This rare and often attractive mineral was first discovered near Mt. Vesuvius in Italy. A wide range of colors occur across specimens, with various impurities causing yellow, green, blue, brown, red, purple, and violet hues. Particularly fine crystals may be carved and polished into gemstones (such specimens usually hail from Italy). A more opaque, often green variety of vesuvianite is found in California which is sometimes referred to as "California Jade."
