The facts
What clinohumite actually is
Mineralogically, clinohumite is clinohumite (humite group) — (Mg,Fe²⁺)₉(SiO₄)₄(F,OH)₂, crystallising in the monoclinic system.
The colour is caused by fe²⁺–Ti⁴⁺ metal-to-metal charge transfer along the polyhedral chains, with colour deepening from yellow through orange to brown as titanium rises. That is worth knowing because it determines what heating, light and time can and cannot do to the stone.
A refractometer reads 1.628–1.674 in ordinary gem material; Ti-rich titanclinohumite reads much higher, and the specific gravity sits near 3.17–3.35; cleavage is poor {100}; brittle.
Where clinohumite comes from
The recognised sources are Kukh-i-Lal, Pamir Mountains, Tajikistan, Mogok, Myanmar, Val Malenco, Italy and Tilly Foster Mine, Brewster, New York, USA.
Origin affects price in this material, so we name the locality on every quote rather than the country. "African" or "Asian" tells a buyer nothing.
How clinohumite is treated
Untreated. One of the rarest faceted gems — transparent orange material is essentially confined to the Pamir deposit found in the early 1980s and reworked around 2000, plus occasional Mogok stones. Note that the very wide RI and SG figures quoted in some databases apply to titanclinohumite, not to ordinary gem material.
None of this is a problem when it is said out loud. It becomes one the moment it is left out.
What clinohumite is confused with
The usual confusions are Spessartine, Hessonite, Chondrodite, Sphene and Fire opal.
The separation is rarely a matter of opinion: refractive index 1.628–1.674 in ordinary gem material; Ti-rich titanclinohumite reads much higher and specific gravity 3.17–3.35 settle most of it in a minute, and magnification settles the rest.
What clinohumite is used for
Clinohumite is bought by mineral collecting and jewellery — and each of those trades wants a different form of the same material.
We quote each application in the unit that trade actually buys in, by the specimen or by the carat.
Durability and care
Hardness 6; cleavage poor {100}; brittle. 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 clinohumite costs
Indicative pricing for clinohumite is $300–2,000/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 clinohumite treated, and how?
Untreated. One of the rarest faceted gems — transparent orange material is essentially confined to the Pamir deposit found in the early 1980s and reworked around 2000, plus occasional Mogok stones. Note that the very wide RI and SG figures quoted in some databases apply to titanclinohumite, not to ordinary gem material.
Where does clinohumite come from?
Kukh-i-Lal, Pamir Mountains, Tajikistan, Mogok, Myanmar, Val Malenco, Italy and Tilly Foster Mine, Brewster, New York, USA. Origin affects price, so we name the locality rather than the country on every quote.
Is clinohumite hard enough to wear every day?
Yes. At 6 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 clinohumite cost?
Indicatively $300–2,000/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 clinohumite confused with?
Most often Spessartine, Hessonite, Chondrodite, Sphene and Fire opal. A refractive index of 1.628–1.674 in ordinary gem material; Ti-rich titanclinohumite reads much higher and a specific gravity near 3.17–3.35 separate it quickly.
Related stones
Looking for clinohumite?
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 clinohumite