Taaffeite
Species (IMA name: Magnesiotaaffeite-2N’2S)
Legendary · Mg₃BeAl₈O₁₆
The first mineral species recognised from a cut gem: in 1945 Count Richard Taaffe found an odd stone in a parcel of spinels in Dublin, and analysis in 1951 showed a new beryllium magnesium aluminium oxide. Gem stones come mainly from the gravels of Sri Lanka and Myanmar.
Identity
- Formula
- Mg₃BeAl₈O₁₆
- Chemical class
- Oxide
- Also known as
- Magnesiotaaffeite-2N'2S
Crystallography
- Crystal system
- Hexagonal
- Habits
- Massive, Rounded
- Fracture
- Conchoidal
Physical properties
- Mohs hardness
- 8.5
- Density
- 3.61 g/cm³
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Colors
- mauve, pink, red, purple, colorless, blue
- Streak
- white
- Transparency
- Transparent
Geology
- Origins
- Metamorphic
- Host rocks
- Marble, River gravels and sands
- Associated minerals
- Spinel, Sapphire, Fluorite
- Found in
- Placer deposit, Skarn
- Geography
- Sri Lanka, Tanzania, China, Myanmar
Classification
- Rarity
- Legendary
- Gem quality
- Yes
Arcane properties
- Affinity
- Arcane, Mind
- Effects
- Mind, Illusion
- Planar origin
- Material Plane
Sources
- M. Pasero and others, IMA Commission on New Minerals, Nomenclature and Classification, The New IMA List of Minerals, updated September 2026. International Mineralogical Association (CNMNC), 2026.
- Magnesiotaaffeite-2N’2S. Mindat.org (Hudson Institute of Mineralogy).
- GIA's Gübelin Gem Project: Various Gems, Taaffeite - Zoisite. Gemological Institute of America.
- Musgravite from Myanmar. Gemological Institute of America, Gems & Gemology (Spring 2013 Gem News International), 2013.
- Taaffeite. Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
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