Prehnite: Cape Emerald
 Due to its soft color tones, prehnite is a gemstone that can be worn with just about any wardrobe. Like many gemstones, prehnite has been found in numerous locations. Prehnite, however, holds the distinction as being the first mineral to have been named after a human being.
Prehnite was first discovered in South Africa by Dutch Colonel Hendrik von Prehn, whose life spanned from 1733 to 1785. He was a governor of the Cape of Good Hope settlement in South Africa. It is believed that he brought samples of prehnite over to Europe around 1774. Some of the best quality prehnite comes from South Africa, and the clear prehnite can at times be found on the market being sold as a “Cape emerald.”
 As mentioned earlier, prehnite has been found in quite a few locations. In addition to the original discovery in South Africa, prehnite has turned up in Scotland, Austria, Canada, Germany, India, China, Namibia, France, and Australia. Also, in the United States, prehnite has been found in Virginia, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania.
Prehnite can be various colors: very soft light green, yellow/green, gray, white, and sometimes colorless. Prehnite is translucent with a pearlish or wax-like luster, and is reasonably priced.
In the gemstone world, many stones are durable, while others are not. Prehnite is one of the gemstones that are not quite as durable as some. At 6-6.5 on the Mohs scale of hardness, prehnite is far from the toughness of a diamond, which ranks a maximum of 10 on the scale. Prehnite is brittle, and care must be taken when wearing this special gemstone. For that reason, prehnite is often seen in pendant or necklace settings.
When cleaning prehnite, as with most gemstones, warm water, mild soap, and a soft brush are recommended.
Some people believe that prehnite is a gemstone that can enhance one’s endurance. Some folks also feel that the prehnite gemstone is great for meditation. I believe that prehnite is prehneat (translation: pretty neat!).
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