merlinite-difference_fi

I decided it was high time to write this blog post to help eliminate some confusion around three minerals that are often confused with each other:

  • Merlinite
  • Mystic Merlinite
  • Blizzard Stone

These 3 stones are ones that my students sometimes aren’t quite sure how to tell apart and the naming itself can be quite confusing.

merlinite

Merlinite

The name merlinite is what’s known as a marketing term & not a technical geological one, however I feel it’s a useful name that helps us to distinguish it.

Dendritic Agate aka Merlinite

Dendritic Agate aka Merlinite

This stone is actually a dendritic agate that is mostly white with black dendrite “branches”; a combination of  a quartz (the white in this stone) over psilomelane (manganese oxide)…the black in this stone. The psilomelane has a tree branch-like pattern to it & that’s where it gets the “dendritic” part of its name.

Metaphysical Properties:

Merlinite is all about magic and boosting your intuition. You can also use it for past life recall.

Additionally, this stone is great for connecting with the elementals, making psychic connections, and allowing you to peer between the veils and dimensions; allowing you to make connections with the spirit world, pulling back the veil so you can see what’s going on in those other dimensions. It’s a rather forceful energy though, so be careful when working with it. You may want to go slowly & try it out in small doses at first.

Now to make this really confusing, there’s a type of dendritic opal that looks really similar to merlinite and people also call this kind of opal “merlinite” even though its not the same thing. Different minerals…I know…this can get very confusing.

Merlinite Dendritic Opal variety

Merlinite Dendritic Opal variety

Mystic Merlinite

First let’s set the record straight on the name. It’s real geological name is indigo gabbro. It seems as though a trademark was attempted on “Mystic Merlinite” but then was abandoned so it never went through. Anyhow, the name indigo gabbro is the name I prefer to use to eliminate confusion along with false price inflation based on a name. What’s in a name? Apparently, a lot. 😉

Why do we need 2 different names for the same thing anyway? I’m not down with that.

Gorgeous indigo gabbro is newly discovered & only found on the island of Madagascar. It’s a black stone with large grey mottling in it that can be polished to a high shine. If you hold it out in the sunlight, you’ll notice that the greys in it have a sort of violet iridescence that’s beautifully unique.

gabbro mystic merlinite

Metaphysical Properties: A gentle stone, I find it to be quite lovely to work with it at New Moon time & for setting intentions at that time. It also has a very calming quality to it.

Blizzard Stone

This stone is also a type of gabbro & this name is another marketing term, however I also appreciate this name b/c it helps us to distinguish it from a number of other different types of gabbro. This is also a black gabbro, but this time with tiny specks of white, hence its name. Unlike indigo gabbro, it doesn’t polish up with a glassy finish.

Made up of a number of different minerals it’s found throughout the Alaskan Wilderness, another good reason for it’s appropriate name.

FullSizeRender

Metaphysical Properties: Another gentle stone, as gabbros usually are, blizzard stone is one to turn to for balancing of our energies. I also find it to be useful for protection from EMF pollution and a wonderful grounding stone.

 

Did that clear things up for you Crystal Hottie?  I aim to educate!  So, I hope this was helpful. Do you own any of these beautiful crystals? Which 1 is your fav? Share with us in the comments below. 

Crystal Blessings,

Hibiscus Moon