How Did Staurolite Get Its Name?

Staurolite is a brittle, hard mineral that has a dull lustre. Its crystals are usually dark brown in colour and are often twinned in cruciform patterns (known as fairy crosses) that can be made into ornaments. The name is derived from stauros, the Greek word for cross.

How are staurolite formed?

Staurolite is formed by regional metamorphism of rocks, such as mica schists, slates, and gneisses, and generally associated with other minerals like kyanite, garnet, and tourmaline.

How is staurolite extracted from the earth?

Staurolite is a mineral that is commonly found in metamorphic rocks such as schist and gneiss. It forms when shale is strongly altered by regional metamorphism. It is often found in association with almandine garnet, muscovite, and kyanite - minerals that form under similar temperature and pressure conditions.