I decided it was high time to write this blog post to help eliminate some confusion around three minerals that are often confused with each other:
- Merlinite
- Mystic Merlinite
- Blizzard Stone
These 3 stones are ones that my students sometimes aren’t quite sure how to tell apart and the naming itself can be quite confusing.
Merlinite
The name merlinite is what’s known as a marketing term & not a technical geological one, however I feel it’s a useful name that helps us to distinguish it.
Dendritic Agate aka Merlinite
This stone is actually a dendritic agate that is mostly white with black dendrite “branches”; a combination of a quartz (the white in this stone) over psilomelane (manganese oxide)…the black in this stone. The psilomelane has a tree branch-like pattern to it & that’s where it gets the “dendritic” part of its name.
Metaphysical Properties:
Merlinite is all about magic and boosting your intuition. You can also use it for past life recall.
Additionally, this stone is great for connecting with the elementals, making psychic connections, and allowing you to peer between the veils and dimensions; allowing you to make connections with the spirit world, pulling back the veil so you can see what’s going on in those other dimensions. It’s a rather forceful energy though, so be careful when working with it. You may want to go slowly & try it out in small doses at first.
Now to make this really confusing, there’s a type of dendritic opal that looks really similar to merlinite and people also call this kind of opal “merlinite” even though its not the same thing. Different minerals…I know…this can get very confusing.
Merlinite Dendritic Opal variety
Mystic Merlinite
First let’s set the record straight on the name. It’s real geological name is indigo gabbro. It seems as though a trademark was attempted on “Mystic Merlinite” but then was abandoned so it never went through. Anyhow, the name indigo gabbro is the name I prefer to use to eliminate confusion along with false price inflation based on a name. What’s in a name? Apparently, a lot. 😉
Why do we need 2 different names for the same thing anyway? I’m not down with that.
Gorgeous indigo gabbro is newly discovered & only found on the island of Madagascar. It’s a black stone with large grey mottling in it that can be polished to a high shine. If you hold it out in the sunlight, you’ll notice that the greys in it have a sort of violet iridescence that’s beautifully unique.
Metaphysical Properties: A gentle stone, I find it to be quite lovely to work with it at New Moon time & for setting intentions at that time. It also has a very calming quality to it.
Blizzard Stone
This stone is also a type of gabbro & this name is another marketing term, however I also appreciate this name b/c it helps us to distinguish it from a number of other different types of gabbro. This is also a black gabbro, but this time with tiny specks of white, hence its name. Unlike indigo gabbro, it doesn’t polish up with a glassy finish.
Made up of a number of different minerals it’s found throughout the Alaskan Wilderness, another good reason for it’s appropriate name.
Metaphysical Properties: Another gentle stone, as gabbros usually are, blizzard stone is one to turn to for balancing of our energies. I also find it to be useful for protection from EMF pollution and a wonderful grounding stone.
Did that clear things up for you Crystal Hottie? I aim to educate! So, I hope this was helpful. Do you own any of these beautiful crystals? Which 1 is your fav? Share with us in the comments below.
Crystal Blessings,
Hibiscus Moon
Thank you! Just realized that the Blizzard Stone I acquired from a normally trustworthy shop is way too shiny and probably indigo gabbro.
So, what are the benefits or meaning of Mystic Merlinite? What does it do? I also have two Lemurian Seed Crystals, one reddish ET, and one Golden Healer phantom. I noticed they have different tips, the reddish one has a pointy tip, the other a flat tip. Is there anything you can tell us about that differences, you could do a video on that, it would be great. Thank you so much!
So…..which one of these is “The Real Merlinite”!??
Agate with black branches on white is Real Merlinite. Dendritic opal contains merlinite. We also have an article written on this subject.
LOVED this Steph! I am not down with the duality either! wth? Dendritic agate & opal are a couple of my favs and I dont argue with people who call them something else, but being one of your course grads (grin) we know what we know and move on! Great information! keep it coming!
Hi Sweetie,
I learn so much from you, it’s just awesome! I recognized the first stone but not by that name. Theother two are unfamiliar to me but now I’m going to be looking for them!
Thank you
Blessings
Alice
Hi Alice Your search is over Coz I have what you need and gorgeous other stones as well????????
Thank You! I am now in search of a Merlinite!
Wonderful info. Thank you. I have a merlinite pendant and it is AMAZING!!
I have an indigo gabbro, which was a Mystic Merlenite when I bought it last year! I haven’t used it much as I had heard about it being a very strong stone. Now, I will feel much better about using this gentler stone!
And coincidentally, I had just picked it up to do more research on it this morning, and it was actually in my hand when I opened your email! Timing is everything!
I love the Indigo Grabbo -beautiful calming energy
I’m having a tough time locating Merlinite that isn’t opalized. They look so much alike!
I love the information you give out and can’t wait to join your next class
Acellia
I bought what I thought was a mystic merlinite. Now I’m not too sure. If you can help me please let me know.
Great information! Thank you so much for sharing! You may be able to point me at another thing (if it’s not a bother, of course).
I’ve recently begun silversmithing (I joined my very first silver ring less than 48 hours ago). I had been doing wire wrapping and so it wasn’t really as big a deal because I wasn’t working with facets, but do you know of a base value and info guide for gemstones? Like one that includes pics, colors, values, mohs hardness ratings and basic metaphysical properties?
Thanks again for the awesome info!
Be well!
Great info. One way to tell if you have Blizzard Stone is that sometimes a magnet will stick to it. Not always though.
I’m not an expert on these subjects by any means, but according to a little research I’ve done, the Dendritic Opal is supposed to be the actual Merlinite that has the magic and Merlin/peering through dimensions metaphysical properties. The Dendritic Agate supposedly has a different chemical composition to the black fern like dendrites, than the Psilomelane in the Dendritic Opal. The metaphysical properties of the Agate one seem to be more based on internal work and transformation from negative experiences such as addictions, without having much to do with magic or dimensions at all. Now of course this could be mixed up and the exact opposite as you stated, just wanted to list what I researched and see what you thought. Another good differentiation is the all black material of pure Psilomelane that’s supposed to be the most potent version of the magical/dimensional version of Merlinite which has greyish silver streaks or swirls in the pure black stone. I am by no means trying to challenge your authority or claim anything, but ive also been confused about Merlinite in my journey. Please let me know what you think. Thanks!
So did y’all come to an understanding of whether the “magical” properties are with the Dendritic Agate or the Dendritic Opal? Also, I see Dendritic Agate in different colors. Is the Merlinite only the ones that are white with Dendrites & look more like the Opal? Or does it having yellow or blue in the Agate not matter?
Crystal Hottie? I’d love to share this article, but that crystal hottie language is sort of appalling HIbby.
I still don’t understand what is the difference between Tree agate and Dendritic agate. Can you help me?
Loving your page and love this article, and so many others ive come across. A long-time lover of and daily user of crystals, i somehow just recently became the proud home of my first indigo gabbro, and already love it…and i havent even done my cleansing or charging yet! For tonight’s New Moon im doing a small cleansing ritual with it and several other crystals using the cold, rainy, but cleansing “spring” weather energy we’re having where I live, and then in a couple days when the New Moon energy is most potent im going to try to charge it with some of that powerful deep energy. Im excited to work with it.
Thanks for your great info here and your cool page…i have a crystal/astrology/spirituality page of my own and look forward to sharing some of your great pieces here on my page 🙂
New Moon blessings,
Happy to know the stone I just bought is what I thought it was. Indigo gabbro. Thanks for your expertise and sharing your gifts with us!
There is a difference between “its”, and “it’s”.
Here are 2 sentences to illustrate each point:
Sentence #1 – “The stone is black with white specs on ITS surface.” (not “it is” surface, but ITS surface.)
Sentence #2 – “I love my shiny rainbow crystal. IT’S the stuff dreams are made of.” (it is, not denoting possession, but an abbreviation of “it is”.)
Grammarly.com is also a great site to visit and brush up on those needed pesky grammar skills. 🙂
Hope this was helpful! 😀
MonAmi it is ‘specks,’ not specs (which is short for spectacles.)
We are not here for a lesson in grammar, thank you. Can we stick to the subject which is Merlinite
This is not a Grammar class. So stop correcting and simply learn about the information being provided.
Great article, thank you. My supplier said, about Indigo Gabbro, “People call it Mystic Merlinite, but it is Gabbro and it is used for worktops.” I love the energy some tumbles are like little worlds with oceans and islands, I tell people, “I am coming back on planet Gabbro!” Nic, also sold me some dendritic agate as galets, which are stunning, now I have a new name to sell them by. I also have a couple of beautiful opal merlinite as pendants. It is hard to tell the difference, between the agate and opal when holding them both together!
Hi !
Thank you very much for these explanations !
But how really make the difference between a dendritic agate and a dendritic opal ?
I’ve got a pendant called “merlinite” but more I’m looking on the net for what kind of stone it could be, more I’m lost !
Thank you very much for your answer !
No clarification on how to the the difference between the agate and opal. Can you please clarify? Thanks
I have a piece of Merlinite, and I just referred to it as Dendritic Opal. I just love it!
Are all three technically gabbro, or? Is this a locality or chemical composition differentiation?
Thank you so much ! Very clarifying. I was about to go on another stone searching binge
Does anyone know if there different energetic properties to the dendritic opal? How do they differ from dendritic agate?
I have a picture of my dendritic opal aka merlinite I wish I could post it on here for someone to let me know if it’s legit+ I myself would like to know the difference between the opal and agate. I also read that the dendritic opal was the powerful stone???
How can we also use it for past life recall?
Would you recommend ritual related to this topic?
Thank you for the explanation of how to distinguish one from the other, and also one is strong to use and one gentle. Do they both have the same healing properties or differ from each other in what they can achieve thank you
According to Wikipedia, Gabbro is the most common stone on planet earth. The form of Orbicular Gabbro, being passed off as Merlinite, is common, black granite, used in counter tops and flooring, outdoor tiles, etc. It’s Minerology is much like Basalt.
Mystic Merlinite, would therefore be the Dendritic Opal, found ONLY in one mine in New Mexico. Regular Merlinite would therefore be Dendritic Opal from other than New Mexico. Dendritic Agate, is just Dendritic Agate.
Researched from various sites and Wikipedia.
I gem mine at Diamond Hill in South Carolina and the milky (sometimes also skeletal) quartz can be found with an iron oxide coating and with black manganese on it. Even though it’s a coating and not speckled throughout, would this give it essentially the same properties as merlinite?
[…] Gabbro, also known as Mystic Merlinite, is said to awaken an understanding of the deeper, mystical aspects of oneself and the universe, […]