Morganite Properties, Meaning, Facts and Photos
What is Morganite?
Morganite is a pink variety of the mineral beryl. Discovered in Madagascar in 1910, it was named not long afterwards by gemmologist and Tiffany & Co's vice president George Frederick Kunz.
Morganite was named in honour of American banker J.P. Morgan. As well as being an avid mineral collector, he also donated generously to the New York Museum of Natural History.
Morganite, when used as a gemstone, tends to be faceted. It's mainly used in fine jewellery.
The stone's natural colour varies from yellowish-orange to peachy-orange to a peachy shade of pink. It can also be light violet.
The colour is usually very subtle, so many stones are heat-treated to increase saturation. Depending on the treatment used, the colour can also be enhanced to produce a richer or deeper shade of pink.
'Peach morganite' is a trade name for stones that are more peach-coloured than pink. Ironically, this is often the natural colour of morganite.
By definition, morganite is pink beryl, even though the colour may not be particularly pink. It was likely labelled 'pink beryl' after being heat-treated.
The American Jeweller Tiffany & Co. would have been selling morganite as a gemstone, not as a rough mineral. Therefore, it would almost certainly have been heat-treated to make the colour more desirable.
Impurities of manganese in morganite are largely responsible for the shade and depth of colour.
As well as Madagascar, morganite can also be found in Brazil, parts of the USA, Mozambique, Namibia, Afghanistan and Russia.
On the Mohs scale of hardness, morganite grades 7.5 to 8. Although quite a hard mineral, it's also brittle. Gemstone hardness should not be confused with toughness.
Morganite must be protected from excessive heat, significant temperature changes and bright sunlight.
Morganite Healing Properties
Morganite resonates with the energy of divine love. It promotes unconditional love, compassion and forgiveness towards yourself and others.
As with most pink stones, it aligns with the heart chakra, allowing you to give and receive love more freely.
Morganite assists in resolving conflicts, promotes understanding and strengthens emotional bonds.
It encourages you to embrace your true self and cultivates self-esteem. It can empower you to tap into your inner strength to boost confidence and overcome doubt.
Holding or focusing on morganite during meditation can help create a sense of calm and relaxation. Its soothing energy can assist in quieting the mind, reducing anxiety and promoting a peaceful state.
As you delve deeper into meditation or mindfulness, morganite can encourage you to explore the root cause of your fears and anxieties. Its gentle energy can assist in bringing these emotions to the surface, allowing you to acknowledge and process them with compassion and understanding.
Morganite is a stone of joy, positivity and emotional well-being. It can be used as an anchor to remind you that happiness and laughter is an important part of a healthy life.
Article Pictures
The morganite in the picture at the top of our article is on display in the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, Washington D.C. It's an enhanced cushion-cut gemstone from Brazil that weighs 448.64 carats.
The morganite in our second photo is courtesy of Steve Blyskal. The image is clickable and redirects to the original photo.