Gem Profile October 18: Nuummite

By on October 18, 2013
Print Friendly

Article Layna Palmer, Wire-Sculpture.com

Today's Gem Profile is...

Nuummite

Gemstones on Wire-Sculpture.com

I have finally found one of the rarest gemstone on the planet; Nuummite (noo-myte).  Nuummite, discovered in 1982 near Nuuk, the Municipality which it was named after, is a mixture of anthophylite and gedrite 3 billion years in the making. That distinguishes this gemstone as being one of the oldest.  This is another metamorphic gem which is created by heat, pressure and time.

Nuummite

Nuummite

About Nuummite and Greenland:

Nuummite is found only in the Nuuk region of Greenland although several other similar stones have been found in the United States. Only the stone from Greenland has the developed coloration and iridescence to be called Nuummite.

Greenland

Greenland

 

This stone has a hardness of 5.5-6 on the MOHS scale and is relatively easy to cut and polish, but can be difficult to avoid pits and cracks due to the crystal structure.

Nuummite

Nuummite

Greenland has been inhabited off and on for at least the last 4,500 years by Arctic peoples whose forebears migrated there from Canada. Greenland is a beautiful land with many diverse gems and landscapes. Nuummite is mined in one of the most remote of these areas and can only be extracted in the warmer months.

Nuuk city below Sermitsiaq.

Nuuk city below Sermitsiaq. Photo courtesy of Greenland Tourism

Aerial view of Nuuk, Photo courtesy of Greenland tourism

Aerial view of Nuuk, Photo courtesy of Greenland Tourism

Greenland

Greenland

Icebergs in midnight sun_greenland. Photo by  Manfred Horender. Greenland tourism

Icebergs in midnight sun. Photo courtesy of Manfred Horender.

Northern lights over Nuuk Greenland. Photocourtesy of Anders Skov Hansen. Greenland tourism

Northern lights over Nuuk Greenland. Photo courtesy of Anders Skov Hansen.

What color is Nuummite?

Nuummite has a base color of charcoal gray or black with iridescent blue, red, green and gold that looks similar to the flames in a fire. This effect is due to the lamella-like structure of the crystals that form the stone.

Nuummite

Nuummite

The elongated crystals grow in thin sheets and sheaf-like groups that cause a type of iridescence within the stone which is brought out by cutting and polishing the stone, usually as a cabochon.

Nuummite

Nuummite

Unique properties:

Metaphysically, Nuummite is considered to be a stone of the Earth and by drawing on the power of the Earth’s core can help bring out inner power and strength leading to self-mastery.

Nuummite

Nuummite

If you are in the market for a 3 billion year old piece of Greenland, be aware that only the Nuummite from Greenland is of gem quality and some unethical sellers will try to pass off lesser quality stone as Nuummite at highly inflated prices.  Like Turquoise, pearls and other types of gems; caveat emptor and know your dealer.

Nuummite

Nuummite

Wrapping it up:

Do you have any jewelry you’ve created that you’d like to share with us? Send us pictures at tips@wire-sculpture.com and they could be featured!

Resources

 

Gem Profile by Layna Palmer

Click to Receive Daily Tips by Email