BLUE AFGHANITE TOWER

AFGHANITE TOWER

2-6"

Science & Origin of Afghanite

Afghanite is a very rare hydrous sodium, potassium, calcium, chloride, sulfate, carbonate alumino-silicate mineral. As you can clearly see, it’s a very complex mineral with an even more unusual crystal structure. It can occur in long prismatic crystals, double-terminated as bipyramid crystals, or as crusts coating a matrix (usually calcite or marble). This mineral ranges in color from light sky blue to a dark navy, but can also be seen as colorless and transparent. Afghanite was first discovered in 1968 by R. Giraud, F. Cesbron, and P. Bariand. They named it after the country they found it in, Afghanistan. It can be specifically traced to the Badakhshan region located in the northeastern corner of the country. Afghanite generally occurs near Sodalite family minerals, such as Hackmanite and Lazurite. Chemically, it’s very similar to Lazurite and gets its color from the same elements and components. Since Afghanite’s discovery over 50 years ago, deposits have been found in Canada, Russia, Tajikistan, Germany, Italy and the United States.

Science & Origin of Afghanite

Afghanite is a very rare hydrous sodium, potassium, calcium, chloride, sulfate, carbonate alumino-silicate mineral. As you can clearly see, it’s a very complex mineral with an even more unusual crystal structure. It can occur in long prismatic crystals, double-terminated as bipyramid crystals, or as crusts coating a matrix (usually calcite or marble). This mineral ranges in color from light sky blue to a dark navy, but can also be seen as colorless and transparent. Afghanite was first discovered in 1968 by R. Giraud, F. Cesbron, and P. Bariand. They named it after the country they found it in, Afghanistan. It can be specifically traced to the Badakhshan region located in the northeastern corner of the country. Afghanite generally occurs near Sodalite family minerals, such as Hackmanite and Lazurite. Chemically, it’s very similar to Lazurite and gets its color from the same elements and components. Since Afghanite’s discovery over 50 years ago, deposits have been found in Canada, Russia, Tajikistan, Germany, Italy and the United States.

INFO FROM THE CRYSTAL COUNCIL WEBSITE