The facts
What elaeolite actually is
The species behind elaeolite is feldspathoid (nepheline variety), Na₃K(Al₄Si₄O₁₆); it forms in the hexagonal aggregate system.
Greenish, reddish or grey from finely dispersed iron oxide and altered inclusions; the sheen is from oriented inclusions 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 1.53–1.55 (spot) and a specific gravity of about 2.55–2.67, with indistinct in massive material cleavage.
Where elaeolite comes from
Commercial material comes from Bancroft, Ontario, Canada, Fredriksvärn, Larvik, Norway and Litchfield, Maine, USA.
Different localities give different colour and different clarity, and the trade prices them differently. We state which one.
How elaeolite is treated
Untreated. Sold as cabochons, sometimes chatoyant. The name is old-fashioned but stable in mineral-collecting literature.
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 elaeolite is confused with
Watch for Nephrite, Serpentine and Chatoyant scapolite — these are what turn up sold under this name.
The separation is rarely a matter of opinion: refractive index 1.53–1.55 (spot) and specific gravity 2.55–2.67 settle most of it in a minute, and magnification settles the rest.
What elaeolite is used for
The trades that buy elaeolite are mineral collecting, carving and sculpture and jewellery. 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 block or by the carat.
Durability and care
Elaeolite is 5.5–6 on the Mohs scale, with indistinct in massive material cleavage.
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 elaeolite costs
Expect roughly Cabochons 10–50 USD, 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 elaeolite treated, and how?
Untreated. Sold as cabochons, sometimes chatoyant. The name is old-fashioned but stable in mineral-collecting literature.
Where does elaeolite come from?
Bancroft, Ontario, Canada, Fredriksvärn, Larvik, Norway and Litchfield, Maine, USA. Origin affects price, so we name the locality rather than the country on every quote.
Is elaeolite hard enough to wear every day?
Yes. At 5.5–6 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 elaeolite cost?
Indicatively Cabochons 10–50 USD. 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 elaeolite confused with?
Most often Nephrite, Serpentine and Chatoyant scapolite. A refractive index of 1.53–1.55 (spot) and a specific gravity near 2.55–2.67 separate it quickly.
What is elaeolite used for besides jewellery?
mineral collecting and carving and sculpture. Each of those trades buys it in a different form and a different unit.
Related stones
Looking for elaeolite?
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 elaeolite