The facts
What fuchsite actually is
Fuchsite is classified as muscovite (mica group), with the composition K(Al,Cr)₂(AlSi₃O₁₀)(OH)₂. It crystallises in the monoclinic system.
Colour comes from chromium substituting for aluminium, which is also what a laboratory looks at when it is asked whether a colour is natural.
Refractive index 1.552–1.618. Specific gravity around 2.77–2.88. Cleavage: perfect basal {001}. Those three numbers separate it from most of what imitates it.
Where fuchsite comes from
Fuchsite is produced at Minas Gerais, Brazil, Barberton, South Africa and Karnataka, India.
The locality is part of the description, not a footnote — two stones of the same weight from two of these places are not the same stone.
How fuchsite is treated
Untreated. Sold mainly as ruby-in-fuchsite, where opaque corundum crystals sit in a sparkling green mica matrix — an attractive ornamental rock but not a source of gem ruby. Provides the green in aventurine quartzite and in verdite.
Treatment changes value, sometimes by a multiple, so it belongs in the description before the price and not after the sale.
What fuchsite is confused with
In the trade fuchsite is most often mistaken for, or substituted by, Ruby-in-zoisite (anyolite), Aventurine, Green mica schist or Dyed quartzite.
The separation is rarely a matter of opinion: refractive index 1.552–1.618 and specific gravity 2.77–2.88 settle most of it in a minute, and magnification settles the rest.
What fuchsite is used for
Demand for fuchsite comes from carving and sculpture, decorative objects, mineral collecting, jewellery and architecture and interiors, which is why one price per carat never covers it.
We quote each application in the unit that trade actually buys in, by the block, by the piece or by the specimen.
Durability and care
Hardness 2–3; cleavage perfect basal {001}. 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 fuchsite costs
As a guide, fuchsite trades around $0.20–5/ct.
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 fuchsite treated, and how?
Untreated. Sold mainly as ruby-in-fuchsite, where opaque corundum crystals sit in a sparkling green mica matrix — an attractive ornamental rock but not a source of gem ruby. Provides the green in aventurine quartzite and in verdite.
Where does fuchsite come from?
Minas Gerais, Brazil, Barberton, South Africa and Karnataka, India. Origin affects price, so we name the locality rather than the country on every quote.
Is fuchsite hard enough to wear every day?
Not really. At 2–3 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 fuchsite cost?
Indicatively $0.20–5/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 fuchsite confused with?
Most often Ruby-in-zoisite (anyolite), Aventurine, Green mica schist and Dyed quartzite. A refractive index of 1.552–1.618 and a specific gravity near 2.77–2.88 separate it quickly.
What is fuchsite used for besides jewellery?
carving and sculpture, decorative objects, mineral collecting and architecture and interiors. Each of those trades buys it in a different form and a different unit.
Related stones
Looking for fuchsite?
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 fuchsite