
A pale stone, usually colorless to white or gray, sometimes pale pink or yellow, glassy to pearly in a bead or tumble. A natural lithium mineral; not glass or dyed. 'Angel stone' is a crystal-trade nickname for it (it is also used for angelite, a different blue mineral).
Where it comes from
Petalite was first described from Utö island in Sweden, and today's deposits include Minas Gerais in Brazil, Karibib in Namibia and Bikita in Zimbabwe.
In history
Petalite was discovered in 1800 by Brazilian naturalist and statesman Jose Bonifacio de Andrada e Silva on Uto, an island near Stockholm, Sweden. In 1817 chemist Johan August Arfwedson found a new element in it, lithium, named from the Greek for stone because it came out of a mineral.
What's said about it
In crystal lore today, petalite is the stone people hold during quiet sitting. It is linked with the heart chakra and with gratitude, and some picture bright light and friendly guides around them.
It splits easily, so people keep it in the hand, a pocket or a pendant rather than knock it around on a wrist.
How people wear or keep it: Held in the hands, over the heart on a pendant, or in a pocket.
In crystal practice
In the crystal tradition, petalite 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: held in the hands, over the heart on a pendant, in a pocket. People reach for it when they want rest and meditation, compassion and empathy, 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
ZodiacLeo
Also calledangel stone, stone of the angels, castorite
Care
- Mohs 6 to 6.5 with one perfect cleavage, so a hard knock can split it. Earrings and pendants suit it better than a bracelet.
- Store it apart from harder stones such as quartz so it does not get scratched.
- Clean with a soft brush, mild soap and lukewarm water, and dry it right away.
- Skip ultrasonic and steam cleaners.
- Take it off before sport or heavy work.
How to tell what you have
- Petalite is a colorless to white or pale mineral that is fairly hard (Mohs 6 to 6.5) and brittle, with a glassy shine.
- Clear quartz or glass can look similar, so check weight and hardness.
What sets the price
Gem-quality petalite is rare and usually cut as small faceted stones, so price follows size and how free of inclusions the stone is, with colorless the most sought after.
Questions people ask at our table
What is petalite?
A lithium aluminum silicate mineral, mostly colorless to white, also found in pale pink. It is mined as a lithium ore and for ceramics and glass, and only a little is cut as gems.
Is 'angel stone' the same as petalite?
The nickname is used for petalite in the crystal trade. It is also a nickname for angelite, a soft blue mineral that is not petalite.
Is it durable enough for a bracelet?
It is a little softer than quartz and splits along one direction, so it chips more easily than quartz. Earrings and pendants wear better.
Where does it come from?
It was first found on Utö island in Sweden. Today it comes from Brazil, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Australia and other places.
Do you carry petalite?
No. Clear quartz, moonstone and lepidolite are the nearest stones we carry, and lepidolite is another lithium mineral.
Not in our pieces right now
Stones we do carry that are close to it are listed under related stones.
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