Aegirine: An Uncommon Common-Mineral

Aegirine is common, in fact it is a component in some types of rock, but good crystals are significantly rarer. These crystallize in the monoclinic system and look like tiny models of the Washington Monument. Aegirine is black, but it bears tinges of red, green or brown. Its vitreous luster gives it the shimmer that we associate with glass and quartz.
As is the case with many minerals aegirine was once known by a different name because it was not well-understood. Sweden’s famous chemist Jons Jacob Berzelius was the first to unlock the secrets of the mineral’s chemistry some time in the early 1800s. Once he had identified its chemical structure he changed the name from acmite to aegirine, naming it after the Norse sea-god Aegir. It was suggested that he name the new mineral after him self, but he refused the honor and for his humility I tip my hat to him.
As I said before aegirine is a common mineral, but collectable specimens are only found in a few places. These include: Malawi, Russia’s Kola Peninsula, Norway, Greenland, and Arkansas.
I hope that you’ve enjoyed this post about aegirine. For a mineral with no technological uses nor any applications in jewelry it is quite an interesting stone.