The facts
What caledonite actually is
Caledonite is classified as lead-copper sulphate-carbonate, with the composition Pb₅Cu₂(SO₄)₃(CO₃)(OH)₆. It crystallises in the orthorhombic system.
Colour comes from cu²⁺ gives a deep verdigris blue-green, which is also what a laboratory looks at when it is asked whether a colour is natural.
Refractive index 1.818–1.909. Specific gravity around 5.60–5.76. Cleavage: perfect in one direction. Those three numbers separate it from most of what imitates it.
Where caledonite comes from
Caledonite is produced at Leadhills, South Lanarkshire, Scotland, Mammoth-Saint Anthony Mine, Tiger, Arizona, USA and Red Gill Mine, Cumbria, England.
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 caledonite is treated
Untreated. A soft, heavy secondary lead mineral collected for its colour; not cut as a gem.
Treatment changes value, sometimes by a multiple, so it belongs in the description before the price and not after the sale.
What caledonite is confused with
In the trade caledonite is most often mistaken for, or substituted by, Linarite, Brochantite, Leadhillite or Azurite.
The separation is rarely a matter of opinion: refractive index 1.818–1.909 and specific gravity 5.60–5.76 settle most of it in a minute, and magnification settles the rest.
What caledonite is used for
Demand for caledonite 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
Caledonite is 2.5–3 on the Mohs scale, with perfect in one direction 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 caledonite costs
As a guide, caledonite trades around Specimens 30–600 USD.
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 caledonite treated, and how?
Untreated. A soft, heavy secondary lead mineral collected for its colour; not cut as a gem.
Where does caledonite come from?
Leadhills, South Lanarkshire, Scotland, Mammoth-Saint Anthony Mine, Tiger, Arizona, USA and Red Gill Mine, Cumbria, England. Origin affects price, so we name the locality rather than the country on every quote.
Is caledonite hard enough to wear every day?
Not really. At 2.5–3 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 caledonite cost?
Indicatively Specimens 30–600 USD. 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 caledonite confused with?
Most often Linarite, Brochantite, Leadhillite and Azurite. A refractive index of 1.818–1.909 and a specific gravity near 5.60–5.76 separate it quickly.
Related stones
Looking for caledonite?
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 caledonite