21 Photos
Kyanite
Chemical Formula	Al2SiO5
Species	Silicates
Crystal System	Triclinic
Mohs Scale	5-7
Specific Gravity	3.53-3.67
Color	Blue, white, rarely green, gray, yellow, pink, orange, and black, can be zoned
Streak	White
Luster	Vitreous, Sub-Vitreous, Greasy, Pearly
Refractive Index	n = 1.712 - 1.718 n = 1.720 - 1.725 n = 1.727 - 1.734
Diaphaneity	Transparent, Translucent
Cleavage	PerfectPerfect on , good on
Fracture	Splintery
Crystal Habit：Columnar; fibrous; bladed
Geological Setting：Metamorphic rocks of moderately high pressure regional metamorphism.

Kyanite, whose name derives from the Greek word kuanos sometimes referred to as "kyanos", meaning deep blue, is a typically blue silicate mineral, commonly found in aluminium-rich metamorphic pegmatites and/or sedimentary rock. Kyanite in metamorphic rocks generally indicates pressures higher than 4 kilobars. Although potentially stable at lower pressure and low temperature, the activity of water is usually high enough under such conditions that it is replaced by hydrous aluminosilicates such as muscovite, pyrophyllite, or kaolinite. Kyanite is also known as disthene, rhaeticite and cyanite.

Kyanite is a member of the aluminosilicate series, which also includes the polymorph andalusite and the polymorph sillimanite. Kyanite is strongly anisotropic, in that its hardness varies depending on its crystallographic direction. In kyanite, this anisotropism can be considered an identifying characteristic.

At temperatures above 1100 °C kyanite decomposes into mullite and vitreous silica via the following reaction: 3(Al₂O₃·SiO₂) → 3Al₂O₃·2SiO₂ + SiO₂. This transformation results in an expansion.

Uses of kyanite

Kyanite is used primarily in refractory and ceramic products, including porcelain plumbing fixtures and dishware. It is also used in electronics, electrical insulators and abrasives.

Kyanite has been used as a semiprecious gemstone, which may display cat's eye chatoyancy, though this use is limited by its anisotropism and perfect cleavage. Color varieties include recently discovered orange kyanite from Tanzania.^{[citation needed]} The orange color is due to inclusion of small amounts of manganese (Mn³⁺) in the structure.

Kyanite is one of the index minerals that are used to estimate the temperature, depth, and pressure at which a rock undergoes metamorphism.

Notes for identification

Kyanite's elongated, columnar crystals are usually a good first indication of the mineral, as well as its color (when the specimen is blue). Associated minerals are useful as well, especially the presence of the polymorphs of staurolite, which occur frequently with kyanite. However, the most useful characteristic in identifying kyanite is its anisotropism. If one suspects a specimen to be kyanite, verifying that it has two distinctly different hardnesses on perpendicular axes is a key to identification.

Occurrence

Kyanite occurs in gneiss, schist, pegmatite, and quartz veins resulting from high pressure regional metamorphism of principally pelitic rocks. It occurs as detrital grains in sedimentary rocks. It occurs associated with staurolite, andalusite, sillimanite, talc, hornblende, gedrite, mullite and corundum.