Blue stone
Encyclopedia
Blue stone is a generic mineral
description commonly applied to a variety of minerals. Perhaps the most common reference is to the hydrated copper(II) sulfate mineral, chalcanthite
. The name "blue stone" is also applicable to lazurite
, the core constituent of lapis lazuli
, a sulfide of sodium aluminium silicate in the sodalite
group. The term bluestone
is also used for the dolerite stones at Stonehenge
.
Other uses of the name blue stone may refer to blue-grey building stone or paving material. In Australia a bluish variety of basalt
is widely used for building.
The name should not be confused with blue john, which is a blue/purple variety of fluorite
, also known as fluorspar, found in Derbyshire
, England.
Mineral
A mineral is a naturally occurring solid chemical substance formed through biogeochemical processes, having characteristic chemical composition, highly ordered atomic structure, and specific physical properties. By comparison, a rock is an aggregate of minerals and/or mineraloids and does not...
description commonly applied to a variety of minerals. Perhaps the most common reference is to the hydrated copper(II) sulfate mineral, chalcanthite
Chalcanthite
Chalcanthite, whose name derives from the Greek, chalkos and anthos, meaning copper flower, is a richly-colored blue/green water-soluble sulfate mineral CuSO4·5H2O. It is commonly found in the late-stage oxidation zones of copper deposits...
. The name "blue stone" is also applicable to lazurite
Lazurite
Lazurite is a tectosilicate mineral with sulfate, sulfur and chloride with formula: 8[2|]. It is a feldspathoid and a member of the sodalite group. Lazurite crystallizes in the isometric system although well formed crystals are rare. It is usually massive and forms the bulk of the gemstone lapis...
, the core constituent of lapis lazuli
Lapis lazuli
Lapis lazuli is a relatively rare semi-precious stone that has been prized since antiquity for its intense blue color....
, a sulfide of sodium aluminium silicate in the sodalite
Sodalite
Sodalite is a rich royal blue mineral widely enjoyed as an ornamental gemstone. Although massive sodalite samples are opaque, crystals are usually transparent to translucent...
group. The term bluestone
Bluestone
Bluestone is a cultural or commercial name for a number of dimension or building stone varieties, including:*a feldspathic sandstone in the U.S. and Canada;*limestone in the Shenandoah Valley in the U.S...
is also used for the dolerite stones at Stonehenge
Stonehenge
Stonehenge is a prehistoric monument located in the English county of Wiltshire, about west of Amesbury and north of Salisbury. One of the most famous sites in the world, Stonehenge is composed of a circular setting of large standing stones set within earthworks...
.
Other uses of the name blue stone may refer to blue-grey building stone or paving material. In Australia a bluish variety of basalt
Basalt
Basalt is a common extrusive volcanic rock. It is usually grey to black and fine-grained due to rapid cooling of lava at the surface of a planet. It may be porphyritic containing larger crystals in a fine matrix, or vesicular, or frothy scoria. Unweathered basalt is black or grey...
is widely used for building.
The name should not be confused with blue john, which is a blue/purple variety of fluorite
Fluorite
Fluorite is a halide mineral composed of calcium fluoride, CaF2. It is an isometric mineral with a cubic habit, though octahedral and more complex isometric forms are not uncommon...
, also known as fluorspar, found in Derbyshire
Derbyshire
Derbyshire is a county in the East Midlands of England. A substantial portion of the Peak District National Park lies within Derbyshire. The northern part of Derbyshire overlaps with the Pennines, a famous chain of hills and mountains. The county contains within its boundary of approx...
, England.