The facts
What hurlbutite actually is
Hurlbutite is classified as beryllium phosphate, with the composition CaBe₂(PO₄)₂. It crystallises in the monoclinic system.
Colour comes from colourless to greenish white; no significant chromophore, which is also what a laboratory looks at when it is asked whether a colour is natural.
Refractive index 1.595–1.604. Specific gravity around 2.88–2.92. Cleavage: poor. Those three numbers separate it from most of what imitates it.
Where hurlbutite comes from
Hurlbutite is produced at Smith Mine, Chandlers Mill, New Hampshire, USA and Viitaniemi pegmatite, Eräjärvi, Finland.
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 hurlbutite is treated
Untreated. A rare late-stage pegmatite phosphate; faceted examples are a handful worldwide.
Treatment changes value, sometimes by a multiple, so it belongs in the description before the price and not after the sale.
What hurlbutite is confused with
In the trade hurlbutite is most often mistaken for, or substituted by, Beryllonite, Herderite, Quartz or Danburite.
The separation is rarely a matter of opinion: refractive index 1.595–1.604 and specific gravity 2.88–2.92 settle most of it in a minute, and magnification settles the rest.
What hurlbutite is used for
Demand for hurlbutite 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
Hurlbutite is 6 on the Mohs scale, with poor 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 hurlbutite costs
As a guide, hurlbutite trades around Faceted stones 150–600 USD/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 hurlbutite treated, and how?
Untreated. A rare late-stage pegmatite phosphate; faceted examples are a handful worldwide.
Where does hurlbutite come from?
Smith Mine, Chandlers Mill, New Hampshire, USA and Viitaniemi pegmatite, Eräjärvi, Finland. Origin affects price, so we name the locality rather than the country on every quote.
Is hurlbutite hard enough to wear every day?
Yes. At 6 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 hurlbutite cost?
Indicatively Faceted stones 150–600 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 hurlbutite confused with?
Most often Beryllonite, Herderite, Quartz and Danburite. A refractive index of 1.595–1.604 and a specific gravity near 2.88–2.92 separate it quickly.
Related stones
Looking for hurlbutite?
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 hurlbutite