The facts
What humite actually is
The species behind humite is humite group, Mg₇(SiO₄)₃(F,OH)₂; it forms in the orthorhombic system.
Fe²⁺ and Ti give honey-yellow to orange-brown 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 1.607–1.675 and a specific gravity of about 3.20–3.32, with poor basal cleavage.
Where humite comes from
Commercial material comes from Mount Somma, Campania, Italy, Franklin, New Jersey, USA and Mogok, Myanmar.
Different localities give different colour and different clarity, and the trade prices them differently. We state which one.
How humite is treated
Untreated. The rarest of the four humite-group minerals in faceted form; most gems sold as humite-group are chondrodite or clinohumite instead.
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 humite is confused with
Watch for Chondrodite, Clinohumite, Norbergite and Hessonite — these are what turn up sold under this name.
The separation is rarely a matter of opinion: refractive index 1.607–1.675 and specific gravity 3.20–3.32 settle most of it in a minute, and magnification settles the rest.
What humite is used for
The trades that buy humite 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
Humite is 6–6.5 on the Mohs scale, with poor basal cleavage.
With no cleavage plane to worry about, the practical limit is abrasion rather than breakage, and it takes daily wear well.
Warm water, mild soap and a soft brush. Avoid ultrasonic cleaners on anything fracture-filled, stabilised, dyed or visibly included.
What humite costs
Expect roughly Faceted stones 150–800 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 humite treated, and how?
Untreated. The rarest of the four humite-group minerals in faceted form; most gems sold as humite-group are chondrodite or clinohumite instead.
Where does humite come from?
Mount Somma, Campania, Italy, Franklin, New Jersey, USA and Mogok, Myanmar. Origin affects price, so we name the locality rather than the country on every quote.
Is humite hard enough to wear every day?
Yes. At 6–6.5 on the Mohs scale with no cleavage plane, it handles daily wear well. The practical limit is gradual abrasion rather than chipping.
How much does humite cost?
Indicatively Faceted stones 150–800 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 humite confused with?
Most often Chondrodite, Clinohumite, Norbergite and Hessonite. A refractive index of 1.607–1.675 and a specific gravity near 3.20–3.32 separate it quickly.
Related stones
Looking for humite?
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 humite