The facts
What hypersthene actually is
Hypersthene is classified as enstatite–ferrosilite series (pyroxene group), with the composition (Mg,Fe)₂Si₂O₆. It crystallises in the orthorhombic system.
Colour comes from fe²⁺ giving dark brown-black, with a coppery-red schiller from oriented hematite or ilmenite platelets, which is also what a laboratory looks at when it is asked whether a colour is natural.
Refractive index 1.690–1.730. Specific gravity around 3.40–3.60. Cleavage: good {210}. Those three numbers separate it from most of what imitates it.
Where hypersthene comes from
Hypersthene is produced at Paul Island, Labrador, Canada, Ontario, Canada and India.
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 hypersthene is treated
Untreated. The name was discredited by the IMA in 1988 but survives in the trade; material is sold as cabochons for its bronzy sheen.
Treatment changes value, sometimes by a multiple, so it belongs in the description before the price and not after the sale.
What hypersthene is confused with
In the trade hypersthene is most often mistaken for, or substituted by, Bronzite, Nuummite, Labradorite or Sunstone.
The separation is rarely a matter of opinion: refractive index 1.690–1.730 and specific gravity 3.40–3.60 settle most of it in a minute, and magnification settles the rest.
What hypersthene is used for
Demand for hypersthene comes from carving and sculpture, decorative objects, jewellery and 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 block, by the piece or by the carat.
Durability and care
Hardness 5–6; cleavage good {210}. That combination decides what it can safely be set into.
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 hypersthene costs
As a guide, hypersthene trades around $0.50–10/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 hypersthene treated, and how?
Untreated. The name was discredited by the IMA in 1988 but survives in the trade; material is sold as cabochons for its bronzy sheen.
Where does hypersthene come from?
Paul Island, Labrador, Canada, Ontario, Canada and India. Origin affects price, so we name the locality rather than the country on every quote.
Is hypersthene 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 hypersthene cost?
Indicatively $0.50–10/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 hypersthene confused with?
Most often Bronzite, Nuummite, Labradorite and Sunstone. A refractive index of 1.690–1.730 and a specific gravity near 3.40–3.60 separate it quickly.
What is hypersthene used for besides jewellery?
carving and sculpture, decorative objects and mineral collecting. Each of those trades buys it in a different form and a different unit.
Related stones
Looking for hypersthene?
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 hypersthene