The facts
What amazonite actually is
Amazonite is classified as microcline feldspar, with the composition KAlSi₃O₈. It crystallises in the triclinic system.
Colour comes from lead with water, as a colour centre, which is also what a laboratory looks at when it is asked whether a colour is natural.
Refractive index 1.522–1.530. Specific gravity around 2.56–2.58. Cleavage: perfect, two directions. Those three numbers separate it from most of what imitates it.
Where amazonite comes from
Amazonite is produced at Colorado, USA, Madagascar, Russia and Ethiopia.
The locality is part of the description, not a footnote — two stones of the same weight from two of these places are not the same stone.
Is amazonite treated?
None normally.
Nothing needs disclosing, and nothing about the stone can change after you buy it. If a price looks impossible, the risk is substitution rather than treatment.
What amazonite is confused with
In the trade amazonite is most often mistaken for, or substituted by, Turquoise, Jade or Dyed howlite.
The separation is rarely a matter of opinion: refractive index 1.522–1.530 and specific gravity 2.56–2.58 settle most of it in a minute, and magnification settles the rest.
What amazonite is used for
Demand for amazonite comes from jewellery, decorative objects and architecture and interiors, which is why one price per carat never covers it.
We quote each application in the unit that trade actually buys in, by the carat, by the piece or by the square metre.
Durability and care
Amazonite is 6–6.5 on the Mohs scale, with perfect, two directions cleavage.
Hardness is not the whole story. Perfect cleavage means the stone can split cleanly if struck along the wrong plane, whatever its Mohs number, so a protective setting matters more here than the hardness suggests.
Warm water, mild soap and a soft brush. Avoid ultrasonic cleaners on anything fracture-filled, stabilised, dyed or visibly included.
What amazonite costs
As a guide, amazonite trades around $1–20/ct.
That is a range, not a quote. Colour, size, clarity, cut and origin move the figure a long way inside it, and the only honest price is one given against a specific stone. Send us what you need and we will price it.
Questions
Is amazonite treated?
None normally.
Where does amazonite come from?
Colorado, USA, Madagascar, Russia and Ethiopia. Origin affects price, so we name the locality rather than the country on every quote.
Is amazonite hard enough to wear every day?
With care. It is 6–6.5 on the Mohs scale, which is hard enough, but perfect, two directions cleavage means it can split if struck at the wrong angle. Use a protective setting and avoid ultrasonic cleaning.
How much does amazonite cost?
Indicatively $1–20/ct. Colour, size, clarity and origin move the price a long way within that, so treat it as a range and ask for a quote against a specific stone.
What is amazonite confused with?
Most often Turquoise, Jade and Dyed howlite. A refractive index of 1.522–1.530 and a specific gravity near 2.56–2.58 separate it quickly.
What is amazonite used for besides jewellery?
decorative objects and architecture and interiors. Each of those trades buys it in a different form and a different unit.
Related stones
Looking for amazonite?
Tell us the size, the quality and what it is for. We source it, photograph it and quote it — with the locality named.
Ask about amazonite