More than you ever wanted to know about Dumortierite

This edition of my ongoing series of blog posts about gem and mineral fact, fiction and lore, features dumortierite.

Dumortierite is named after Eugene Dumortier, a French paleontologist, sometime in the 1880's.


Crystals are fairly hard at about 8 1/2 on the Mohs scale, and are very rare. It is the massive form from which jewelry, beads and stone carvings are made. The massive form is approximately a 7 in hardness.

Dumortierite comes in shades of blue (most commonly used in jewelry applications) and red-brown. It is often used as an inexpensive substitute for lapis. Non jewelry uses for dumortierite are mostly ceramics.

Sometimes found intergrown with quartz, named dumortierite quartz. (what a surprise)

Lore

As a healing stone dumortierite is said to be beneficial with a number disorders including relief of nausea and vomiting. Some of the literature claims that a tincture of dumortierite applied to the skin relieves sunburn.

“It can be used to diminish wasting disorders, to provide strength in dealing with conditions of dis-ease, and to provide insight into the basis of a condition in order to help one to understand and correct the cause.” 1 Sometimes used as a diagnostic tool by stone healers.

“Dumortierite makes it easier to cope with depressive situations. It is especially important, however, for helping one to talk about the feelings of depression and its causes. This makes it one of the most important crystals to accompany any form of therapy.” 2

Dumortierite is thought to work as a memory aid and is useful in helping to organize one's thoughts. “It highly reduces difficulties of scattered mind and disorganization. In addition, it encourages one to see and accept reality, and react to it in an intelligent manner in one’s own behalf” 3

Meditating or sleeping with dumortierite is useful as it helps you to focus.

“Dumortierite opens the doors of insight, activating the third eye chakra and assisting one in making the mental leaps necessary for transcending intractable difficulties or seemingly hopeless situations.” 4


1) Melody “Love is in the Earth- A Kaleidoscope of Crystals“ pg. 149
2) Michael Gienger “The Healing Crystals First Aid Manual“ pg. 89
3) Gregory Branson-Trent “The Magick And Healing Properties Of Crystals, Metals And Stones“ pg. 121
4) Robert Simmons, Naisha Ahsian “The Book of Stones: Who They Are & What They Teach” pg. 144