The facts
What friedelite actually is
The species behind friedelite is manganese phyllosilicate, Mn²⁺₈Si₆O₁₅(OH,Cl)₁₀; it forms in the trigonal system.
Mn²⁺ gives the rose-red to orange-brown 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 1.627–1.663 and a specific gravity of about 3.06–3.19, with perfect basal cleavage.
Where friedelite comes from
Commercial material comes from Franklin, New Jersey, USA, Sterling Hill, Ogdensburg, New Jersey, USA and Kalahari Manganese Field, Northern Cape, South Africa.
Different localities give different colour and different clarity, and the trade prices them differently. We state which one.
How friedelite is treated
Untreated. Soft and cleavable, so cut as cabochons rather than faceted; a classic Franklin collector species.
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 friedelite is confused with
Watch for Rhodonite, Pyrosmalite and Rhodochrosite — these are what turn up sold under this name.
The separation is rarely a matter of opinion: refractive index 1.627–1.663 and specific gravity 3.06–3.19 settle most of it in a minute, and magnification settles the rest.
What friedelite is used for
The trades that buy friedelite 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 4–5; cleavage perfect basal. 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 friedelite costs
Expect roughly Specimens 20–200 USD; cabochons 20–80 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 friedelite treated, and how?
Untreated. Soft and cleavable, so cut as cabochons rather than faceted; a classic Franklin collector species.
Where does friedelite come from?
Franklin, New Jersey, USA, Sterling Hill, Ogdensburg, New Jersey, USA and Kalahari Manganese Field, Northern Cape, South Africa. Origin affects price, so we name the locality rather than the country on every quote.
Is friedelite hard enough to wear every day?
Not really. At 4–5 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 friedelite cost?
Indicatively Specimens 20–200 USD; cabochons 20–80 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 friedelite confused with?
Most often Rhodonite, Pyrosmalite and Rhodochrosite. A refractive index of 1.627–1.663 and a specific gravity near 3.06–3.19 separate it quickly.
Related stones
Looking for friedelite?
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 friedelite