Vayrynenite

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Väyrynenite is a rare manganese beryllium mineral known for its pink to orange hues. The mineral was discovered in Finland but largely known in the gemstone world from Pakistan and Afghanistan.

In terms of rarity, väyrynenite minerals are fairly rare, only known from a few countries. Väyrynenite gemstones are even rarer, with gem-quality material only known from two countries. While faceted varynenite gems are available on the market, they’re mostly bought by collectors.

Pronounced as either 1) vuh-REN-ih-nyte, or 2) vair-ee-YEN-ih-nyte, väyrynenite can be used as an October birthstone, substituting for pink tourmaline. It can also be beneficial to those born under the zodiac signs ruled by Venus: Taurus and Libra.

Specifications

Väyrynenite is a manganese-beryllium phosphate hydroxide mineral. The official väyrynenite formula approved by the International Mineralogical Association (IMA) is BeMn2+(PO4)(OH).

Finding distinct väyrynenite crystals is rare. If you do find them, they are usually euhedral and prismatic, sometimes forming druzy. Prismatic väyrynenite may be short to long and vertical striations are usually present on elongated väyrynenite prisms. Most often, väyrynenite occurs in fine-grained aggregates.

The optic sign of väyrynenite is biaxial (-). The Mohs hardness of väyrynenite is mid-range at 5, equivalent to that of apatite.

History

Technically, the first person to discover väyrynenite was renowned Russian-Finnish mineralogist Oleg von Knorring. He had collected some mineral specimens around 1939 and identified a few as a new mineral — what would end up being väyrynenite.

The first official description of the new mineral came from Finnish-American geochemist Alexis Volborth in 1954 based on specimens from the Viitaniemi pegmatite in the Eräjärvi of Pirkanmaa, Finland (now the mineral’s type locality).

Volborth named the mineral “Väyryneneniiti” — spelled in English as väyrynenite — to honor Finnish geologist and professor Heikki Allan Väyrynen, who sadly passed away two years later in 1956.

In 1959, Knorring and American mineralogist Mary E. Mrose of the US Geological Survey (USGS) co-authored another paper on the mineralogy of väyrynenite with more data on type locality väyrynenite specimens.

Mrose went on to refine the crystal structure of väyrynenite in 1962, when she co-authored a paper with fellow USGS member Daniel E. Appleman outlining how the crystal structure of väyrynenite related to that of euclase.

The First Gem-Quality Väyrynenite

The first source of väyrynenite outside of Finland was Pakistan, reported by Heinz Meixner and Werner Paar in 1976. More reports of Pakistani material led gem dealers to discover Pakistan produced gem-quality väyrynenite, not found in Finland.

The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) published their first examination of faceted väyrynenite in their Summer 1994 issue of Gems & Gemology.

In Summer 2006, the GIA reported on their first faceted väyrynenite from Afghanistan, revealing slight differences between Afghanistan and Pakistan material like their coloring, birefringence, and density values.

Healing Properties

Väyrynenite’s meaning reflects both the loving, compassionate properties of other pink gemstones and the creativity-boosting properties of other orange gemstones.

Väyrynenite crystals can be used for opening the heart chakra (which governs love and acceptance) or the sacral chakra (which governs intimacy and creativity).

Other purported benefits of väyrynenite stones in crystal healing include:

> Lowering fatigue
> Boosting energy, vitality, and self-confidence
> Inspiring new ideas & optimism
> Treating ailments related to the eyes

Value Factors

Beyond its rarity, the factors that affect väyrynenite’s value as a gemstone include its color, clarity, cut, and carat weight.

Color

The color of väyrynenite usually ranges from pink to orange, with many shades in between, particularly on the gemstone market. The characteristic pink color comes from the manganese in its formula.

Overall, higher saturation and fewer undertones of less desirable colors (like gray or brown) will mean higher value. Vivid pink to reddish-orange väyrynenite gems, similar-looking to Padparadscha sapphires, are most valuable.

The source may affect the color. Väyrynenite gemstones from Pakistan tend to be more orange while those from Afghanistan tend to be more pink.

Clarity

Väyrynenite gemstones are usually included, so fewer visible inclusions make a specimen rarer and more valuable.

Common inclusions in väyrynenite include:

> Fractures
> Chips
> Fluid (single-phase) inclusions
> Growth tubes, sometimes interconnected
> Two-phase (gas and fluid) inclusions, sometimes in smaller growth tubes

Additionally, “fingerprint” inclusions — cloudy areas filled with gas or fluid that are web-like, resembling fingerprints — have been seen in some Afghanistan material.

Cut

The prominence of inclusions in väyrynenite, along with its perfect cleavage and scarcity in gem-quality form, make faceted väyrynenite gemstones rare.

Common faceted cuts for väyrynenite include oval, cushion, and pear shapes.

Occasionally, väyrynenite may be cut into cabochons but not often. If the stone isn’t faceted, it’s typically sold rough (uncut). The best rough väyrynenite crystals are distinct, with good coloring, high transparency, few inclusions, and a large size.

Carat Weight & Size

Almost all faceted väyrynenites are under 1 carat; examples almost 3 carats large are known but uncommon. Väyrynenite gems from Pakistan tend to be larger than those from Afghanistan.

But it’s important to note that the other factors above influence the value, too. A väyrynenite weighing 0.5 carats with eye-clean clarity (a rarity) may be more valuable than a väyrynenite weighing 1.0 carats that’s heavily included.

Distinct, individual väyrynenite crystals are also rare but not always as tiny. Orange-red väyrynenite crystals have been found in the Karakoram Mountains of Pakistan up to 22 cm (~8.67 in) long.

Treatments

Väyrynenite does not undergo any routine treatments, including heating.

Formation & Sources

Most väyrynenite minerals are found in pegmatites, specifically complex granite pegmatites. Mineralogists believe väyrynenite forms when chemicals alter existing minerals in the rock like triphylite or beryl, turning these minerals into väyrynenite.

The only current sources of gem-quality väyrynenite material are Afghanistan and Pakistan. Rough specimens are also known from places like Finland, China, Kazakhstan, Portugal, Russia, Spain, Sweden, and the USA.

Prices

Faceted väyrynenites are the rarest and priciest.

The price per carat of faceted väyrynenite gemstones generally ranges from around $500 up to $4,000 and sometimes even $6,000 per carat. However, almost all väyrynenite gemstones are less than 1 carat, making their total price lower than their price-per-carat.

The average total price of a faceted väyrynenite gemstone is in the range of $120 to $4,500.

For rough väyrynenite for sale, the range is broader. You can find tiny but still distinct väyrynenite crystals for as low as $35 or $40, though they’re usually pale in color and very included.

However, highly transparent and distinct (but still small) väyrynenite crystals can still be only $50. We say “only” because the gem-quality, saturated, distinct crystals in large sizes range from $150 to $600, with some reaching over $1,400.

Väyrynenite jewelry isn’t common, but some väyrynenite rings are available. They’re usually made with high-quality metals (e.g. 18K gold) and incorporate accent diamonds or moissanites, costing around $600 to $4,600 each.

Proper Care & Maintenance

For väyrynenite jewelry, always get protective settings and reserve it for occasional wear.

The stone’s perfect cleavage, mid-range hardness, and often high amount of inclusions make it vulnerable to scratches or breakage. This is especially true for väyrynenite rings, so you may want to opt for earrings or pendants if you’re worried about damage.

Don’t clean väyrynenite with mechanical systems like ultrasonic cleaners. Only use lukewarm water, a mild soap, and a soft toothbrush or microfiber cloth.

Store väyrynenite away from other gemstones to avoid scratches.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is väyrynenite?

Väyrynenite is a manganese beryllium phosphate mineral discovered in Finland in the mid-1900s. The stone is known for its orange to pink coloring and rarity.