Cataclosite Impact Stone
The Phoenix Born of Impact
Also known as: Cataclasite, Catacloisite, Cataclysmite, Impact Quartz,
About the stone
Cataclosite impact stone is a trade name for material also sold as Cataclasite, Catacloisite, Cataclysmite, or Impact Quartz, commonly attributed by sellers to the Roter Kamm meteorite crater in Namibia’s Namib Desert. That crater formed around five million years ago, although the retail stone’s discovery date is not clearly documented. The geological term “cataclasite” was first defined by Grubenmann and Niggli in 1924; it describes rock crushed and consolidated by deformation, usually along faults, so not all cataclasite comes from meteorite impacts. Its modern crystal lore associates it with transformation, resilience, courage, and psychic insight.
Mineral data
- Chemical composition: Cataclosite Impact Stone is a rock rather than a single mineral: a brecciated, shock-altered quartz-rich rock made of crushed and re-cemented fragments, mostly silicon dioxide, SiO2, so its makeup varies.
- Hardness: Varies, generally about 6 to 7 on the Mohs scale.
- Color: Mixed gray, white, tan and brown fragments, often with darker pieces and a patchwork, broken-and-healed look.
Metaphysical data
Cataclosite Impact Stone, recognized as a stone shattered and reborn by an ancient meteor strike, has been utilized in metaphysical practices to support transformation, emotional balance and acceptance of change.
Grounding and Stabilizing Energy
- Cataclosite is believed to cool hot tempers and balance the emotions, giving a calmer base from which to face upheaval.
- It is thought to help one accept change and go with the flow, trusting that what has been broken can be put back together in a new form.
Emotional Healing
- It is often described as aiding the acceptance of the self on all levels, welcoming the fractured, imperfect parts as well as the strong ones.
- It is thought to imbue the user with energy, drive and enthusiasm, lifting the spirit after periods of difficulty or exhaustion.
Harmonizing Energy Centers
- Cataclosite is associated with all of the chakras, working broadly across the entire energy body.
- In meditation it is thought to vibrate with the plutonian energy of transformation and rebirth, stirring deep-seated change from root to crown.
Zodiac Associations
- Cataclosite is associated with all of the zodiac signs, making it a universal stone for anyone facing a major turning point.
- It is said to vibrate to the number 9, a number of endings and completion, which fits a stone born from an event that ended one world and began another.
Spiritual Growth
- Because it was crushed, melted and re-formed by an impact, it symbolizes rebirth, reminding us that destruction can clear a path for something new.
- Meditating with it is thought to encourage deep self-acceptance and to help one embrace transformation with courage rather than fear.
Physical Healing
- This information is for general interest and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, and the stone does not treat any condition, including injuries.
- Traditional lore links it symbolically with mending after breakage, and anyone with an injury should always seek proper medical care.
Care and handling
Cataclosite is a hard, quartz-rich rock, but because it is made of broken and re-cemented fragments it can have weak seams, so avoid drops and hard knocks. Clean it with mild soap, lukewarm water and a soft brush, and dry it well. Avoid harsh chemicals and sudden temperature changes. Store it where heavy pieces will not chip softer stones.
Individual experiences with Cataclosite vary, and its effects are personal. Hold it mindfully, let its patchwork surface remind you that being broken can be the start of something new, and use it as a companion for change.