The facts
What chambersite actually is
Chambersite is classified as boracite group, with the composition Mn₃B₇O₁₃Cl. It crystallises in the orthorhombic, pseudo-cubic system.
Colour comes from mn²⁺ gives a purplish red to colourless range, which is also what a laboratory looks at when it is asked whether a colour is natural.
Refractive index 1.732–1.744. Specific gravity around 3.49–3.52. Cleavage: none. Those three numbers separate it from most of what imitates it.
Where chambersite comes from
Chambersite is produced at Barbers Hill Salt Dome, Chambers County, Texas, USA and Chongzuo, Guangxi, China.
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 chambersite is treated
Untreated. Recovered as crystals from brine wells in a salt dome — an unusual origin. Faceted stones are tiny and among the rarer collector species.
Treatment changes value, sometimes by a multiple, so it belongs in the description before the price and not after the sale.
What chambersite is confused with
In the trade chambersite is most often mistaken for, or substituted by, Boracite, Almandine or Spinel.
The separation is rarely a matter of opinion: refractive index 1.732–1.744 and specific gravity 3.49–3.52 settle most of it in a minute, and magnification settles the rest.
What chambersite is used for
Demand for chambersite 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
Hardness 7; cleavage none. That combination decides what it can safely be set into.
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 chambersite costs
As a guide, chambersite trades around Faceted stones 300–1,500 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 chambersite treated, and how?
Untreated. Recovered as crystals from brine wells in a salt dome — an unusual origin. Faceted stones are tiny and among the rarer collector species.
Where does chambersite come from?
Barbers Hill Salt Dome, Chambers County, Texas, USA and Chongzuo, Guangxi, China. Origin affects price, so we name the locality rather than the country on every quote.
Is chambersite hard enough to wear every day?
Yes. At 7 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 chambersite cost?
Indicatively Faceted stones 300–1,500 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 chambersite confused with?
Most often Boracite, Almandine and Spinel. A refractive index of 1.732–1.744 and a specific gravity near 3.49–3.52 separate it quickly.
Related stones
Looking for chambersite?
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 chambersite