The facts
What garnierite actually is
The species behind garnierite is mixture of nickel-bearing serpentine and talc minerals, (Ni,Mg)₃Si₂O₅(OH)₄ and related phases; it forms in the cryptocrystalline aggregate system.
Ni²⁺ gives a strong apple to emerald green 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 1.56–1.59 (spot) and a specific gravity of about 2.3–2.8, with none in massive material cleavage.
Where garnierite comes from
Commercial material comes from Thio, New Caledonia, France, Riddle, Douglas County, Oregon, USA and Sorowako, Sulawesi, Indonesia.
Different localities give different colour and different clarity, and the trade prices them differently. We state which one.
How garnierite is treated
Not a single mineral species — the name covers a group of green nickel silicates. Soft and porous, so cabochon material is almost always resin-stabilised, and it is sometimes passed off as chrysoprase or jade.
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 garnierite is confused with
Watch for Chrysoprase, Serpentine, Gaspéite and Jadeite — these are what turn up sold under this name.
The separation is rarely a matter of opinion: refractive index 1.56–1.59 (spot) and specific gravity 2.3–2.8 settle most of it in a minute, and magnification settles the rest.
What garnierite is used for
The trades that buy garnierite are mineral collecting, carving and sculpture, jewellery and heavy industry. 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
Garnierite is 2–4 on the Mohs scale, with none in massive material 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 garnierite costs
Expect roughly Cabochons 10–60 USD; rough a few USD per kg, 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 garnierite treated, and how?
Not a single mineral species — the name covers a group of green nickel silicates. Soft and porous, so cabochon material is almost always resin-stabilised, and it is sometimes passed off as chrysoprase or jade.
Where does garnierite come from?
Thio, New Caledonia, France, Riddle, Douglas County, Oregon, USA and Sorowako, Sulawesi, Indonesia. Origin affects price, so we name the locality rather than the country on every quote.
Is garnierite hard enough to wear every day?
Not really. At 2–4 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 garnierite cost?
Indicatively Cabochons 10–60 USD; rough a few USD per kg. 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 garnierite confused with?
Most often Chrysoprase, Serpentine, Gaspéite and Jadeite. A refractive index of 1.56–1.59 (spot) and a specific gravity near 2.3–2.8 separate it quickly.
What is garnierite used for besides jewellery?
mineral collecting, carving and sculpture and heavy industry. Each of those trades buys it in a different form and a different unit.
Related stones
Looking for garnierite?
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 garnierite