Vesuvianite

A silicate of contact-metamorphosed limestones, forming square prisms in greens and browns.

Vesuvianite specimen — Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

How to identify vesuvianite

Square-sectioned prisms with striations.
Olive green to brown, glassy.
Hardness about 6.5.

Often confused with

Epidote
Epidote is darker and its crystals aren't square in section.
Compare side by side
Grossular
Grossular forms rounded garnet crystals.
Compare side by side

Where it's found

Mount Vesuvius, Italy
Jeffrey mine, Quebec
Pakistan
Mexico

Uses

Collector specimens; jade-like massive 'californite' is carved.

Rock tumbling

Great for tumbling.

Did you know?

It was first described from blocks of rock thrown out by Mount Vesuvius.

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