RAW PREHNITE

AUTHENTIC + UNIQUE + RARE

This mineral was discovered in 1774 at the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa. Named in 1788 in honor of Hendrik Von Prehn. Von Prehn was a governor of Cape of Good Hope. He was a naturalist and mineral collector who brought the first specimens of his namesake mineral to Europe. A considerable mystique and folklore have surrounded Prehn and prehnite. It has been claimed that prehnite was the first mineral named for a person.

Prehnite is considered a “stone of dreaming”; it is believed to increase the power of the dream state, strengthen lucid dreaming and promote communication with other planes of existence. It is also considered a “stone of prophecy,” with long use by indigenous peoples of South Africa.

Sizes range from approximately 1/2″ to 2″

Prehnite is an inosilicate of calcium and aluminum. This mineral is brittle with an uneven fracture and a vitreous to pearly luster. Its color often varies from light green to yellow. Its formation means it is an indicator mineral of prehnite-pumpellyite metamorphic facies. On the Mohs scale of hardness, it scores a 6 to 6.5.

Why We Love This:
For the avid mineral collector, its name is an interesting part of history, since it has been claimed to be the first mineral named after a person!