The facts
What hodgkinsonite actually is
The species behind hodgkinsonite is zinc-manganese silicate, Mn²⁺Zn₂(SiO₄)(OH)₂; it forms in the monoclinic system.
Mn²⁺ gives pink to violet-red 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 1.720–1.746 and a specific gravity of about 4.06–4.08, with perfect in one direction cleavage.
Where hodgkinsonite comes from
Commercial material comes from Franklin Mine, Sussex County, New Jersey, USA and Sterling Hill, Ogdensburg, New Jersey, USA.
Different localities give different colour and different clarity, and the trade prices them differently. We state which one.
How hodgkinsonite is treated
Untreated. Found essentially only at Franklin and Sterling Hill; faceted stones are under two carats and command collector prices.
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 hodgkinsonite is confused with
Watch for Rhodonite, Kunzite and Spinel — these are what turn up sold under this name.
The separation is rarely a matter of opinion: refractive index 1.720–1.746 and specific gravity 4.06–4.08 settle most of it in a minute, and magnification settles the rest.
What hodgkinsonite is used for
The trades that buy hodgkinsonite 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
Hodgkinsonite is 4.5–5 on the Mohs scale, with perfect in one direction 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 hodgkinsonite costs
Expect roughly Specimens 100–1,500 USD; faceted stones 300–1,500 USD/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 hodgkinsonite treated, and how?
Untreated. Found essentially only at Franklin and Sterling Hill; faceted stones are under two carats and command collector prices.
Where does hodgkinsonite come from?
Franklin Mine, Sussex County, New Jersey, USA and Sterling Hill, Ogdensburg, New Jersey, USA. Origin affects price, so we name the locality rather than the country on every quote.
Is hodgkinsonite hard enough to wear every day?
Not really. At 4.5–5 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 hodgkinsonite cost?
Indicatively Specimens 100–1,500 USD; faceted stones 300–1,500 USD/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 hodgkinsonite confused with?
Most often Rhodonite, Kunzite and Spinel. A refractive index of 1.720–1.746 and a specific gravity near 4.06–4.08 separate it quickly.
Related stones
Looking for hodgkinsonite?
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 hodgkinsonite