In crystal lore today, prehnite is called the stone of prophecy. People keep it when they want to trust what is coming, and to meet new circumstances with some calm acceptance.
Silicate (inosilicate)
Prehnite
Prehnita
- Palette
- Green Yellow
- Mined in
- South Africa, Canada, China, Australia
- Hardness
- Mohs 6.0–6.5 ?
- See-through
- translucent
- Known since
- 1788
- Named for
- Colonel Hendrik von Prehn, Dutch commander at the Cape
- Also sold as
- stone of prophecy
- Intention
- New Beginnings Love
- Looking for
- Change and decisions Hope Relationships
- Water
- Fine with water and mild soap
- Dye or finish
- Prehnite is sold as natural; the sellers we read state no dye or heat.
Not in our pieces now
NOT A ZEOLITE
Prehnite often grows beside zeolites such as stilbite and heulandite, but it is not one: it gives off water when heated and cannot take it back, as zeolites can.
1768 TO 1780
Colonel Hendrik von Prehn, whom prehnite honors, commanded the Dutch colony's military forces at the Cape of Good Hope from 1768 to 1780.
APRIL 2000
Rare orange prehnite turned up in South Africa's Kalahari Manganese Fields in April 2000.
What it is
A soft apple-to-olive green stone, sometimes yellowish, with a pearly to glassy shine. Rough prehnite is bumpy and rounded; polished, it turns luminous and mostly translucent, often with fine striations. It is a natural mineral, not a dyed stone.
Where it comes from
The largest prehnite deposits are in the Kayes Region of Mali; gem-quality material also comes from Australia, South Africa, China and New Jersey.
In history
Prehnite was first described in 1788 from the Karoo dolerites near Cradock in South Africa. It was named for Colonel Hendrik von Prehn, the Dutch commander at the Cape who brought it to notice.
What's said about it
It is also thought of as a family stone. Some people place a piece around the house for a loving atmosphere.
A common pairing is one prehnite with three clear quartz points arranged around it.
People wear it as a bracelet, carry it in a pocket, or hold it in both hands.
How people wear or keep it: On the wrist, in a pocket, held in both hands, or around the house.
In crystal practice
In the crystal tradition, prehnite 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: on the wrist, in a pocket, held in both hands. People reach for it when they want change and decisions, hope, relationships, 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
ZodiacCapricorn, Libra
ElementWater
Also calledstone of prophecy
Care
- Fairly hard but brittle; keep it from hard knocks.
- Wipe with a soft cloth and lukewarm water, then dry; skip ultrasonic cleaners.
- Keep away from strong chemicals and sudden temperature changes.
- Store apart from harder stones such as quartz and sapphire, which can scratch it.
How to tell what you have
- Prehnite is a soft apple-to-olive green stone, hardness 6 to 6.5, translucent with a pearly to glassy shine and sometimes fine striations. It has been mistaken for jade, serpentine and chrysoprase.
- Dyed green chalcedony or glass is more even and more intense in color; prehnite fades a little with long light exposure.
What sets the price
Price follows how vivid and even the green is and how clear the stone is; clearer, fewer-flaw pieces cost more, and larger pieces and certain localities add to the price.
Questions people ask at our table
What is prehnite?
A calcium-aluminum silicate that forms in cavities in volcanic rock. It is usually pale green and mostly translucent.
Is prehnite natural or dyed?
It is naturally green and needs no dye. Green glass or dyed stones are sometimes sold under its name, so ask for it to be named.
How is it different from jade?
Prehnite is more see-through, with a pearly shine and fine striations. Jade is denser and more opaque, with a waxier look.
Where is it mined?
First described in South Africa; it also comes from Canada, China and Australia.
How do I look after it?
A soft cloth and lukewarm water. It is brittle, so keep it from knocks and from harder stones.
Not in our pieces right now
Stones we do carry that are close to it are listed under related stones.
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