Atlantisite (a variety of Serpentine containing Stichtite)
Current inventory:  0 gems
 

  
Atlantisite is named after Atlantis which is from the ancient Greek word Άτλάντίς νηоος, meaning "island of Atlas". Atlantis is a fictional island mentioned in the philosopher Plato's works Timaeus and Critias, written about 360 BC.

Discovered in 1910; IMA status: Not Valid (trade name)

More Information

Atlantisite is a combination of Serpentine and Stichtite.
For more information please see the Serpentine and Stichtite information pages.
 

Type Locality:

Stichtite Hill, Dundas mineral field, Zeehan District, Tasmania, Australia

Year Discovered:

1910

Additional Information:

Mindat.org

Atlantisite is a green Serpentine rock containing pink to purple veins of Stichtite. Atlantisite is the registered trade name given by Gerald Pauley specifically to the gem material mined only at Stichtite Hill, Dundas mineral field, Zeehan District, Tasmania, Australia that was discovered in 1910. The name may now incorrectly refer to almost any green Serpentine material containing Stitchtite. Atlantisite has also incorrectly been called Tasmanite. Tasmanite and Atlantisite are two different types of material. Tasmanite comes from a different mine and is of inferior quality to genuine Atlantisite. Atlantisite also contains Chromite and Magnetite.

Atlantisite is named after Atlantis which is from the ancient Greek word Άτλάντίς νηоος, meaning "island of Atlas". Atlantis is a fictional island mentioned in the philosopher Plato's works Timaeus and Critias, written about 360 BC, where it represents the antagonist naval power that besieges Ancient Athens. Plato referred to the story of Atlantis as a moral teaching warning the Greek people against materialism, as it could have devastating consequences. The only reference Plato gave as to the location of Atlantis was that is was located "beyond the Pillars of Hercules". The "Pillars of Herules" was the phrase that was applied in Antiquity to the promontories (a raised mass of land declined abruptly on only one side) that flank the entrance to the Strait of Gibraltar. The Strait of Gibraltar connects the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea and separates Gibraltar and the Iberian Peninsula in Europe, on the northern side, from Morocco and Ceuta (Spain) in Africa, on the southern side. The northern Pillar is the Rock of Gibraltar. The identity of the southern Pillar has been disputed throughout history, with the two most likely candidates being Monte Hacho in Ceuta and Jebel Musa in Morocco.
 

  
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