Grandidierite is a mineral that was first discovered in 1902 in southern Madagascar. The mineral was named in honor of French explorer Alfred Grandidier (1836-1912) who studied the natural history of Madagascar.
A rather rare mineral, blue-green grandidierite is seldom seen in gem or jewelry collections. Translucent material is sometimes cut into cabochons. Faceted pieces are rare. As cabochons, translucent grandidierite can range from 1 to 10 carats and up to about one inch in size. Most material is generally opaque.
Since its discovery in 1902, most grandidierite used as a gem has been translucent. Recent discoveries of transparent material in Sri Lanka (around 2000) and a new deposit in Madagascar (2014) have resulted in faceted gemstones.
Grandidierites appear bluer in color the more iron (Fe) they contain. A recently discovered gemstone, blue ominelite is the Fe-analogue (Fe, Mg) to grandidierite (Mg, Fe).
Grandidierites display strong trichroic pleochroism. That means they can show three different colors depending on the viewing angle: dark blue-green, colorless (sometimes a very light yellow), or dark green.
While trichroism can usually help distinguish grandidierites from other gems, lazulites can occur with blue-green colors and show colorless/blue/dark blue pleochroism. They also appear cabbed and, more rarely, faceted. Nevertheless, lazulites have somewhat higher refractive indices and specific gravity. Grandidierites also have greater hardness.
Grandidierite Metaphysical Properties
The frequency of Grandidierite connects to the heart, throat, and third eye chakras, gently stimulating and synchronizing the energy within these chakras helping one to be able to ‘see’, feel, interpret, understand and communicate the truth in any situation one may find oneself in.
This rare mineral helps one to connect with one’s true self or inner self to bring about the communication of one’s truth. This in turn allows one to be confident in what one wants to communicate to others so that via the energy of the throat chakra one can ‘give voice’ to inner feelings and inner truths.
Via the heart chakra, Grandidierite allows one to openly communicate one’s emotions, both positive or negative, meaningfully with a heart-centered awareness and from a place of love.
This crystal can help to ease issues and disorders relating to the throat chakra due to its strong energetic connection to this chakra.
Associated Chakras
- Heart
- Throat
- Third Eye
Physical Ailment
- Throat
Emotional Issue
- Communication
Spiritual Connection
- Communicating Truth
