The facts
What chabazite actually is
The species behind chabazite is zeolite group, (Ca,Na₂,K₂)Al₂Si₄O₁₂·6H₂O; it forms in the trigonal system.
Colourless to white; reddish and orange tints from iron oxide staining is responsible for the colour — and the chromophore, not the name, is what decides whether a colour is stable.
On the instruments it reads a refractive index of 1.478–1.490 and a specific gravity of about 2.05–2.16, with poor rhombohedral cleavage.
Where chabazite comes from
Commercial material comes from Wasson's Bluff, Nova Scotia, Canada, Repvåg, Finnmark, Norway and Jalgaon, Maharashtra, India.
Different localities give different colour and different clarity, and the trade prices them differently. We state which one.
How chabazite is treated
Untreated. Collected as rhombohedral crystals from basalt cavities; too soft and low in refractive index to be a practical cut gem. Synthetic chabazite is a significant industrial molecular sieve.
We state the treatment on every stone, including when the honest answer is that it cannot be determined. A treatment disclosed is a fact; a treatment discovered later is a refund.
What chabazite is confused with
Watch for Calcite, Apophyllite, Analcime and Phillipsite — these are what turn up sold under this name.
The separation is rarely a matter of opinion: refractive index 1.478–1.490 and specific gravity 2.05–2.16 settle most of it in a minute, and magnification settles the rest.
What chabazite is used for
The trades that buy chabazite are mineral collecting, heavy industry and technical and precision components. They do not want the same thing, and they do not pay in the same unit.
We quote each application in the unit that trade actually buys in, by the specimen, by the tonne or by the piece.
Durability and care
Hardness 4–5; cleavage poor rhombohedral. That combination decides what it can safely be set into.
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 chabazite costs
Expect roughly Specimens 15–200 USD, depending on quality.
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 chabazite treated, and how?
Untreated. Collected as rhombohedral crystals from basalt cavities; too soft and low in refractive index to be a practical cut gem. Synthetic chabazite is a significant industrial molecular sieve.
Where does chabazite come from?
Wasson's Bluff, Nova Scotia, Canada, Repvåg, Finnmark, Norway and Jalgaon, Maharashtra, India. Origin affects price, so we name the locality rather than the country on every quote.
Is chabazite hard enough to wear every day?
Not really. At 4–5 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 chabazite cost?
Indicatively Specimens 15–200 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 chabazite confused with?
Most often Calcite, Apophyllite, Analcime and Phillipsite. A refractive index of 1.478–1.490 and a specific gravity near 2.05–2.16 separate it quickly.
What is chabazite used for besides jewellery?
mineral collecting, heavy industry and technical and precision components. Each of those trades buys it in a different form and a different unit.
Related stones
Looking for chabazite?
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 chabazite