Kyanite
Kyanite forms bladed crystals. It is generally blue, but can also be green or gray. It has a glassy luster. Kyanite has a unique physical feature in that it has two different hardnesses. When its hardness is measured across the crystal it is normally 7 Mohs when it is measured down the length of the crystal however, it is 5 Mohs . All other minerals have a single hardness no matter where it is measured on the crystal. The mineral was once commonly called "disthene" which means "two strengths"
Kyanite is the variant spelling of the original name of this mineral, Cyanite. The name was derived from the Greek word kyanos meaning blue in reference to this mineral’s most common color. The name was given by Abraham Gottlob Werner in 1789.
Three minerals have a chemical composition of Al2SiO5. These are kyanite, andalusite, and sillimanite. Kyanite is the high-pressure polymorph, sillimanite forms at high temperature, and andalusite is the low-pressure polymorph. Sillimanite was named in honor of Professor Benjamin Silliman (1779-1864) who was the first professor of mineralogy at Yale University. Andalusite was named after Andalusia, a province in southern Spain, where this mineral is found.
There are substantial deposits of Kyanite in the United States. The most important deposits are in Idaho and the Appalachian Mountain region in Eastern United States. Gneisses in Southern California also have significant Kyanite resources. Presently, however, it is not economical to mine these deposits. Should economic conditions change, these deposits may be worth mining. South Africa supplies most of the Andalusite imported for industrial consumption in the United States. France and India also produce Andalusite and Kyanite, respectively. The most recent finds of Kyanite have come from Brazil.
Kyanite and its related minerals are used to make a variety of refractory materials. Refractory materials are those that are resistant to very high temperatures. As a result, more than half of the Kyanite consumed is used in refractories for the production of steel. Kyanite is also used to produce refractories for nonferrous (non-iron-bearing) metals. Some is consumed to make refractories for glass and heat-resistant ceramics. Kyanite is also used to make spark plugs and is used for non-refractory applications.
We were able to find a few small specimens of the elusive and highly desired mineral Blue Kyanite from the Balsam Gap area in North Carolina. These specimens are the result of over 4 years of searching in this rare locale.
Item# TN4BKY12200001
1.5g Blue Kyanite from Balsam Gap
$12.00
Item# TN6BKY12200001
4 piece 2g Blue Kyanite Group from Balsam Gap
$24.00
Item# 1-KYAN07230050LR
Kyanite Blades in Quartz matrix on Stand from Brazil
$89.00
A very nice specimen of natural sapphire blue Kyanite Blades just as they are mined. Platy crystals of rich blue kyanite formed in a matrix of clear quartz. The brilliant blue color varies in intensity throughout. This specimen is from a 34 year old collection belonging to E&L Roth. It is from Minas Gerais, Brazil
This specimen weighs 15.2 oz or 0.95 lbs (432g) and measures 4.6 x 2.5 x 2" (11.8 x 6.4 x 5.3 cm)
Item# 2-KYAN07230050LR
Kyanite Blades and Mica Book on Stand from Brazil
$129.00
A very nice specimen of natural sapphire blue Kyanite Blades just as they are mined. Platy crystals of rich blue kyanite formed with a rare large Mica Book The brilliant blue color varies in intensity throughout. This specimen is from a 34 year old collection belonging to E&L Roth. It is from Minas Gerais, Brazil
This specimen weighs 13.48 oz or 0.84 lbs (382g) and measures 3.4 x 2.7 x 1.4" (8.8 x 6.9 x 3.7 cm)
Item# 3-KYAN07235552
Kyanite Blades in matrix from Mitchell County, NC
$135.00
A very rare specimen of natural sapphire blue Kyanite Blades from the famous Spruce Pine Mining District in Mitchell County, North Carolina. Platy crystals of rich blue kyanite formed in a matrix of rusty looking brownish quartz which is a common identifier for Spruce Pine and Hiddenite minerals. The brilliant blue color varies in intensity throughout. This specimen was procured from a local Minerals dealer at the August 2014 Spruce Pine, NC Show.
This specimen weighs 10.9 oz or 0.68 lbs (309g) and measures 4.2 x 2.9 x 1.7" (10.8 x 7.4 x 4.3 cm)
Item# 4-KYAN07235412
Kyanite Blades in matrix from Brazil
$14.25
A very nice specimen of natural sapphire blue Kyanite Blades just as they are mined. Platy crystals of rich blue kyanite formed in a matrix of white quartz. The brilliant blue color varies in intensity throughout. This specimen was procured from a Brazilian Minerals dealer at the 2023 Franklin, NC Show. It is from the Jequitinhonha Valley, Minas Gerais, Brazil
This specimen weighs 5.5 oz or 0.34 lbs (157g) and measures 2.9 x 2 x 1.3" (7.4 x 5.1 x 3.4 cm)
Item# 5-KYAN07230542
Kyanite Blades in matrix from Brazil
$29.30

A very nice specimen of natural sapphire blue Kyanite Blades just as they are mined. Platy crystals of rich blue kyanite formed in a matrix of yellow-white quartz. The brilliant blue color varies in intensity throughout. This specimen was procured from a Brazilian Minerals dealer at the 2023 Franklin, NC Show. It is from the Jequitinhonha Valley, Minas Gerais, Brazil
This specimen weighs 13.7 oz or 0.85 lbs (388g) and measures 3 x 2.7 x 2.1" (7.8 x 6.9 x 5.5 cm)
Item# 6-KYAN07230003
Kyanite Blades in matrix from North Carolina
$120.00
A very nice specimen of natural sapphire blue Kyanite Blades just as they are mined. Platy crystals of rich blue kyanite formed in a matrix of smoky-white quartz. The brilliant blue color varies in intensity throughout. This specimen was procured from a Local Minerals dealer at the 2023 Franklin, NC Show.
This specimen weighs 4.16 oz or 0.26 lbs (117g) and measures 2.5 x 2 x 1.1" (6.3 x 5.2 x 2.8 cm)
Item# 7-KYAN07239752
Kyanite Blades in matrix from Brazil
$78.75
A very nice specimen of natural sapphire blue Kyanite Blades just as they are mined. Platy crystals of rich blue kyanite formed in a matrix of yellow-white quartz. The brilliant blue color varies in intensity throughout. This specimen was procured from a Brazilian Minerals dealer at the 2023 Franklin, NC Show. It is from the Jequitinhonha Valley, Minas Gerais, Brazil
This specimen weighs 36.8 oz or 2.3 lbs (1.044 kg) and measures 5 x 4.7 x 2.5" (12.7 x 11.9 x 6.3 cm)
Item# 8-KYAN07233870
Kyanite Blades in matrix from Brazil
$23.90
A very nice specimen of natural sapphire blue Kyanite Blades just as they are mined. Platy crystals of rich blue kyanite formed in a matrix of yellow-white quartz. The brilliant blue color varies in intensity throughout. This specimen was procured from a Brazilian Minerals dealer at the 2023 Franklin, NC Show. It is from the Jequitinhonha Valley, Minas Gerais, Brazil
This specimen weighs 11.1 oz or 0.69 lbs (317 g) and measures 3.8 x 2.9 x 1.9" (9.6 x 7.5 x 4.8 cm)
Item# 9-KYAN07233911
Kyanite Blades in matrix from Brazil
$36.40
A very nice specimen of natural sapphire blue Kyanite Blades just as they are mined. Platy crystals of rich blue kyanite formed in a matrix of yellow-white quartz. The brilliant blue color varies in intensity throughout. This specimen was procured from a Brazilian Minerals dealer at the 2023 Franklin, NC Show. It is from the Jequitinhonha Valley, Minas Gerais, Brazil
This specimen weighs 17 oz or 1.06 lbs (483 g) and measures 4.1 x 3.4 x 1.4" (10.5 x 8.6 x 3.7 cm)
Item# 10-KYAN07235441
Kyanite Blades in matrix from Brazil
$44.00
A very nice specimen of natural sapphire blue Kyanite Blades just as they are mined. Platy crystals of rich blue kyanite formed in a matrix of yellow-white quartz. The brilliant blue color varies in intensity throughout. This specimen was procured from a Brazilian Minerals dealer at the 2023 Franklin, NC Show. It is from the Jequitinhonha Valley, Minas Gerais, Brazil
This specimen weighs 20.6 oz or 1.29 lbs (585 g) and measures 5.9 x 2.5 x 1.9" (15 x 6.3 x 4.9 cm)