Jeremjevite

Jeremjevite
(From Namibia. Weight: 0.12 carats)
Image © supplied by Woodmansee* Gems

Jeremjevite
(From Namibia. Weight: 0.31 carats)
Image © supplied by Woodmansee* Gems

The gemstones of Jeremejevite are extremely rare and are hence collected by gemstone experts all across the world. The extremely light blue colored crystals of Jeremejevite are often so tiny that faceting them is not possible. However the smallest Jeremejevite crystals which weigh barely a fraction of a carat may be sold for few hundred dollars.

Jeremejevite History & Etymology:

Jeremejevite was first discovered in 1883 and they are classified as grandfathered crystals by the IMA. Jeremejevite derives its name from the Russian engineer and mineralogist, P.V. Jeremejev.

Jeremejevite Occurrence:

The mineral Jeremejevite is quite commonly found but crystals of Jeremejevite are extremely rare. Jeremejevite crystals are extremely small, measuring just a fraction of a centimeter. Jeremejevite was originally discovered on the Soktui Mountain in Russia. But this locality produces extremely small crystals of Jeremejevite.

Subsequent exploration led to the discovery of more localities of Jeremejevite crystals. Jeremejevite is now sourced from the ‘Mile 72’ Khan River in Namibia and the Eifel district in Germany. These two localities have yielded stunningly beautiful extremely pale blue colored crystals of Jeremejevite. The crystals yielded from these localities are elongated, almost in the shape of needles. However the size of the Jeremejevite crystals from these localities is still very small and hence the gemstones of Jeremejevite have the typical emerald cut or the baguette cut.

Extremely small crystals of Jeremejevite are also found in the Siberian region of Russia and in the Pamir Mountains in Tajikistan.

Jeremejevite Properties:

Jeremejevite is composed of aluminum borate fluoride hydroxide and hence have a molecular weight of 511 grams. Jeremejevite contain 31 percent aluminum, 10 percent boron, 48 percent oxygen and 9 percent fluoride. The dominant boron in the composition of the Jeremejevite mineral classifies it as borates mineral.

Jeremejevite displays hexagonal as well as dipyramidal properties in crystallography; while Jeremejevite occurs as prismatic hexagonal in their natural form. Jeremejevite can also be found in its natural vicinal tapering forms, with terminations in the pyramidal structure. The crystalline masses of the Jeremejevite mineral are often at least 10 cm in size.

Jeremejevite does not display any cleavages and display conchoidal fracturing on the surface. The conchoidal fracturing despite the lack of cleavages makes Jeremejevite quite brittle. However Jeremejevite is quite hard, with the Moh’s hardness being between 6.5 and 7.5. Jeremejevite does not display luminescence properties and is neither radioactive. But Jeremejevite does display piezoelectric properties.

Jeremejevite is usually colorless but very rarely one can observe a pale blue coloring in the crystals. Also extremely rarely one can come across pale yellow coloring in the Jeremejevite crystals. Jeremejevite is generally transparent and do not display inclusion. The luster of the Jeremejevite crystals is vitreous with distinct dispersion.

The rare pale blue colored gemstones of Jeremejevite are highly sought after by gemstone collectors as well as gemstone experts for their rarity.

Back to the Gemstones List home page - over 160 gemstones explored!

Please feel free to link to this page - copy / paste the text below: (click to select)
https://gemstoneslist.com/jeremjevite.html