The facts
What descloizite actually is
The species behind descloizite is descloizite–mottramite series, PbZn(VO₄)(OH); it forms in the orthorhombic system.
V⁵⁺ charge transfer with Pb; dark brown, red-brown to black with a resinous to greasy lustre 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 2.185–2.350 and a specific gravity of about 5.9–6.2, with none cleavage.
Where descloizite comes from
Commercial material comes from Berg Aukas, Grootfontein, Namibia, Tsumeb, Namibia, Mibladen, Morocco and Bisbee, Arizona, USA.
Different localities give different colour and different clarity, and the trade prices them differently. We state which one.
How descloizite is treated
Untreated. Berg Aukas crystals are the classic and are sometimes confused with mottramite, the copper analogue, which is greener; the two form a complete series.
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 descloizite is confused with
Watch for Mottramite, Vanadinite, Wulfenite and Goethite — these are what turn up sold under this name.
The separation is rarely a matter of opinion: refractive index 2.185–2.350 and specific gravity 5.9–6.2 settle most of it in a minute, and magnification settles the rest.
What descloizite is used for
The trades that buy descloizite are mineral collecting. 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.
Durability and care
Hardness 3–3.5; cleavage none. 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 descloizite costs
Expect roughly Specimens $30–$1,500, 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 descloizite treated, and how?
Untreated. Berg Aukas crystals are the classic and are sometimes confused with mottramite, the copper analogue, which is greener; the two form a complete series.
Where does descloizite come from?
Berg Aukas, Grootfontein, Namibia, Tsumeb, Namibia, Mibladen, Morocco and Bisbee, Arizona, USA. Origin affects price, so we name the locality rather than the country on every quote.
Is descloizite hard enough to wear every day?
Not really. At 3–3.5 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 descloizite cost?
Indicatively Specimens $30–$1,500. 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 descloizite confused with?
Most often Mottramite, Vanadinite, Wulfenite and Goethite. A refractive index of 2.185–2.350 and a specific gravity near 5.9–6.2 separate it quickly.
Related stones
Looking for descloizite?
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 descloizite