Dysthene

Disthene (Kyanite)

Today this mineral is called kyanite and is described under this name.

The most beautiful kyanite crystals were found on the Alpe Sponda and the Pizzo Forno. They are sharp-edged prisms with a dark blue core and colourless rim, often associated with brownish staurolite, sometimes even grown together in parallel. Crystals embedded in light mica gneiss form an attractive contrast. Kyanite is also occasionally worked into gemstones.

Photo: Kyanite (disthene on light mica gneiss, Alpe Sponda, Pizzo Forno TI, collection Felix Spahr; not for sale.