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In this month’s crystal feature, we dive into anhydrite. you might be more familiar with angelite – the famous peruvian blue variety of this mineral. read on to learn about the geological and metaphysical properties of anhydrite!

Table Of Contents

• GEOLOGICAL PROPERTIES
  • Anhydrite Varieties
• COLLECTING ANHYDRITE
• METAPHYSICAL PROPERTIES
  • Keywords
• ANHYDRITE FOR SALE IN THE SHOP

Geological

This month’s crystal is Angelite, the trade name for Anhydrite. A beautiful, very rare and highly sought-after mineral that was first discovered in 1794 in Austria.

‘Anhydrite’ is from the Greek ‘an’ (without) and ‘hydor’ (water). Anhydrite forms from Gypsum when it dehydrates. Gypsum is a soft sulfate mineral, better known by its popular variants Selenite and Satin Spar.

What’s really fascinating about Anhydrite is that when water is reintroduced to the environment, over time it reverts back to Gypsum! This is why the mineral is so scarce.

Anhydrite has an orthorhombic crystal habit and three perfect cleavage planes. This means it often breaks into cube-shaped pieces, despite not having a cubic habit. It can form long or short bladed tabular or prismatic crystals, but this is exceedingly rare. More often it’s found as cleavage fragments of parallel veins, nodular, massive and grainy forms.

It generally occurs as clear, white, or soft pastel colours such as blue, purple and grey. The colours are believed to be a result of trace minerals present (such as iron or magnesium) or exposure to gamma radiation.

WELL KNOWN VARIETIES OF ANHYDRITE

• A blue variant discovered in Peru in 1987 was given the tradename ‘Angelite‘.
• Another blue variant known simply as ‘Blue Egyptian Anhydrite’ was used by the ancient Egyptians to make beautiful statuettes and jewellery. Interestingly, the source of Egyptian blue Anhydrite has still not been found in modern times.
• The Naica mine in Mexico is famed for the beautiful fanned crystalline clusters of blue Anhydrite that are produced.
• A crystalline to semi-crystalline purple variant has relatively recently been discovered in Madagascar. Similar to the stunning purple crystals found in Switzerland in 1900. The Madagascan material is often associated with a more opaque peach Anhydrite, and / or with Chrome Diopside (itself fairly rare). It’s usually referred to as ‘Purple Angelite’.
• A marble-like white-grey granular Anhydrite discovered in Costa Volpino, Italy, is known as Vulpinite.

Collecting Anhydrite

We generally carry stock of Angelite, blue Peruvian Anhydrite, in the form of granular rough cobbed pieces. A good piece would have nice baby blue colouring as opposed to grey or white. And be free of stains or other exclusions on it.

The most collectable form of blue Angelite would be the large and stunning crystalline fans that mostly came out of the Naica mine in Chihuahua, Mexico in the 1980’s. The Arkenstone in the USA has a piece for sale for $2,000 – to give you an idea.

We are also lucky enough to have gotten in some rare crystalline purple Anhydrite. A stunning find in Madagascar. This purple Angelite occurs with peach Anhydrite and Chrome Diopside, both adding to the value and interest of the material. We have mostly polished pieces of this gemmy variant. They make a great addition to any collector’s shelf!

Metaphysical Properties

KEYWORDS:

Soul Work, Past Lives, Rebirth, Animal Communication, Spirit Guides, Angelic Realm, Telepathy, Channeling, Meditation, Journeying, Devas, Psychic Abilities, Acceptance, Compassion, Courage, Peace, Truth, Akashic Records, Astral Travel, Astrology, Totem Animals, Perception, Spiritual Protection

Here’s what the crystal experts have to say about working with Anhydrite:

Anhydrite has a strong connection to the Angelic realm, assisting with angel communication and connection. It’s also strongly connected to the Devic realm. Thus it can help connect you to your spirit guides and totem animals, facilitating the relationships.

It is an excellent stone for boosting psychic abilities, especially clairsentience, channelling and telepathy. Working with Anhydrite can deepen meditations and enable out-of-body experiences.

A stone for spiritual growth and deep soul work. It can assist in aligning you with spiritual teachers to move forward on your journey while releasing past life karma.

Additionally: 
Gives support & strength. Teaches acceptance of all life has brought. Releases a longing for the past. Aids self-expression. Develops stamina. Enhances understanding. Supports clearing distractions from the mind.

READ MORE about blue Anhydrite’s healing properties in our article, “ANGELITE HEALING PROPERTIES – A POWERFUL SPIRITUAL STONE“.

Anhydrite For Sale In The Shop