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Pargasite
Pargasite is silicates (amphibole group), NaCa2(Mg4Al)(Si6Al2)O22(OH)2. In the hand, it rates 5 to 6 on the Mohs scale, and it runs bluish green and grass green. Apple-to-bluish-green stubby amphibole prisms, the showpiece form is gemmy green crystals studding white marble from Pakistan and Vietnam.
The geology.
Pargasite carries the formula NaCa2(Mg4Al)(Si6Al2)O22(OH)2. It belongs to the monoclinic system. Its listing category is silicates (amphibole group).
It sits at 5 to 6 on the Mohs scale. The surface reads vitreous. Light behaviour is transparent to translucent. Specific gravity runs 3.0 to 3.3. The streak is white to pale gray. It breaks with two cleavages near 56/124 degrees; uneven fracture.
Apple-to-bluish-green stubby amphibole prisms, the showpiece form is gemmy green crystals studding white marble from Pakistan and Vietnam.
It turns up mostly as stubby prismatic crystals, green crystals in white marble or granular aggregates.
The origins.
Metamorphosed limestones and skarns: Hunza Valley (Pakistan), Luc Yen (Vietnam), Pargas (Finland, type locality).
On value, the database notes: collector mineral; vivid green-on-marble specimens are mid to high.
Traditional associations.
In energy work traditions, associated with heart-centered resilience and growth after difficulty.
This is lore, and we label it as lore. The measurable facts are further up the page.
Spotting the real thing.
Apple-to-bluish-green stubby amphibole prisms, the showpiece form is gemmy green crystals studding white marble from Pakistan and Vietnam.
Dyed marble composites imitate the green-on-white look; dye rubs off in crevices.
| Looks like | How to tell them apart |
|---|---|
| Diopside | Pyroxene cleavages meet near 90 degrees; amphibole pargasite cleaves near 56/124 |
| Green tourmaline | Tourmaline has no cleavage and triangular cross-sections |
| Emerald in matrix | Emerald is harder (7.5 to 8) with hexagonal prisms; pargasite yields to a steel point |
At-home tests.
A loupe and a window seat settle most questions about pargasite. No workshop required.
| Test | What you should see |
|---|---|
| By eye | Amphibole cleavage angles (about 56 and 124 degrees) |
| Scratch check | Knife scratches it with effort |
| By eye | Marble matrix association for gem-green material |
Stop short of anything that leaves a mark. A gemologist can answer the rest without damaging the stone.
Care & handling.
At 5 to 6 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 two cleavages near 56/124 degrees; uneven 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 NaCa2(Mg4Al)(Si6Al2)O22(OH)2. Crystal system: Monoclinic. Specific gravity: 3.0 to 3.3. Streak: White to pale gray. Cleavage and fracture: Two cleavages near 56/124 degrees; uneven fracture.
How it reaches the market
Metamorphosed limestones and skarns: Hunza Valley (Pakistan), Luc Yen (Vietnam), Pargas (Finland, type locality).
What it gets confused with
Diopside: Pyroxene cleavages meet near 90 degrees; amphibole pargasite cleaves near 56/124. Green tourmaline: Tourmaline has no cleavage and triangular cross-sections. Emerald in matrix: Emerald is harder (7.5 to 8) with hexagonal prisms; pargasite yields to a steel point.
What it is worth
Collector mineral; vivid green-on-marble specimens are mid to high.
Where buyers get caught
Dyed marble composites imitate the green-on-white look; dye rubs off in crevices.
One more thing
Named for Pargas, Finland in 1814; two centuries later Vietnamese marble quarries made it a star by accident while cutting decorative stone.
An education-first guide.
We do not carry pargasite. 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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