The facts
What inderite actually is
The species behind inderite is magnesium borate, MgB₃O₃(OH)₅·5H₂O; it forms in the monoclinic system.
Colourless to pale pink; no chromophore 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 1.488–1.505 and a specific gravity of about 1.79, with good in one direction cleavage.
Where inderite comes from
Commercial material comes from Inder Lake, Atyrau Region, Kazakhstan and Boron, Kern County, California, USA.
Different localities give different colour and different clarity, and the trade prices them differently. We state which one.
How inderite is treated
Untreated. Extremely soft and light — specific gravity below 1.8 — and dehydrates in dry air, so specimens need sealed storage. Not a wearable gem.
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 inderite is confused with
Watch for Ulexite, Colemanite and Kernite — these are what turn up sold under this name.
The separation is rarely a matter of opinion: refractive index 1.488–1.505 and specific gravity 1.79 settle most of it in a minute, and magnification settles the rest.
What inderite is used for
The trades that buy inderite 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
Inderite is 2.5 on the Mohs scale, with good in one direction 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 inderite costs
Expect roughly Specimens 20–150 USD, 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 inderite treated, and how?
Untreated. Extremely soft and light — specific gravity below 1.8 — and dehydrates in dry air, so specimens need sealed storage. Not a wearable gem.
Where does inderite come from?
Inder Lake, Atyrau Region, Kazakhstan and Boron, Kern County, California, USA. Origin affects price, so we name the locality rather than the country on every quote.
Is inderite hard enough to wear every day?
Not really. At 2.5 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 inderite cost?
Indicatively Specimens 20–150 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 inderite confused with?
Most often Ulexite, Colemanite and Kernite. A refractive index of 1.488–1.505 and a specific gravity near 1.79 separate it quickly.
Related stones
Looking for inderite?
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 inderite