Aegirine is a pretty crystal that many love for its dark and shaded appearance.
If you are a fan of Norse mythology, you have probably noticed that aegirine's name is rather unique. The name is no coincidence; it was named after the Norse god Aegir, as the mineral was discovered by the sea, and Aegir is the god of the sea in Norse mythology.
When researchers discovered aegirine, they did not realize that they had discovered a variety of a previously discovered stone, acmite. People, however, believed that aegirine and acmite were two different minerals. Only after mineralogists conducted more research had they then realized that they were merely varieties.
Despite acmite being discovered and described first, it was, strangely enough, considered a variety of aegirine; in reality, it was the other way around. The damage has been done, however, and today we now consider acmite to be a variety of aegirine.
Fun history lesson aside, what else makes aegirine unique? Well, despite being a rather pretty stone, aegirine is not typically used in jewelry. For what aegirine jewelry does exist, we can see that it is a lovely choice for things like rings or pendants.
Still, you are more likely to find aegirine in clusters or in its raw form when it is on sale. As a monoclinic stone, its raw formation is prismatic. In fact, we typically see it on sale or in displays in its raw form. There is no problem with that, as it does stand out and can provide contrast with a collection that has selenite prisms on display, too.
Aegirine is a relatively recent stone as far as discovery is concerned. When it comes to practical uses or properties that make it useful in an industry, we could not find anything for aegirine. As a result, we cannot say that aegirine is commonly used stone outside of collecting.
As for mineral enthusiasts, aegirine is not a crystal many collect. To start, it is a somewhat uncommon stone. But many people have also simply not heard of this stone. We rarely see cut aegirine, and when we see aegirine jewelry, it's often still raw.
Is there a reason people avoid cutting this stone? It is dark, and aegirine could be great for men's jewelry or even women's jewelry. Hardness is probably not a reason, as aegirine ranks at a 6 on Mohs Hardness. Aegirine also has good cleavage. In any case, if you do find it cut, we hope it looks good!
While aegirine is a relatively recent stone in terms of discovery, it has found a home in the spiritual community. As a stone named for the Norse god of the Sea, many pagans or crystal spiritualists believe that the stone has ancient energy that they can use in meditation. Others believe that it can provide some sense of self-guidance and control on one's life. These claims are not backed by modern science.
Meditation is an old practice, and while there are certain benefits of meditation, it should not be a substitute for modern healthcare practices.
Scientific Information
Aegirine is a dark stone that can be greenish-black. Some specimens are completely black and others have a reddish tint.
Pronunciation: Varies. Commonly /ægɪr.in/ and /eɪdʒɪr.in/.
Icelandic: /aiːjɪr/
Less commonly, but still used depending on dialect /æjɪr.in/, /ægir.in/, /æjir.in/
Composition: NaFe3+Si2O6
Lustre: Vitreous
System: Monoclinic
Mohs Scale Hardness: 6
Locale(s): Norway.
Source: https://www.mindat.org/min-31.html
We have heard quite a few different pronunciations. We're sure that most Old Norse Scandinavians don't mind, however, as Old Norse is a dead language. The pronunciation of Old Norse is also a widely-debated topic.
Wrap Up
Aegirine is a pretty stone. Its dark colors and slight tints give it a healthy variety that makes it an appreciated choice in crystal collections, but it is an uncommon one.
Aegirine's association with Norse deities has given a home in certain spiritual communities, especially pagan groups. While the stone is, in the grand scheme of things, a recent discovery, it has managed to find appreciation in the crystal community.
Thank you for reading!