Andesine was first discovered in Colombia in 1841, close to the famous mountain range from which it takes its name. A member of the calcium and sodium-containing plagioclase series of feldspars, the relative quantities of these two elements within andesine ranges from roughly equal to around two-to-one in favor of sodium.
In 2002, small quantities of an attractive red variety were discovered in Tibet, but suspicions became aroused when this material flooded the marketplace around the time of the 2008 Beijing Olympics. It was eventually discovered that most of this “red andesine” was actually yellow material from Inner Mongolia and DPR Congo that had been reddened artificially via an undisclosed diffusion process. The consequences of this controversy were far-reaching, with a $5 million misrepresentation lawsuit eventually being filed against industry giant Jewelry Television (JTV).
Characteristics of Andesine
- Hardness: 6 – 6.5
- Transparency: Transparent to translucent
- Chemical composition: (Na,Ca)Al1-2Si3-2O8
- Crystal system: Triclinic
Benefits of Andesine
As a protective stone, wearing andesine jewelry or simply carrying the stone around will prevent the release of necessary energies while also acting to deflect undesirable energy. Use when around particularly negative people or situations. Wearing a labradorite pendant is beneficial for sensitive people. Like all metaphysical crystals, andesine gemstone can impact the mind, thought patterns, and psychological well-being. This stone acts to connect intuition with intellect. What effect does this synergy have? It facilitates creative thought, which is ideal for innovators, therapists, writers, and any work where the combination of concrete thoughts and deeper awareness is appreciated.