The facts
What cat's Eye Scapolite actually is
Cat's Eye Scapolite is classified as scapolite group, with the composition Marialite-meionite series, (Na,Ca)₄(Al,Si)₁₂O₂₄(Cl,CO₃). It crystallises in the tetragonal system.
Colour comes from pink to violet from irradiation-induced colour centres; the eye comes from parallel hollow tubes, which is also what a laboratory looks at when it is asked whether a colour is natural.
Refractive index 1.540–1.579. Specific gravity around 2.60–2.74. Cleavage: distinct prismatic. Those three numbers separate it from most of what imitates it.
Where cat's Eye Scapolite comes from
Cat's Eye Scapolite is produced at Mogok, Myanmar, Ratnapura, Sri Lanka and Morogoro, Tanzania.
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 cat's Eye Scapolite is treated
Violet and pink scapolite is often irradiated and the colour can fade in sunlight — a real risk in a stone bought for its colour as well as its eye. Chatoyant material is generally untreated because heating would damage the tubes.
Treatment changes value, sometimes by a multiple, so it belongs in the description before the price and not after the sale.
What cat's Eye Scapolite is confused with
In the trade cat's Eye Scapolite is most often mistaken for, or substituted by, Cat's eye quartz, Cat's eye apatite, Cat's eye tourmaline or Moonstone.
The separation is rarely a matter of opinion: refractive index 1.540–1.579 and specific gravity 2.60–2.74 settle most of it in a minute, and magnification settles the rest.
What cat's Eye Scapolite is used for
Demand for cat's Eye Scapolite comes from jewellery 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 carat or by the specimen.
Durability and care
Cat's Eye Scapolite is 5.5–6 on the Mohs scale, with distinct prismatic 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 cat's Eye Scapolite costs
As a guide, cat's Eye Scapolite trades around 30–250 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 cat's Eye Scapolite treated, and how?
Violet and pink scapolite is often irradiated and the colour can fade in sunlight — a real risk in a stone bought for its colour as well as its eye. Chatoyant material is generally untreated because heating would damage the tubes.
Where does cat's Eye Scapolite come from?
Mogok, Myanmar, Ratnapura, Sri Lanka and Morogoro, Tanzania. Origin affects price, so we name the locality rather than the country on every quote.
Is cat's Eye Scapolite 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 cat's Eye Scapolite cost?
Indicatively 30–250 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 cat's Eye Scapolite confused with?
Most often Cat's eye quartz, Cat's eye apatite, Cat's eye tourmaline and Moonstone. A refractive index of 1.540–1.579 and a specific gravity near 2.60–2.74 separate it quickly.
Related stones
Looking for cat's eye scapolite?
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 cat's eye scapolite