The facts
What covellite actually is
The species behind covellite is covellite, CuS; it forms in the hexagonal system.
Indigo-blue metallic with strong bireflectance and a fiery red-purple internal reflection when tilted 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 specific gravity of about 4.60–4.76, with perfect basal {0001}; flexible laminae cleavage.
Where covellite comes from
Commercial material comes from Summitville, Rio Grande County, Colorado, USA, Butte, Montana, USA, Calabona Mine, Alghero, Sardinia, Italy (type locality) and Leogang, Salzburg, Austria.
Different localities give different colour and different clarity, and the trade prices them differently. We state which one.
How covellite is treated
Untreated. Iridescent plates are cut as cabochons and marketed for the peacock sheen, but at Mohs 1.5–2 they will not survive wear; most are stabilised or set in protective bezels. Fine Summitville crystals are among the most beautiful of all sulphides.
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 covellite is confused with
Watch for Bornite, Chalcocite, Hematite (iridescent) and Molybdenite — these are what turn up sold under this name.
Because the material is opaque, refractive index is no help. Specific gravity around 4.60–4.76, hardness of 1.5–2, streak and magnification do the work instead.
What covellite is used for
The trades that buy covellite are mineral collecting, jewellery and wellness and body care. 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, by the carat or by the kilo.
Durability and care
Hardness 1.5–2; cleavage perfect basal {0001}; flexible laminae. 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 covellite costs
Expect roughly Cabochons $10–$80; Summitville crystals $100–$5,000, 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 covellite treated, and how?
Untreated. Iridescent plates are cut as cabochons and marketed for the peacock sheen, but at Mohs 1.5–2 they will not survive wear; most are stabilised or set in protective bezels. Fine Summitville crystals are among the most beautiful of all sulphides.
Where does covellite come from?
Summitville, Rio Grande County, Colorado, USA, Butte, Montana, USA, Calabona Mine, Alghero, Sardinia, Italy (type locality) and Leogang, Salzburg, Austria. Origin affects price, so we name the locality rather than the country on every quote.
Is covellite hard enough to wear every day?
Not really. At 1.5–2 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 covellite cost?
Indicatively Cabochons $10–$80; Summitville crystals $100–$5,000. 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 covellite confused with?
Most often Bornite, Chalcocite, Hematite (iridescent) and Molybdenite. Since the material is opaque, separation relies on specific gravity near 4.60–4.76, hardness and magnification.
What is covellite used for besides jewellery?
mineral collecting and wellness and body care. Each of those trades buys it in a different form and a different unit.
Related stones
Looking for covellite?
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 covellite