STAUROLITE
SCIENTIFIC INFORMATION: Staurolite (also known as "Fairy Cross") is a basic silicate of iron and aluminum, often with some magnesium and zinc. The chemical formula is rather long, Fe2Al9Si4O22(OH)2. It's hardness is on par with quartz, ranging from 7 to 7-1/2. They are yellowish brown, reddish to brownish black, weathering to grey and are somewhat dull in appearance. The streak is white. They are collectors items because twinned crystals often intergrow at nearly 90 degree angles, forming a cross.
ENVIRONMENT: Staurolite occurs with albite, biotitie, and sillimanite in gneiss and schist of regional metamorphic rocks.
OCCURRENCE: In North America, twinned crystals are found at Windham, Cumberland Co., Maine; at Sugar Hill, Franconia and Lisbon, Grafton Co., New Hampshire; and in Fannin Co., Georgia. Particularly fine twinned crystals can also be found near Pilar, Rio Arriba Co., New Mexico. They have also been found at Pizzo Forno, Switzerland, France and Scotland.
NAME: The name comes from the Greek [stauros], meaning 'cross'.
LEGEND and LORE: Staurolite was considered to be a representative of all four elements: Air, Fire, Earth and Water. It was believed that a person who possessed this talisman could cause the elements to do his/her bidding. In addition, it was believed that the 90 degree cross represented the crossing of the spiritual and physical planes. After the arrival of Christianity, these stones were popular with those who entered a crusade. Many people now days carry them as a good luck charm.
MAGICAL PROPERTIES: Cunningham says "To gain control over the elemental forces, wear a staurolite set in any electrum fashioned as a ring or pendant."
HEALING: I've been unable to find ANY reference to this stone used in healing. All references I've seen refer to it as protective, or lucky, or elemental.
PERSONAL EXPERIENCE: I do not currently have one in my collection.
NOTES: Transparent, single crystals of staurolite are occasionally cut into faceted gems.
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1. Scientific, Environment, Occurrence and Name are from (or paraphrased from) "The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Rocks and Minerals".
2. Legends and Lore, Magical Properties are from "Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Crystal, Gem & Metal Magic", by Scott Cunningham.
3. Personal Experience is from MY personal experience, journals and notebooks, by Tandika Star. |
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