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| Raw pietersite stones, mined in Erongo region, Namibia |
Like all of us mining at Ûiba Ôas, pietersite is a Namibian native – you won’t find it anywhere else. This beautiful stone is another kind of quartz, but unlike our amethysts, rose quartzes and smoky quartzes, it features many shades of two distinct colours, swirling together. Deep, rich blue and indigo shades contrast with the shining ambers and tawny gold typical of tiger’s eye. Gemologists often call pietersite a blend of tiger’s eye and hawk’s eye, in fact; a striking combination indeed!
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| A polished pietersite pendant |
Unlike our smoky quartzes and amethysts, which often show their six-sided crystal structure, pietersite’s crystals are microscopic, hidden within its mesmerizing glow. The stone polishes beautifully, revealing the strong chatoyancy – bright, reflective lustre – that is a product of the tiny rock fibres of the crystals. The tale of pietersite’s emergence on global gem markets is that Sid Pieters, a Namibian farmer and geologist, observed its unique characteristics while prospecting on a ranch in the early 1960s. He gave the stone its name – perhaps in honour of his father – and is said to have registered it with a mineral registry in the United Kingdom.
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| Dramatic pietersite contrasts with the granite in which it often forms. |
Its relatively recent identification as an unique mineral, and its scarcity, have led to some euphoric descriptions of this luminous, unusual stone. Various enthusiasts claim pietersite has an energy that is almost tangible, and a lightning-like psychic-cleansing ability; that it offers powerful protection from physical and emotional storms; that it enhances inner vision and intuition; that it aids relaxation and recovery from addiction... and more. We can’t guarantee this stone will do all that its supporters claim, but we are confident that you, too, will find it beautiful in its reflections of the wonders of nature’s grace.
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| Only in Namibia: pietersite. |
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| Some see lightning in the brilliance of polished pietersite. |
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