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| <<Back to Main | AgateAgate | AmethystAmethyst | ApatiteApatite | ChrysoberylChrysoberyl | ChrysoberylChrysoberyl | DanburiteDanburite | DiopsideDiopside | EnstatiteEnstatite | FluoriteFluorite | GarnetGarnet | HackmaniteHackmanite | Inclusion GemstonesInclusion Gemstones | JadeJade | JadeJade | Maw sit sitMaw sit sit | MoonstoneMoonstone | PeridotPeridot | RubyRuby | SapphireSapphire | ScapoliteScapolite | SpinelSpinel | TopazTopaz | TourmalineTourmaline | Other Burmese GemsOther Burmese Gems | | Our Top Enstatite Highlight | Enstatite | | Enstatite is a mineral that is not commonly known in the world of gems. As a gemstone it is more a collector item but it can also be found in jewelry as a cat's eye but faceted enstatite can also easily be worn as pendants or earrings.
Enstatite is considered a slightly soft stone as its hardness is 5.5 on the Mohs scale.
However of course the harness is not a concern for mineral specimens. Gem quality green enstatite which color is due to traces of chromium occurs in South Africa and is called "chrome enstatite" while greenish-brown stones are found in the Mogok Stone Tract of upper Burma (Myanmar). Burmese stones show sometimes some fine cat's eye effect with a thin orange to light brown line on the nearly black background of the enstatite cabochon. Some grayish cat's eye material can be found in Sri Lanka as well.
Enstatite usually in lower quality specimens can also be found in parts of India, Europe, Africa, and
North America sometimes as water worn bronze colored pebbles that can have a very high sub metallic luster. This enstatite is known as bronzite and is sometimes used as an ornamental stone. Enstatite is a member of the pyroxene family of minerals and is a magnesium-iron silicate (Mg,Fe)SiO3. It is usually found in metamorphic or igeous rocks and has been found also in some meteorites. Enstatite forms in the orthorhombic crystal system although Enstatite but at high temperatures, enstatite's structure changes to a structure with a monoclinic symmetry, it is called clinoenstatite. Clinoenstatite is a polymorph of enstatite, meaning that it has the same chemistry but a different structure. Anyway most stones are found as alluvial pebbles disguising the crystal's habit.
Enstatite crystals with a fine clear crystal shape are rare specimens.
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