Class : Silicates
    Subclass : Cyclosilicates
    Crystal system : Hexagonal
    Chemistry : BaTiSi₃O₉
    Rarity : Very rare

Benitoite is a very rare mineral found in small veins of natrolite crossing a glaucophane schist intercalated with a serpentine, where it associates with neptunite. It owes its name to its place of discovery : San Benito County in California. It occurs in tabular prismatic crystals, truncated by three triangular pyramidal faces, more rarely in trigonal bipyramids. Its appeal is due to its superb sapphire blue to light blue, sometimes dark blue color. Benitoite is sometimes cut in jewelry and used as a fluorescent standard in certain electronic microprobes. But these uses remain marginal due to the rarity of its crystals.

This mineral is not present in the French underground.

The twins are present by rotation on [001] and can form 6-pointed stars (extremely rare) like these world-famous specimens shown on the right.

No fake recorded for this mineral species.