Taaffeite
Real mineral · legendary · BeMgAl₄O₈
The only gemstone discovered in faceted form before its mineral species was known. In 1945, Count Taaffe noticed an unusual stone among a parcel of spinels he had purchased. It took years to confirm it as a new mineral. Fewer than fifty faceted specimens are known.
Identity
- Formula
- BeMgAl₄O₈
- Chemical class
- oxide
- Also known as
- Magnesiotaaffeite-2N'2S
Crystallography
- Crystal system
- trigonal
- 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, granulite
- Associated minerals
- Spinel, Sapphire, Fluorite
- Geography
- Sri Lanka, Tanzania, China, Myanmar
Classification
- Rarity
- legendary
- Gem quality
- Yes
Arcane properties
- Affinity
- arcane, mind
- Effects
- mind, illusion
- Planar origin
- Material Plane
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