Pietersite is a commercial term for a variety of the mineralchalcedony. Originating fromNamibia andChina, where it is mined for use as a decorative stone due to its chaoticchatoyancy andbrecciated structure.
Ranging in colour from brownish-red, to blue-grey, and chatoyant yellow. The Chinese variety are predominantly a reddish-brown, with regions of chatoyant blue and yellow. The Namibian variety are less varied, being predominantly a chatoyant blue-grey, with less common reddish-browns and yellows.[1]
It was first described in Namibia in 1962[2] and was discovered inXichuan - in theHenan Province of China - in 1966.[3]
Pietersite is often inaccurately described as a brecciated form oftiger's-eye or hawk's-eye, due to the brecciated texture containing chatoyant material. However, while they are similar mineralogically, pietersite is not a brecciated form of either. Instead, the chatoyancy is due to a shared mineral,crocidolite.[1]
