Benitoite
Real mineral · legendary · BaTiSi₃O₉
The official state gem of California, found in gem quality in a single locality worldwide. Under shortwave ultraviolet it shows an intense blue-white fluorescence, one of the strongest of any mineral. The mine has produced only a few thousand carats of facetable material in its entire history.
Identity
- Formula
- BaTiSi₃O₉
- Chemical class
- silicate
Crystallography
- Crystal system
- hexagonal
- Habits
- tabular, triangular
- Fracture
- conchoidal
Physical properties
- Mohs hardness
- 6.5
- Density
- 3.65 g/cm³
- Luster
- vitreous
- Colors
- blue, violet-blue, colorless, pink
- Streak
- white
- Transparency
- transparent
Geology
- Origins
- hydrothermal
- Host rocks
- serpentinite, natrolite
- Associated minerals
- Neptunite, Natrolite, Joaquinite
- Geography
- USA (San Benito County, California only)
Classification
- Rarity
- legendary
- Gem quality
- Yes
Arcane properties
- Affinity
- light, storm
- Effects
- elemental lightning, warding
- Planar origin
- Material Plane
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