The facts
What eosphorite actually is
The species behind eosphorite is eosphorite–childrenite series, MnAl(PO₄)(OH)₂·H₂O; it forms in the orthorhombic system.
Mn²⁺ with Fe giving pink, rose-brown and amber tones; the Fe-rich end member childrenite is browner 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 1.628–1.671 and a specific gravity of about 3.06–3.10, with indistinct {100} cleavage.
Where eosphorite comes from
Commercial material comes from Taquaral and Divino das Laranjeiras, Minas Gerais, Brazil, Branchville, Connecticut, USA (type locality) and Foote Mine, Kings Mountain, North Carolina, USA.
Different localities give different colour and different clarity, and the trade prices them differently. We state which one.
How eosphorite is treated
Untreated. Brazilian pegmatite crystals on quartz or albite are the standard specimens; transparent facetable material is uncommon and cuts to warm pinkish-brown stones.
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 eosphorite is confused with
Watch for Childrenite, Rhodochrosite, Apatite and Zircon — these are what turn up sold under this name.
The separation is rarely a matter of opinion: refractive index 1.628–1.671 and specific gravity 3.06–3.10 settle most of it in a minute, and magnification settles the rest.
What eosphorite is used for
The trades that buy eosphorite 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
Eosphorite is 5 on the Mohs scale, with indistinct {100} cleavage.
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 eosphorite costs
Expect roughly Specimens $30–$1,500; faceted stones $60–$250/ct, 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 eosphorite treated, and how?
Untreated. Brazilian pegmatite crystals on quartz or albite are the standard specimens; transparent facetable material is uncommon and cuts to warm pinkish-brown stones.
Where does eosphorite come from?
Taquaral and Divino das Laranjeiras, Minas Gerais, Brazil, Branchville, Connecticut, USA (type locality) and Foote Mine, Kings Mountain, North Carolina, USA. Origin affects price, so we name the locality rather than the country on every quote.
Is eosphorite hard enough to wear every day?
Not really. At 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 eosphorite cost?
Indicatively Specimens $30–$1,500; faceted stones $60–$250/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 eosphorite confused with?
Most often Childrenite, Rhodochrosite, Apatite and Zircon. A refractive index of 1.628–1.671 and a specific gravity near 3.06–3.10 separate it quickly.
Related stones
Looking for eosphorite?
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 eosphorite