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Vesuvianite is named after Mt. Vesuvius in Italy, the famous volcano where it was originally described. The term Idocrase is an older synonym not commonly used anymore; it is more readily seen in old collection labels and classical reference guides. Although many habits of Vesuvianite are dull and uninteresting, there are some highly lustrous and brilliantly-colored forms of this mineral that are outstanding. Especially of note are the vividly-colored and multicolored varieties that came from the Jeffery Quarry in Asbestos, Quebec, which are stunning and classic forms of this mineral.
Brown, green, yellow. Less commonly pink, purple, orange, maroon, red, and blue. Multicolored shades of green or pink/purple and green are rare.
In the U.S., Vesuvianite is well-known at Crestmore, Riverside Co., California. The compact variety Californite comes from Pulga, Butte Co., California. Well-crystallized crystals come from Magnet Cove, Hot Spring Co., Arkansas; and brightly colored, lustrous crystals from the Belvidere Mountain quarries, Lowell/Eden, Orleans & Lamoille Cos., Vermont. Brown Vesuvianite comes from Joppa Hill, Amherst, Hillsborough Co., New Hampshire; and excellent dark crystals come from Maine at Sanford, York Co.; and at Casco, Cumberland Co.
The blue variety Cyprine comes from Franklin, Sussex Co., New Jersey; and from Øvstebø, Sauland, Telemark, Norway. Wiluite is described from the Vilyui River Basin, Yakutia, Russia.
Brown, green, yellow. Less commonly pink, purple, orange, maroon, red, and blue. Multicolored shades of green or pink/purple and green are rare.
In the U.S., Vesuvianite is well-known at Crestmore, Riverside Co., California. The compact variety Californite comes from Pulga, Butte Co., California. Well-crystallized crystals come from Magnet Cove, Hot Spring Co., Arkansas; and brightly colored, lustrous crystals from the Belvidere Mountain quarries, Lowell/Eden, Orleans & Lamoille Cos., Vermont. Brown Vesuvianite comes from Joppa Hill, Amherst, Hillsborough Co., New Hampshire; and excellent dark crystals come from Maine at Sanford, York Co.; and at Casco, Cumberland Co.
The blue variety Cyprine comes from Franklin, Sussex Co., New Jersey; and from Øvstebø, Sauland, Telemark, Norway. Wiluite is described from the Vilyui River Basin, Yakutia, Russia.
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