The Crystal and Mineral Vault


Welcome to our Crystal and Mineral Knowledge Hub, where science tradition and mindful practice come together. This space is dedicated to exploring the formation properties and cultural associations of crystals and minerals through Mineral Vault profiles and practical guides designed to encourage informed discovery and deeper understanding.

Go to our Mineral Guides for science based knowledge and the 'How to Guides' for spiritual practices.

Fluorescent Ruby

The Crystal and Mineral Vault

A Beginner's Guide to Mineral Optical Properties

by Laura Konst
Every mineral guide in the Mineral Vault references optical properties; colour, lustre, refractive index, birefringence, pleochroism, fluorescence, dispersion, chatoyancy, and asterism, but what do those terms actually mean? This second guide in our Mineralogy series explains each optical property clearly and practically, covering how light interacts with crystal structure to produce everything from the fire in a diamond to the cat’s eye in Tiger’s Eye. Whether you are just starting your collection or want to understand what you are already looking at, this is the place to begin.
Pietersite Crystal

The Crystal and Mineral Vault

Pietersite: Tiger's Eye Had a Rough Day and Became Something Extraordinary

by Laura Konst
Pietersite is what happens when Tiger's Eye gets broken apart by tectonic forces and re-cemented with the fibre bundles pointing in different directions. The result is a swirling, multicolour chatoyancy that no undisturbed parallel-fibred material can replicate. This guide covers the two-stage formation process, the science of chatoyancy, the relationship to Tiger's Eye and Hawk's Eye, and the asbestos question answered plainly.