The facts
What clinohedrite actually is
Clinohedrite is classified as zinc-calcium silicate, with the composition CaZn(SiO₄)·H₂O. It crystallises in the monoclinic system.
Colour comes from faint amethystine tint; the orange short-wave fluorescence is the diagnostic feature, which is also what a laboratory looks at when it is asked whether a colour is natural.
Refractive index 1.662–1.669. Specific gravity around 3.28–3.34. Cleavage: perfect in one direction. Those three numbers separate it from most of what imitates it.
Where clinohedrite comes from
Clinohedrite is produced at Franklin Mine, Sussex County, New Jersey, USA.
That is the whole list. A single source makes supply fragile and makes any claim of a second origin worth questioning.
How clinohedrite is treated
Untreated. A one-locality mineral, collected almost entirely for fluorescent display alongside willemite and hardystonite.
Treatment changes value, sometimes by a multiple, so it belongs in the description before the price and not after the sale.
What clinohedrite is confused with
In the trade clinohedrite is most often mistaken for, or substituted by, Calcite, Hardystonite or Pectolite.
The separation is rarely a matter of opinion: refractive index 1.662–1.669 and specific gravity 3.28–3.34 settle most of it in a minute, and magnification settles the rest.
What clinohedrite is used for
Demand for clinohedrite comes from mineral collecting and decorative objects, 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 or by the piece.
Durability and care
Clinohedrite is 5.5 on the Mohs scale, with perfect in one direction cleavage.
Hardness is not the whole story. Perfect cleavage means the stone can split cleanly if struck along the wrong plane, whatever its Mohs number, so a protective setting matters more here than the hardness suggests.
Warm water, mild soap and a soft brush. Avoid ultrasonic cleaners on anything fracture-filled, stabilised, dyed or visibly included.
What clinohedrite costs
As a guide, clinohedrite trades around Specimens 50–600 USD.
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 clinohedrite treated, and how?
Untreated. A one-locality mineral, collected almost entirely for fluorescent display alongside willemite and hardystonite.
Where does clinohedrite come from?
Franklin Mine, Sussex County, New Jersey, USA. That is the only commercial source.
Is clinohedrite hard enough to wear every day?
With care. It is 5.5 on the Mohs scale, which is hard enough, but perfect in one direction cleavage means it can split if struck at the wrong angle. Use a protective setting and avoid ultrasonic cleaning.
How much does clinohedrite cost?
Indicatively Specimens 50–600 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 clinohedrite confused with?
Most often Calcite, Hardystonite and Pectolite. A refractive index of 1.662–1.669 and a specific gravity near 3.28–3.34 separate it quickly.
Related stones
Looking for clinohedrite?
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 clinohedrite