The facts
What brazilianite actually is
Brazilianite is classified as brazilianite, with the composition NaAl₃(PO₄)₂(OH)₄. It crystallises in the monoclinic system.
Colour comes from traces of Fe giving chartreuse to yellow-green; among the few naturally yellow-green phosphates, which is also what a laboratory looks at when it is asked whether a colour is natural.
Refractive index 1.602–1.623. Specific gravity around 2.94–2.99. Cleavage: good {010}. Those three numbers separate it from most of what imitates it.
Where brazilianite comes from
Brazilianite is produced at Conselheiro Pena and Divino das Laranjeiras, Minas Gerais, Brazil, Mangualde, Portugal and Palermo Mine, North Groton, New Hampshire, 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 brazilianite is treated
Untreated — the colour is natural and stable in light, though prolonged heat can pale it. Discovered only in 1944, making it one of the youngest species to enter the gem trade.
Treatment changes value, sometimes by a multiple, so it belongs in the description before the price and not after the sale.
What brazilianite is confused with
In the trade brazilianite is most often mistaken for, or substituted by, Chrysoberyl, Peridot, Amblygonite, Heliodor or Yellow apatite.
The separation is rarely a matter of opinion: refractive index 1.602–1.623 and specific gravity 2.94–2.99 settle most of it in a minute, and magnification settles the rest.
What brazilianite is used for
Demand for brazilianite comes from mineral collecting and jewellery, 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 or by the carat.
Durability and care
Brazilianite is 5.5 on the Mohs scale, with good {010} cleavage.
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 brazilianite costs
As a guide, brazilianite trades around Faceted stones $80–$400/ct; fine crystals $150–$10,000.
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 brazilianite treated, and how?
Untreated — the colour is natural and stable in light, though prolonged heat can pale it. Discovered only in 1944, making it one of the youngest species to enter the gem trade.
Where does brazilianite come from?
Conselheiro Pena and Divino das Laranjeiras, Minas Gerais, Brazil, Mangualde, Portugal and Palermo Mine, North Groton, New Hampshire, USA. Origin affects price, so we name the locality rather than the country on every quote.
Is brazilianite hard enough to wear every day?
Yes. At 5.5 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 brazilianite cost?
Indicatively Faceted stones $80–$400/ct; fine crystals $150–$10,000. 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 brazilianite confused with?
Most often Chrysoberyl, Peridot, Amblygonite, Heliodor and Yellow apatite. A refractive index of 1.602–1.623 and a specific gravity near 2.94–2.99 separate it quickly.
Related stones
Looking for brazilianite?
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 brazilianite