Prehnite Stone: Properties, Benefits & Meanings
Prehnite Stone Overview
The Prehnite stone is a light-green-colored stone that is often compared to Chrysoprase. This gemstone is sought after because of its intense hues and striking ethereal visual appearance.
Prehnite is a common stone found in many locations around the world. Because of its frequent occurrence, there is a lot of folklore surrounding this gem. It can be bought for relatively cheap and is steeped in the mysterious.
This article will discuss the Prehnite stone’s different properties, meanings, and metaphysical uses.
What Is Prehnite Stone?
Prehnite is an eye-catching mineral because of its distinctive light-green to olive-green color. It gives off an elegant air and is said to symbolize nobility.
Prehnite is related to the heart chakra and thus can help the wearer attract love, abundance, and forgiveness into their life.
Prehnite is a calcium/aluminum-based mineral. It forms uneven four-sided crystals that contain some iron impurities within. Prehnite typically occurs in its classic green color, but some varieties show a yellow or even pink luster.
Etymology And Discovery
Prehnite has some minor significance in history. It was allegedly discovered in 1774 by Von Prehn at the Cape of Good Hope, who was the mayor of that location at the time. He was a known mineral collector and gem enthusiast who brought Prehnite to Europe for the first time.
Here, it came to the attention of the famous geologist of the time, Abraham Gottlieb. He named it after the discoverer of the stone, but some people have doubts about the authenticity of Von Prehn’s accomplishment.
Other Names For Green Prehnite
Prehnite is also known by these names in different parts of the world:
- Adilite
- Bostrichites
- Chiltonite
- Chrysolite
- Prehnitoid
Prehnite Stone Appearance
Prehnite has a very unique and attractive appearance. It is a translucent mineral with a soft green-yellow color, only found in a handful of gems.
The mineral is usually found in small, irregularly shaped pieces. It has a very fine texture and is also slightly brittle, so care should be taken when handling it.
It is typically transparent, but it sometimes occurs as a translucent material. Prehnite is not very hard, so it can be scratched easily by harder materials like quartz and topaz.
Prehnite cabochons are quite popular with jewelers, but they sometimes carve them. However, oval cuts are the most popular amongst collectors.
Hobbyists have reported the cat’s eye phenomenon in prehnite stones in which the stone reflects light in a manner that makes it look like a cat’s eye. Experts believe that the special structure of the stone explains this property.
This gemstone is also known to change colors on heating due to the presence of iron. It shifts from a light olive green to an intense brownish yellow when heated up. However, this only occurs at very high temperatures (500 degree+), so you don’t have to worry about anything.
Where Can You Find Prehnite Stone?
Prehnite is a semiprecious green stone that can be found in multiple locations worldwide. However, the biggest gemstone-quality prehnite stones deposit is in Wave Hill Station in the central Northern Territory of Australia.
Prehnite Stone Physical Properties
| Mineral Group | Phyllosilicate |
| Formula | Ca2Al2Si3O10(OH)2 |
| Color | Green, Yellow, Pink, Orange |
| Hardness (Mohs scale) | 6 – 6.5 |
| Refractive Index | 1.611 – 1.665 |
| Fracture | Uneven |
| Luster | Vitreous, Pearly |
| Specific Gravity | 2.80 – 2.90 |
| Transparency | Transparent, Translucent |
How To Tell If Prehnite Stone Is Real?
While Prehnite doesn’t cost much at all, some people will still try to sell you fake stones made of plastic and glass to make a profit. High-profile stones like diamonds are the most likely to get fake replicas, but it doesn’t hurt to be careful when buying a gem. Here are some steps to test the authenticity of a Prehnite stone.
- Monotony: If your Prehnite’s color is flat and dull without any variation, it is most likely a fake. Genuine Prehnite has a nuanced color that changes slightly with changing angles.
- Acetone Test: If you feel like the color might be fake, you should do an acetone test. Leave your stone in an acetone solution for a few minutes. If you notice that the color is coming off of the stone and dissolving into the acetone, then the stone is painted.
- Transparency: If your Prehnite stone is opaque and does not allow light to pass through it, then it is most likely a fake. Genuine Prehnite has a transparent or translucent quality that allows you to see through the stone at least somewhat.
Prehnite Stone Value
A prehnite stone is an inexpensive gemstone that you can find in various shades and hues; its most common one is airy light green, and the rarest one is a shocking pink color.
These stones aren’t highly valued due to the high supply of raw materials from mines found nearly everywhere in the world. However, its low price point and inspiring beauty make it a perfect choice for many people’s first gemstones.
The price of the stone ranges between $1-10 per carat and usually doesn’t go too far above that. However, some extraordinary specimens can be priced as high as $50. The factors affecting the price are as follows:
- Carat: The size of the stone will determine its price. The average weight of a prehnite is 5-10 carats, but many larger stones have been found. If you’re looking for a large stone, it might cost more per carat than if you purchase a few smaller ones instead.
- Cut: Cut is a major part of the expense for low-price stones like agate and Prehnite. The labor costs make up the bulk of the money you pay because the stone is commonplace. The most popular cut for Prehnite is round brilliant, but many other cuts are available, such as the oval, oval brilliant, emerald, and cushion.
- Clarity: Clarity is the number of inclusions and flaws in a stone. A higher clarity grade will lead to a higher-priced stone. Most prehnites have very few inclusions, but some may have more than others which can lead to a price decrease. However, it is important to note that if the inclusions make a beautiful pattern, they will add value instead of reducing it. The Australian moss Prehnite is highly valued for this very reason.
- Color: The color of Prehnite is a pale green with yellow flashes. The more intense the shade of green, the more expensive the stone will be. Rarer colors like pink or orange will cost more due to their relative scarcity. Orange Prehnite is particularly rare.
Prehnite Stone Chakra Connection
Prehnite is connected to the heart chakra. The Heart Chakra, also called the Anahata chakra, is responsible for love, self-love, compassion, and forgiveness.
It is also the center of unconditional love and is located at the center of your chest. Because of this, Prehnite is a popular stone among those who practice yoga or meditation.
Prehnite is also said to have some relation to the Solar Plexus chakra.
Prehnite Stone Meaning And Uses
- Nobility: Prehnite is associated with nobility, which can be found in many of its uses. Some believe that wearing Prehnite helps them stand up for what they believe in and makes them more confident.
- Self Love: Prehnite is also connected to self-love and acceptance. It helps you accept yourself for who you are and what you have done in the past. This stone is said to help you overcome social anxiety and depression.
- Romance: Prehnite is a stone of love, which makes it great for those looking to attract or maintain relationships. It can help you connect with the right person if you are single, as well as bring more love and harmony into your life if you are in a relationship.
- Healing: Prehnite is also used in crystal healing to help with stress relief and anxiety. It can be used during meditation or yoga practice to bring more peace into your life.
- Abundance: It is a stone of abundance and can help you attract more money, prosperity, and success. It can also help you find opportunities and make the most of them when they come along.
- Forgiveness: This crystal can help you forgive yourself and others, which can be very beneficial. It can also help you let go of resentment or negative feelings toward others and move forward with your life.
How To Clean Prehnite Stone Jewelry?
Taking care of your Prehnite Stone jewelry is essential to help it retain its beauty.
- Soak the jewelry in a solution of lukewarm water and gentle soap for a few minutes.
- Take the jewelry out of the solution and gently rinse it. You can use a soft toothbrush to scrub the jewelry when you can’t get a stain out.
- You can gently buff the crystal with a microfiber cloth once it has been thoroughly dried/polished. Try not to use a cotton cloth as it can leave lint.
- Your stone absorbs negative energy over time. To remove it, you should use a smudge stick. This will cleanse the stone and prime it for future use.
- Expose your gem to moonlight or bury it underground to recharge its energy. Give it a few hours, but doing it overnight is best. Once the energy is recharged, the stone will be as good as new.
In general, it is better to avoid steam or ultrasonic cleaners as they can damage the gemstone embedded in the jewelry.
FAQ
Which Gemstones Go Best With Prehnite Stone?
Prehnite is best paired with a copper stone, such as malachite or turquoise. They complement its metaphysical properties and react harmoniously to it.
You can also pair it with gemstones having a complimentary chakra connection, like Lapis Lazuli, Aquamarine, or Azurite. You can have a prehnite ring with an aquamarine stone embedded in it. Not only will it look visually stunning, but it will also help you take control of multiple chakras at once.
Although Prehnite is very similar looking to a Chrysoprase stone, they make a poor pair.
What Are The Healing Properties Of Prehnite Stone?
Prehnite is used in crystal healing to help with stress relief and anxiety. It can be used during meditation or yoga practice to bring more peace into your life.
It is not well known for its medicinal properties, but some people still use it to treat minor things like headaches, stomach aches, and fatigue.
What Type Of Crystal Is Prehnite?
Prehnite is a calcium/aluminum-based mineral. It forms uneven four-sided, rhombohedral crystals that contain some iron impurities within.
Raw Prehnite stones have very few defined faces. They are shaped either like a thin rod (stalactitic) or in the form of a bunch of round crystals (botryoidal).
What Is Prehnite Worth?
You can expect to buy Prehnite stones at around $3 per carat, but the price varies between $1-10/Ct. They are relatively inexpensive while still being uniquely beautiful.
Is Prehnite Green Amethyst?
No, Prehnite stones have a different composition from amethysts. They are composed mainly of calcium and aluminum, while Amethysts are silicate crystals.
