The facts
What bytownite actually is
Bytownite is classified as bytownite (plagioclase feldspar), with the composition (Ca,Na)(Al,Si)₄O₈. It crystallises in the triclinic system.
Colour comes from pale golden-yellow from trace iron, which is also what a laboratory looks at when it is asked whether a colour is natural.
Refractive index 1.570–1.585. Specific gravity around 2.72–2.75. Cleavage: perfect {001}, good {010}. Those three numbers separate it from most of what imitates it.
Where bytownite comes from
Bytownite is produced at Chihuahua, Mexico 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.
How bytownite is treated
Untreated. A minor faceted collector feldspar; clean stones above a few carats are uncommon.
Treatment changes value, sometimes by a multiple, so it belongs in the description before the price and not after the sale.
What bytownite is confused with
In the trade bytownite is most often mistaken for, or substituted by, Citrine, Yellow scapolite, Danburite or Labradorite.
The separation is rarely a matter of opinion: refractive index 1.570–1.585 and specific gravity 2.72–2.75 settle most of it in a minute, and magnification settles the rest.
What bytownite is used for
Demand for bytownite 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
Hardness 6–6.5; cleavage perfect {001}, good {010}. That combination decides what it can safely be set into.
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 bytownite costs
As a guide, bytownite trades around $5–60/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 bytownite treated, and how?
Untreated. A minor faceted collector feldspar; clean stones above a few carats are uncommon.
Where does bytownite come from?
Chihuahua, Mexico and Ethiopia. Origin affects price, so we name the locality rather than the country on every quote.
Is bytownite hard enough to wear every day?
With care. It is 6–6.5 on the Mohs scale, which is hard enough, but perfect {001}, good {010} cleavage means it can split if struck at the wrong angle. Use a protective setting and avoid ultrasonic cleaning.
How much does bytownite cost?
Indicatively $5–60/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 bytownite confused with?
Most often Citrine, Yellow scapolite, Danburite and Labradorite. A refractive index of 1.570–1.585 and a specific gravity near 2.72–2.75 separate it quickly.
Related stones
Looking for bytownite?
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 bytownite