Cryolite ( Greenland )

Physical Information

Cryolite is a rare sodium aluminium fluoride mineral. It is white, colourless or slightly grey, with a soft, icy look. Its name comes from Greek words meaning “ice stone”. One special feature: its light-bending property is very close to that of water, so a clear piece almost disappears when you put it in water.

The famous deposit is at Ivittuut in Greenland, which was once the only large cryolite mine in the world. That deposit is now mined out, so natural Greenland cryolite is a real collector’s stone. Cryolite is soft (about 2.5–3 on the Mohs scale) and slightly soluble, so keep it dry and dust it gently.

Metaphysical Properties

Cryolite is known as a stone of mental clarity. Its icy look is believed to bring a cool, clear mind and a calm distance from strong emotions. Many people use it when they need to think things through or see a situation from a new point of view.

It is associated with the third eye chakra and with intuition. People often keep it on the desk during study or place it in their meditation space. Because it is rare, many treat it as a special piece for quiet, focused moments.