The facts
What fluor-buergerite actually is
Mineralogically, fluor-buergerite is tourmaline supergroup — NaFe³⁺₃Al₆(Si₆O₁₈)(BO₃)₃O₃F, crystallising in the trigonal system.
The colour is caused by fe³⁺ gives dark brown to black; the bronze schiller comes from oriented hematite platelets on the crystal faces. That is worth knowing because it determines what heating, light and time can and cannot do to the stone.
A refractometer reads 1.735–1.770, and the specific gravity sits near 3.31; cleavage is none.
Where fluor-buergerite comes from
The recognised sources are Mexquitic, San Luis Potosí, Mexico.
One source only — which is unusual, and which means an origin claim naming anywhere else is either a mistake or a different material.
How fluor-buergerite is treated
Untreated. Collected for its bronze-schillered crystals from rhyolite cavities; too opaque for faceting.
None of this is a problem when it is said out loud. It becomes one the moment it is left out.
What fluor-buergerite is confused with
The usual confusions are Schorl, Dravite and Bronzite.
The separation is rarely a matter of opinion: refractive index 1.735–1.770 and specific gravity 3.31 settle most of it in a minute, and magnification settles the rest.
What fluor-buergerite is used for
Fluor-buergerite is bought by mineral collecting — and each of those trades wants a different form of the same material.
We quote each application in the unit that trade actually buys in, by the specimen.
Durability and care
Hardness 7; cleavage none. That combination decides what it can safely be set into.
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 fluor-buergerite costs
Indicative pricing for fluor-buergerite is Crystals 30–250 USD.
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 fluor-buergerite treated, and how?
Untreated. Collected for its bronze-schillered crystals from rhyolite cavities; too opaque for faceting.
Where does fluor-buergerite come from?
Mexquitic, San Luis Potosí, Mexico. That is the only commercial source.
Is fluor-buergerite hard enough to wear every day?
Yes. At 7 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 fluor-buergerite cost?
Indicatively Crystals 30–250 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 fluor-buergerite confused with?
Most often Schorl, Dravite and Bronzite. A refractive index of 1.735–1.770 and a specific gravity near 3.31 separate it quickly.
Related stones
Looking for fluor-buergerite?
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 fluor-buergerite