The facts
What cacholong actually is
Cacholong is classified as opal (porous common opal), with the composition SiO₂·nH₂O. It crystallises in the amorphous system.
Refractive index 1.44–1.46. Specific gravity around 1.90–2.20. Cleavage: none. Those three numbers separate it from most of what imitates it.
Where cacholong comes from
Cacholong is produced at Kazakhstan, Iceland and Mongolia.
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 cacholong is treated
Highly porous, so it takes dye readily and dyed cacholong (blue, green, pink) is widely sold, often undisclosed. It also absorbs skin oils and stains in wear. Natural material is chalk-white and sticks to the tongue.
Treatment changes value, sometimes by a multiple, so it belongs in the description before the price and not after the sale.
What cacholong is confused with
In the trade cacholong is most often mistaken for, or substituted by, Dyed cacholong, Magnesite, Howlite or Porcelain.
The separation is rarely a matter of opinion: refractive index 1.44–1.46 and specific gravity 1.90–2.20 settle most of it in a minute, and magnification settles the rest.
What cacholong is used for
Demand for cacholong comes from carving and sculpture, decorative objects, jewellery, architecture and interiors and 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 block, by the piece or by the carat.
Durability and care
Cacholong is 4.5–6 on the Mohs scale, with none cleavage.
Below about 5.5 a stone will be scratched by ordinary household dust, which is largely quartz. That does not make it unusable — it makes it a pendant, an earring or an object rather than a ring worn every day.
Warm water, mild soap and a soft brush. Avoid ultrasonic cleaners on anything fracture-filled, stabilised, dyed or visibly included.
What cacholong costs
As a guide, cacholong trades around $0.50–10/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 cacholong treated, and how?
Highly porous, so it takes dye readily and dyed cacholong (blue, green, pink) is widely sold, often undisclosed. It also absorbs skin oils and stains in wear. Natural material is chalk-white and sticks to the tongue.
Where does cacholong come from?
Kazakhstan, Iceland and Mongolia. Origin affects price, so we name the locality rather than the country on every quote.
Is cacholong hard enough to wear every day?
Not really. At 4.5–6 on the Mohs scale it is softer than the quartz dust in ordinary household dirt, so it scratches with wear. It suits pendants, earrings and objects better than a daily ring.
How much does cacholong cost?
Indicatively $0.50–10/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 cacholong confused with?
Most often Dyed cacholong, Magnesite, Howlite and Porcelain. A refractive index of 1.44–1.46 and a specific gravity near 1.90–2.20 separate it quickly.
What is cacholong used for besides jewellery?
carving and sculpture, decorative objects, architecture and interiors and mineral collecting. Each of those trades buys it in a different form and a different unit.
Related stones
Looking for cacholong?
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 cacholong