The facts
What cryolite actually is
The species behind cryolite is cryolite, Na₃AlF₆; it forms in the monoclinic system.
Colourless to snow-white; the lowest refractive index of any common mineral 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 1.338–1.339 and a specific gravity of about 2.95–3.00, with none; pseudocubic parting cleavage.
Where cryolite comes from
Commercial material comes from Ivittuut (Ivigtut), Greenland (effectively worked out), Miass, Ilmen Mountains, Russia and Pikes Peak, Colorado, USA.
Different localities give different colour and different clarity, and the trade prices them differently. We state which one.
How cryolite is treated
Untreated. Famous for a refractive index so close to water's that a clear fragment nearly vanishes when immersed — the classic classroom demonstration. The Greenland deposit that supplied the aluminium industry closed in 1987, so specimens are historic material.
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 cryolite is confused with
Watch for Halite, Fluorite, Quartz and Calcite — these are what turn up sold under this name.
The separation is rarely a matter of opinion: refractive index 1.338–1.339 and specific gravity 2.95–3.00 settle most of it in a minute, and magnification settles the rest.
What cryolite is used for
The trades that buy cryolite are mineral collecting, heavy industry and metallurgy. 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 or by the tonne.
Durability and care
Hardness 2.5–3; cleavage none; pseudocubic parting. 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 cryolite costs
Expect roughly Specimens $20–$500, 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 cryolite treated, and how?
Untreated. Famous for a refractive index so close to water's that a clear fragment nearly vanishes when immersed — the classic classroom demonstration. The Greenland deposit that supplied the aluminium industry closed in 1987, so specimens are historic material.
Where does cryolite come from?
Ivittuut (Ivigtut), Greenland (effectively worked out), Miass, Ilmen Mountains, Russia and Pikes Peak, Colorado, USA. Origin affects price, so we name the locality rather than the country on every quote.
Is cryolite hard enough to wear every day?
Not really. At 2.5–3 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 cryolite cost?
Indicatively Specimens $20–$500. 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 cryolite confused with?
Most often Halite, Fluorite, Quartz and Calcite. A refractive index of 1.338–1.339 and a specific gravity near 2.95–3.00 separate it quickly.
What is cryolite used for besides jewellery?
mineral collecting, heavy industry and metallurgy. Each of those trades buys it in a different form and a different unit.
Related stones
Looking for cryolite?
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 cryolite