The facts
What holmquistite actually is
Holmquistite is classified as amphibole group (lithium amphibole), with the composition ☐Li₂(Mg,Fe²⁺)₃Al₂Si₈O₂₂(OH)₂. It crystallises in the orthorhombic system.
Colour comes from fe²⁺ and Fe³⁺ give violet-blue to sky-blue and black, which is also what a laboratory looks at when it is asked whether a colour is natural.
Refractive index 1.622–1.666. Specific gravity around 2.95–3.13. Cleavage: perfect prismatic in two directions. Those three numbers separate it from most of what imitates it.
Where holmquistite comes from
Holmquistite is produced at Utö, Stockholm, Sweden, Barraute, Québec, Canada and Bikita, Masvingo, Zimbabwe.
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 holmquistite is treated
Untreated. Forms in the metasomatic rind around lithium pegmatites and is used as a prospecting indicator; a specimen mineral rather than a gem.
Treatment changes value, sometimes by a multiple, so it belongs in the description before the price and not after the sale.
What holmquistite is confused with
In the trade holmquistite is most often mistaken for, or substituted by, Glaucophane, Riebeckite or Tourmaline.
The separation is rarely a matter of opinion: refractive index 1.622–1.666 and specific gravity 2.95–3.13 settle most of it in a minute, and magnification settles the rest.
What holmquistite is used for
Demand for holmquistite comes from mineral collecting, which is why one price per carat never covers it.
We quote each application in the unit that trade actually buys in, by the specimen.
Durability and care
Holmquistite is 5–6 on the Mohs scale, with perfect prismatic in two directions 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 holmquistite costs
As a guide, holmquistite trades around Specimens 15–120 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 holmquistite treated, and how?
Untreated. Forms in the metasomatic rind around lithium pegmatites and is used as a prospecting indicator; a specimen mineral rather than a gem.
Where does holmquistite come from?
Utö, Stockholm, Sweden, Barraute, Québec, Canada and Bikita, Masvingo, Zimbabwe. Origin affects price, so we name the locality rather than the country on every quote.
Is holmquistite hard enough to wear every day?
Not really. At 5–6 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 holmquistite cost?
Indicatively Specimens 15–120 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 holmquistite confused with?
Most often Glaucophane, Riebeckite and Tourmaline. A refractive index of 1.622–1.666 and a specific gravity near 2.95–3.13 separate it quickly.
Related stones
Looking for holmquistite?
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 holmquistite