The facts
What augite actually is
Augite is classified as pyroxene group, with the composition (Ca,Na)(Mg,Fe,Al,Ti)(Si,Al)₂O₆. It crystallises in the monoclinic system.
Colour comes from fe²⁺–Fe³⁺ and Ti give the dark green to black; some crystals show violet-brown titanian zoning, which is also what a laboratory looks at when it is asked whether a colour is natural.
Refractive index 1.671–1.774. Specific gravity around 3.19–3.56. Cleavage: good prismatic in two directions at about 87°. Those three numbers separate it from most of what imitates it.
Where augite comes from
Augite is produced at Eifel, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, Mount Vesuvius, Campania, Italy and Diamond Creek, New Mexico, USA.
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.
How augite is treated
Untreated. Mostly a specimen mineral; rare transparent brown-green crystals are faceted for collectors.
Treatment changes value, sometimes by a multiple, so it belongs in the description before the price and not after the sale.
What augite is confused with
In the trade augite is most often mistaken for, or substituted by, Diopside, Hedenbergite, Enstatite or Hornblende.
The separation is rarely a matter of opinion: refractive index 1.671–1.774 and specific gravity 3.19–3.56 settle most of it in a minute, and magnification settles the rest.
What augite is used for
Demand for augite comes from mineral collecting, which is why one price per carat never covers it.
We quote each application in the unit that trade actually buys in, by the specimen.
Durability and care
Hardness 5.5–6; cleavage good prismatic in two directions at about 87°. That combination decides what it can safely be set into.
With no cleavage plane to worry about, the practical limit is abrasion rather than breakage, and it takes daily wear well.
Warm water, mild soap and a soft brush. Avoid ultrasonic cleaners on anything fracture-filled, stabilised, dyed or visibly included.
What augite costs
As a guide, augite trades around Specimens 10–150 USD; faceted stones 20–80 USD/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 augite treated, and how?
Untreated. Mostly a specimen mineral; rare transparent brown-green crystals are faceted for collectors.
Where does augite come from?
Eifel, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, Mount Vesuvius, Campania, Italy and Diamond Creek, New Mexico, USA. Origin affects price, so we name the locality rather than the country on every quote.
Is augite hard enough to wear every day?
Yes. At 5.5–6 on the Mohs scale with no cleavage plane, it handles daily wear well. The practical limit is gradual abrasion rather than chipping.
How much does augite cost?
Indicatively Specimens 10–150 USD; faceted stones 20–80 USD/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 augite confused with?
Most often Diopside, Hedenbergite, Enstatite and Hornblende. A refractive index of 1.671–1.774 and a specific gravity near 3.19–3.56 separate it quickly.
Related stones
Looking for augite?
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 augite