The facts
What chrysotile actually is
The species behind chrysotile is serpentine subgroup, Mg₃Si₂O₅(OH)₄; it forms in the monoclinic system.
Fe²⁺ and Ni give pale green to yellow 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 1.530–1.575 and a specific gravity of about 2.51–2.63, with fibrous; splintery parting cleavage.
Where chrysotile comes from
Commercial material comes from Thetford Mines, Québec, Canada, Val-des-Sources, Québec, Canada and Bazhenovskoye, Sverdlovsk Oblast, Russia.
Different localities give different colour and different clarity, and the trade prices them differently. We state which one.
How chrysotile is treated
Untreated but genuinely hazardous: chrysotile is a regulated carcinogenic asbestos in most jurisdictions and must not be cut, ground or dry-handled. Silicified chrysotile from Arizona is cut as satin-sheen cabochons; the silicified material is safer but should still be worked wet.
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 chrysotile is confused with
Watch for Satin spar gypsum, Ulexite and Cat's eye quartz — these are what turn up sold under this name.
The separation is rarely a matter of opinion: refractive index 1.530–1.575 and specific gravity 2.51–2.63 settle most of it in a minute, and magnification settles the rest.
What chrysotile is used for
The trades that buy chrysotile 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
Chrysotile is 2.5–4 on the Mohs scale, with fibrous; splintery parting 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 chrysotile costs
Expect roughly Specimens 10–100 USD; silicified chrysotile cabochons 15–80 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 chrysotile treated, and how?
Untreated but genuinely hazardous: chrysotile is a regulated carcinogenic asbestos in most jurisdictions and must not be cut, ground or dry-handled. Silicified chrysotile from Arizona is cut as satin-sheen cabochons; the silicified material is safer but should still be worked wet.
Where does chrysotile come from?
Thetford Mines, Québec, Canada, Val-des-Sources, Québec, Canada and Bazhenovskoye, Sverdlovsk Oblast, Russia. Origin affects price, so we name the locality rather than the country on every quote.
Is chrysotile hard enough to wear every day?
Not really. At 2.5–4 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 chrysotile cost?
Indicatively Specimens 10–100 USD; silicified chrysotile cabochons 15–80 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 chrysotile confused with?
Most often Satin spar gypsum, Ulexite and Cat's eye quartz. A refractive index of 1.530–1.575 and a specific gravity near 2.51–2.63 separate it quickly.
Related stones
Looking for chrysotile?
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 chrysotile