Beautiful blue natural Kyanite(1.06ct, SI, Nepal) hand set in sterling silver on a sterling silver chain. This is a rare little know blue gemstone. Most Kyanite in today's market come from the mountains of Nepal, but has also been found under the twin towers in NY. Let me introduce this lovely gemstone. Kyanite is named for the Greek word for blue, Kyanos. And what a blue! Nepali kyanite resembles the finest sapphire. Kyanite was a gem far better known to mineral collectors until more recent finds in Kali Gandaki river region of west central Nepal. Nepal is the first source to produce a significant amount of facet grade kyanite. Prior to the Nepal discoveries, Brazil was a major source of mineral specimen material, but kyanite also occurs in a variety of locations around the world.Kyanite is unique among gemstones in that it has two distinctly different hardnesses in one stone, depending on direction. Think of wood and how it is harder across the grain than along it; kyanite is similar, with a hardness of 7 in one direction, but only 5,5 in the other. It also has two cleavage directions. Despite its resemblance to sapphire, it should be treated much more gently. It makes beautiful jewelry, but extra care should be taken when setting it, so be sure your jeweler knows it is kyanite and not sapphire if you have it worked on.A rich sapphire blue is the most sought after color for kyanite. The newest color of kyanite hails from Orissa, India – a teal color called Chromium Kyanite. A vibrant orange kyanite comes from Tanzania. Bead material and mineral specimens are commonly seen in medium greenish blue or moss green shades.Nepalese kyanite is arguably the best ever found, displaying rich blues, evocative of superb sapphires. In fact, the science behind the color is the same as in blue sapphire – an electron charge transfer between iron and titanium. The teal blue of Chromium Kyanite is due to chromium, of course, but also vanadium.Please ask questions006,RcmdId ViewItemDescV4,RlogId p4%60bo7%60jtb9%3Fuk%600d72f%2B%3E006-14a672ff1fe-0x115-->