Published July 2014 • Updated March 2024 • Read Time: 5 minutes
Bronzite is a golden-brown Enstatite that has a metallic shimmer when weathered and polished. While Enstatite is a fairly common mineral, Bronzite deposits are relatively rare. It is found in a few scattered locations, but most of the specimens on the market comes from Brazil. But not all the Bronzite on the market is from our planet, if you’re very lucky you might find a meteorite that contains some of this flashy mineral! Today, Bronzite remains relatively unknown except to crystal enthusiasms and rockhounds. Those who have gotten to know it, adore its sparkle and it’s soothing energy of good manners. Bronzite encourages us to be gracious, courteous, diplomatic and able to put others at ease.
Bronzite Meaning
Spiritual Healing Properties
Bronzite is a very grounding and thoughtful stone. It encourages us to bring logic to our spiritual practice, so that we know exactly why we believe or do something, rather than just relying on blind faith. With the addition of this logic, not our spiritual practices are deepened, but our ability to communicate about them is also increased. Bronzite is also a stone for service, teaching us the value of community, and the joy of both giving and receiving.
| Metaphysical Properties | Stone |
|---|---|
| Chakra | Root and Solar Plexus |
| Element | Earth and Fire |
| Numerology | 1 |
| Zodiac | Leo |
Emotional Healing Properties
Bronzite helps us to step outside our emotions so we can properly analyze ourselves and our situation. This is particularly helpful during stressful or negative times. Once we understand and accept the reality of our current state, Bronzite encourages us to start taking proper action to improve the situation. Bronzite’s message is essentially one of love and balance, not as an impossible ideal but rather as something that should be actively worked towards.
Mental Healing Properties
Bronzite has a wonderful mellow energy which can help us deal with difficult people and situations. It has been called the “stone of courtesy” and encourages us to keep a level head and remain civil. Such civility is not meant to be passive or submissive! Rather it is about using our conscious mind to control our actions, as opposed to allowing ourselves to be controlled by our most basic “fight or flight” instincts. Bronzite teaches us to be discerning in our thoughts and words, decisive in our actions, and loving in our emotions.
Physical Healing Properties
Bronzite is said to be helpful for bringing the body pH balance into harmony. It is also believed to help the body better absorb iron and other nutritive minerals. Bronzite has been used by metaphysical healers to treat anemia as well as a variety of illness caused by vitamin deficiencies.
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Bronzite Mineralogy
Where does Bronzite come from?
Most Bronzite on the market comes from Brazil. Additional deposits are in Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, Madagascar, Norway, Spain, and the United States (Oregon).
Mining and Treatments
Typically mined from the primary deposits which still have their original relationship with the host rock. Enstatite is a relatively common mineral, found in both igneous rocks and in meteorites and is considered an important rock building mineral. By itself, its only commercial use is as a gemstone.
All Bronzites on the market are natural, enhanced only by tumbling, cutting, and polishing.
Bronzite
Mineral Family
Bronzite is the brown variety of Enstatite, a single-chain inosilicate mineral. Silicates are minerals which contain the elements Silicon (a light gray shiny metal) and Oxygen (a colorless gas). Together, these two elements form a tetrahedron – a shape similar to a pyramid – with a Silicon atom in the center and Oxygen atoms at each of the four corners. These tetrahedra connect with other chemical structures, in six different ways, to form various minerals and rocks. There are six main groups of Silicate minerals, and these main groups are further subdivided into secondary subdivisions, such as Quartz and Feldspar. Enstatite is a single-chain inosilicate, it can be colorless, yellow, green, brown, or black. The brown variety with a metallic luster is commonly called Bronzite.
Bronzite’s energy works well with its family – other single-chain inosilicate minerals. Try it in combination with Astrophyllite, Diopside, Jade, Kunzite, Rhodonite
Bronzite Formation and Crystal Associates
Bronzite is formed when liquid magma from a volcanic explosion cools down and transforms into igneous rock. During this cooling down period, silica acid bubbles shift from being a gas/liquid into a solid compound. Trace amounts of magnesium and iron within the silicate determine which type and color of silicate mineral is formed. Bronzite is the brown variety of Enstatite. Enstatite typically grows as an opaque stone, but occasionally it develops small crystals.
Bronzite’s energy works well with its “friends” – crystal associates formed in the same geological environment. Try it in combination with Hematite
Why does Bronzite have a metallic shimmer?
| Mineralogy | Stone |
|---|---|
| Chemical Formula | (Mg, Fe)2[Si2O6] |
| Cleavage | Good to perfect |
| Color | Brown-black and golden-brown |
| Crystal System | Orthormobic |
| Form/Habit | Massive |
| Fracture | Uneven |
| Hardness – Mohs Scale | 5-6 |
| Luminescence | Blueish-white, weak (long wave) |
| Luster | Metallic |
| Mineral Family | |
| Specific Gravity | 3.3-3.43 |
| Streak | grey/white or brown |
| Transparency | Transparent to opaque |
History of Bronzite
Bronzite was “discovered” relatively recently by the metaphysical community and so it was not included in any early lapidaries, texts that describe gemstones and their powers. The first known reference to its spiritual powers is in Melody’s Love is in the Earth, written in 1995. Bronzite’s name, of course, comes from its distinctive metallic luster. While oftentimes names like this are developed by the metaphysical community, in this case the name has a scientific origin and has been in use since at least the early 20th century.
Bronzite belongs to the single-chain inosilicate mineral family, which is also sometimes referred to as pyroxene minerals. Pyroxene is Greek for “fire stranger.” This is because pyroxenes sometimes form as crystals embedded in Obsidian (volcanic glass). It was originally thought that these crystals were impurities, or “strangers.” In fact, the pyroxene crystals were actually formed before the lava erupted! Today we know that pyroxene crystals are found in many igneous and metamorphic rocks and they make up much of the upper-crust of the earth. Pyroxene minerals have also been found on meteorites. For example, the Long Island Meteorite found in 1891 contains Bronzite.
