One of the most beautiful gemstones in the Petalite group, this orthoclase pyrite is often used against the evil forces of nature. It can be found colourless but also in yellow, yellow-grey, grey, to white columnar masses and tabular crystals. It is very rare, therefore desirable to collectors (especially if the stones are free of inclusions and large.) It is often mistaken as a Pink Tourmaline or diamond and found in Australia, Italy, Russia, Sweden, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Brazil and the United States.

The Physical Properties of Petalite

Petalite is a lithium aluminum phyllosilicate mineral. It's a valuable ore of lithium that gets converted to quartz and spodumene under three kilo bar of pressure and by heating to ~500 °C and in the presence of alkali borosilicate fluid. It usually occurs in granite pegmatites alongside spodumene, lepidolite, feldspars, and tourmaline, and has a hardness of 6.5 on the Mohs scale. The pink stone is the most common variety of Petalite while the transparent variety is also known as Castorite.

The History of Petalite

Petalite got its name from the Greek word petalon (leaf), referring to the stone's cleavage. It was discovered by a Brazilian statesman and naturalist Jose Bonifacio de Andrada e Silva in 1800. The discovery of lithium was a result of petalite when Johann Arfvedson (Swedish druggist) found it when he was analyzing the mineral's ore. As for its industrial application, petalite in its raw form was for glass-ceramic cooking ware and ceramic glazes.

The Lore of Petalite

Petalite has a gentle yet intense vibration that can elevate the one wearing it to a place where one may enjoy a sense of healing and quiet place. There, you can allow your worries and concerns to slip away, ultimately increasing and heightening your awareness. The pink variety of Petalite is a heart chakra stone while the clear Petalite brings clarity to one's thoughts.

The Metaphysical Properties of Petalite

Using Petalite stones may aid muscular spasms, the lungs, and the eyes and can also help relief from stress and anxiety. Also, it's known that Petalite can boost one's clear speech and communication abilities (wearing one of these gemstones at the throat chakra may help). The stone's energy can help one hear the angelic voices that are trying to communicate while wearing them in earringscan boost psychic hearing (also known as clairaudience.) The wearers of Petalite may also find themselves being able to communicate concisely, accurately, and clearly what they've heard and seen during their journey to the angelic realms.

Petalite has calming qualities that bring a frequency of calm self-love and self-acceptance, allowing for the balancing and calming of traumatized energies and emotions. It helps to balance one's feelings by easing mood swings (especially in romantic relationships) and is excellent for people who are mentally scattered. By carrying it throughout the day, it will aid in perceiving the world from the high-energy, centred, and calm witness self. It allows them to focus on the task at hand in case they are too caught up in what's going around them.