The facts
What childrenite actually is
The species behind childrenite is childrenite-eosphorite series, Fe²⁺AlPO₄(OH)₂·H₂O; it forms in the orthorhombic system.
Fe²⁺ gives brown to yellow-brown, darker than the pink of the manganese-rich eosphorite 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 1.639–1.672 and a specific gravity of about 3.06–3.25, with poor cleavage.
Where childrenite comes from
Commercial material comes from George and Charlotte Mine, Tavistock, Devon, England, Linópolis, Minas Gerais, Brazil and Hagendorf, Bavaria, Germany.
Different localities give different colour and different clarity, and the trade prices them differently. We state which one.
How childrenite is treated
Untreated. The Devon type locality gives the classic sharp brown crystals; Brazilian pegmatites supply the occasional facetable piece.
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 childrenite is confused with
Watch for Eosphorite, Titanite, Brown zircon and Triplite — these are what turn up sold under this name.
The separation is rarely a matter of opinion: refractive index 1.639–1.672 and specific gravity 3.06–3.25 settle most of it in a minute, and magnification settles the rest.
What childrenite is used for
The trades that buy childrenite are mineral collecting. 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.
Durability and care
Hardness 4.5–5; cleavage poor. 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 childrenite costs
Expect roughly Specimens 30–400 USD; faceted stones 80–300 USD/ct, 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 childrenite treated, and how?
Untreated. The Devon type locality gives the classic sharp brown crystals; Brazilian pegmatites supply the occasional facetable piece.
Where does childrenite come from?
George and Charlotte Mine, Tavistock, Devon, England, Linópolis, Minas Gerais, Brazil and Hagendorf, Bavaria, Germany. Origin affects price, so we name the locality rather than the country on every quote.
Is childrenite hard enough to wear every day?
Not really. At 4.5–5 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 childrenite cost?
Indicatively Specimens 30–400 USD; faceted stones 80–300 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 childrenite confused with?
Most often Eosphorite, Titanite, Brown zircon and Triplite. A refractive index of 1.639–1.672 and a specific gravity near 3.06–3.25 separate it quickly.
Related stones
Looking for childrenite?
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 childrenite