The facts
What howlite actually is
Howlite is classified as borate, with the composition Ca₂B₅SiO₉(OH)₅. It crystallises in the monoclinic system.
Refractive index 1.583–1.608. Specific gravity around 2.53–2.59. Cleavage: none. Those three numbers separate it from most of what imitates it.
Where howlite comes from
Howlite is produced at Nova Scotia, Canada and California, USA.
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 howlite is treated
**Dyed blue howlite is the single most common turquoise imitation in the world.**
Treatment changes value, sometimes by a multiple, so it belongs in the description before the price and not after the sale.
What howlite is confused with
In the trade howlite is most often mistaken for, or substituted by, Turquoise or Magnesite.
The separation is rarely a matter of opinion: refractive index 1.583–1.608 and specific gravity 2.53–2.59 settle most of it in a minute, and magnification settles the rest.
What howlite is used for
Demand for howlite comes from jewellery and decorative objects, which is why one price per carat never covers it.
We quote each application in the unit that trade actually buys in, by the carat or by the piece.
Durability and care
Howlite is 3.5 on the Mohs scale, with none 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 howlite costs
As a guide, howlite trades around $0.10–2/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 howlite treated, and how?
**Dyed blue howlite is the single most common turquoise imitation in the world.**
Where does howlite come from?
Nova Scotia, Canada and California, USA. Origin affects price, so we name the locality rather than the country on every quote.
Is howlite hard enough to wear every day?
Not really. At 3.5 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 howlite cost?
Indicatively $0.10–2/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 howlite confused with?
Most often Turquoise and Magnesite. A refractive index of 1.583–1.608 and a specific gravity near 2.53–2.59 separate it quickly.
Related stones
Looking for howlite?
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 howlite