Gem Profile October 18: Nuummite

Article Layna Palmer, Wire-Sculpture.com

Nuummite

Gemstones on Wire-Sculpture.com

I have finally found one of the rarest gemstone on the planet; Nuummite (noo-myte).  Nuummite, discovered in 1982 near Nuuk, the Municipality which it was named after, is a mixture of anthophylite and gedrite 3 billion years in the making. That distinguishes this gemstone as being one of the oldest.  This is another metamorphic gem which is created by heat, pressure and time.

About Nuummite and Greenland:

Nuummite is found only in the Nuuk region of Greenland although several other similar stones have been found in the United States. Only the stone from Greenland has the developed coloration and iridescence to be called Nuummite.

 

This stone has a hardness of 5.5-6 on the MOHS scale and is relatively easy to cut and polish, but can be difficult to avoid pits and cracks due to the crystal structure.

Greenland has been inhabited off and on for at least the last 4,500 years by Arctic peoples whose forebears migrated there from Canada. Greenland is a beautiful land with many diverse gems and landscapes. Nuummite is mined in one of the most remote of these areas and can only be extracted in the warmer months.

What color is Nuummite?

Nuummite has a base color of charcoal gray or black with iridescent blue, red, green and gold that looks similar to the flames in a fire. This effect is due to the lamella-like structure of the crystals that form the stone.

The elongated crystals grow in thin sheets and sheaf-like groups that cause a type of iridescence within the stone which is brought out by cutting and polishing the stone, usually as a cabochon.

Unique properties:

Metaphysically, Nuummite is considered to be a stone of the Earth and by drawing on the power of the Earth’s core can help bring out inner power and strength leading to self-mastery.

If you are in the market for a 3 billion year old piece of Greenland, be aware that only the Nuummite from Greenland is of gem quality and some unethical sellers will try to pass off lesser quality stone as Nuummite at highly inflated prices.  Like Turquoise, pearls and other types of gems; caveat emptor and know your dealer.

Wrapping it up:

Do you have any jewelry you’ve created that you’d like to share with us? Send us pictures at tips@wire-sculpture.com and they could be featured!

Resources

• A to Z Gems
• Gem data
• Jewel Stones of Greenland
• More Nuummite data
• Nuummite healing crystals

 

Gem Profile by Layna Palmer

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