Indigo Gabbro
Indigo Gabbro is igneous (intrusive, mafic). In the hand, it rates 5.5 to 6.5 (aggregate) on the Mohs scale, and it runs mottled violet-black and charcoal with indigo-gray patches. Coarse mottled rock of charcoal black and dusky indigo-violet patches, gabbro whose feldspars glow faintly purple-gray in good light.
The geology.
Indigo Gabbro carries the formula . It belongs to the, system. It is classified as igneous (intrusive, mafic).
It sits at 5.5 to 6.5 (aggregate) on the Mohs scale. The surface reads vitreous to dull, mottled. Light behaviour is opaque. Specific gravity runs 2.9 to 3.1. The streak is,. It breaks with uneven granular fracture.
Coarse mottled rock of charcoal black and dusky indigo-violet patches, gabbro whose feldspars glow faintly purple-gray in good light.
You will most often meet it as tumbled, spheres, palm stones or towers.
The origins.
Commercial material from Madagascar; gabbros of this style also in Alaska ('blizzard stone').
On value, the database notes: common and affordable.
Traditional associations.
In energy work traditions, marketed as mystic merlinite for intuition and shadow integration.
People buy on this language, so it belongs on the page. It belongs under the facts, though, not over them.
Spotting the real thing.
Coarse mottled rock of charcoal black and dusky indigo-violet patches, gabbro whose feldspars glow faintly purple-gray in good light.
Don't confuse with 'merlinite' (dendritic opal), two unrelated materials share the wizard branding.
| Looks like | How to tell them apart |
|---|---|
| Larvikite | Larvikite flashes discrete silvery grains; indigo gabbro is matte violet-black mottling |
| Black moonstone | Moonstone shows a rolling sheen; gabbro has none |
| Snowflake obsidian | Obsidian is glass with gray cristobalite rosettes |
At-home tests.
You can run every one of these at a kitchen table. Good light matters more than gear when you are looking at indigo gabbro.
| Test | What you should see |
|---|---|
| By eye | Coarse interlocking mottled texture |
| Acid check | No sheen, no fizz |
| Magnet check | Sometimes weakly magnetic (magnetite grains) |
Stop short of anything that leaves a mark. A gemologist can answer the rest without damaging the stone.
Care & handling.
At 5.5 to 6.5 (aggregate) on the Mohs scale it handles careful wear but scratches against quartz and dust. Store it separately and take rings off before rough work.
It breaks with uneven granular fracture, which is worth knowing before you set it or drop it.
Skip the ultrasonic. Lukewarm water, mild soap and a soft cloth handle routine cleaning without risk.
A deeper look.
Extended detail on composition, sourcing, authentication and market value.
The physical record
The formula on record is . Crystal system:,. Specific gravity: 2.9 to 3.1. Streak:,. Cleavage and fracture: Uneven granular fracture.
How it reaches the market
Commercial material from Madagascar; gabbros of this style also in Alaska ('blizzard stone').
What it gets confused with
Larvikite: Larvikite flashes discrete silvery grains; indigo gabbro is matte violet-black mottling. Black moonstone: Moonstone shows a rolling sheen; gabbro has none. Snowflake obsidian: Obsidian is glass with gray cristobalite rosettes.
What it is worth
Common and affordable.
Where buyers get caught
Don't confuse with 'merlinite' (dendritic opal), two unrelated materials share the wizard branding.
One more thing
'Mystic merlinite' is pure branding, the rock is a handsome gabbro, no wizards involved.
An education-first guide.
We do not carry indigo gabbro. This page exists because the question comes up and the honest answer is worth writing down, whether or not there is anything here to sell you.
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