The facts
What clinozoisite actually is
Clinozoisite is classified as clinozoisite, with the composition Ca₂Al₃(SiO₄)₃(OH). It crystallises in the monoclinic system.
Colour comes from low iron content compared with epidote; pale yellow-green to colourless, which is also what a laboratory looks at when it is asked whether a colour is natural.
Refractive index 1.706–1.735. Specific gravity around 3.21–3.38. Cleavage: perfect {001}. Those three numbers separate it from most of what imitates it.
Where clinozoisite comes from
Clinozoisite is produced at Baja California, Mexico, Val d'Ala, Piedmont, Italy, Merelani, Tanzania and Pakistan.
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 clinozoisite is treated
Untreated. Forms a continuous series with epidote (increasing Fe moves you along it), so a given stone's placement is a matter of chemistry, and the RI rises with iron content.
Treatment changes value, sometimes by a multiple, so it belongs in the description before the price and not after the sale.
What clinozoisite is confused with
In the trade clinozoisite is most often mistaken for, or substituted by, Epidote, Zoisite, Green tourmaline or Diopside.
The separation is rarely a matter of opinion: refractive index 1.706–1.735 and specific gravity 3.21–3.38 settle most of it in a minute, and magnification settles the rest.
What clinozoisite is used for
Demand for clinozoisite comes from mineral collecting and jewellery, 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 carat.
Durability and care
Clinozoisite is 6–7 on the Mohs scale, with perfect {001} 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 clinozoisite costs
As a guide, clinozoisite trades around $10–120/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 clinozoisite treated, and how?
Untreated. Forms a continuous series with epidote (increasing Fe moves you along it), so a given stone's placement is a matter of chemistry, and the RI rises with iron content.
Where does clinozoisite come from?
Baja California, Mexico, Val d'Ala, Piedmont, Italy, Merelani, Tanzania and Pakistan. Origin affects price, so we name the locality rather than the country on every quote.
Is clinozoisite hard enough to wear every day?
With care. It is 6–7 on the Mohs scale, which is hard enough, but perfect {001} cleavage means it can split if struck at the wrong angle. Use a protective setting and avoid ultrasonic cleaning.
How much does clinozoisite cost?
Indicatively $10–120/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 clinozoisite confused with?
Most often Epidote, Zoisite, Green tourmaline and Diopside. A refractive index of 1.706–1.735 and a specific gravity near 3.21–3.38 separate it quickly.
Related stones
Looking for clinozoisite?
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 clinozoisite