The facts
What irnimite actually is
The species behind irnimite is jasper with Ba-Mn silicate veins, SiO₂ with barium manganese silicate phases; it forms in the aggregate system.
The unusual blue comes from barium-bearing manganese silicates; the host jasper is coloured red and yellow by iron oxides 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 1.53–1.55 (spot) and a specific gravity of about 2.6–2.9, with none cleavage.
Where irnimite comes from
Commercial material comes from Ir-Nimi manganese deposit, Taikan Ridge, Khabarovsk Krai, Russia.
One source only — which is unusual, and which means an origin claim naming anywhere else is either a mistake or a different material.
How irnimite is treated
Untreated. A single-region Russian material with irregular supply; the name is used consistently in Russian lapidary literature but is little known elsewhere.
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 irnimite is confused with
Watch for Sodalite-bearing jasper, Azurite in jasper, Lapis lazuli and K2 stone — these are what turn up sold under this name.
The separation is rarely a matter of opinion: refractive index 1.53–1.55 (spot) and specific gravity 2.6–2.9 settle most of it in a minute, and magnification settles the rest.
What irnimite is used for
The trades that buy irnimite are mineral collecting, jewellery and decorative objects. 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, by the carat or by the piece.
Durability and care
Hardness 6–7; cleavage none. That combination decides what it can safely be set into.
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 irnimite costs
Expect roughly Cabochons 25–150 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 irnimite treated, and how?
Untreated. A single-region Russian material with irregular supply; the name is used consistently in Russian lapidary literature but is little known elsewhere.
Where does irnimite come from?
Ir-Nimi manganese deposit, Taikan Ridge, Khabarovsk Krai, Russia. That is the only commercial source.
Is irnimite hard enough to wear every day?
Yes. At 6–7 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 irnimite cost?
Indicatively Cabochons 25–150 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 irnimite confused with?
Most often Sodalite-bearing jasper, Azurite in jasper, Lapis lazuli and K2 stone. A refractive index of 1.53–1.55 (spot) and a specific gravity near 2.6–2.9 separate it quickly.
What is irnimite used for besides jewellery?
mineral collecting and decorative objects. Each of those trades buys it in a different form and a different unit.
Related stones
Looking for irnimite?
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 irnimite