The facts
What leucite actually is
Leucite is classified as feldspathoid, with the composition KAlSi₂O₆. It crystallises in the tetragonal, pseudo-cubic system.
Colour comes from colourless to white; no chromophore, which is also what a laboratory looks at when it is asked whether a colour is natural.
Refractive index 1.504–1.510. Specific gravity around 2.45–2.50. Cleavage: very poor. Those three numbers separate it from most of what imitates it.
Where leucite comes from
Leucite is produced at Mount Vesuvius, Campania, Italy, Alban Hills, Lazio, Italy and Leucite Hills, Wyoming, USA.
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 leucite is treated
Untreated. Trapezohedral crystals from Vesuvius are collector pieces; cut stones are tiny and rare. Also used in dental ceramics.
Treatment changes value, sometimes by a multiple, so it belongs in the description before the price and not after the sale.
What leucite is confused with
In the trade leucite is most often mistaken for, or substituted by, Analcime, Garnet or Quartz.
The separation is rarely a matter of opinion: refractive index 1.504–1.510 and specific gravity 2.45–2.50 settle most of it in a minute, and magnification settles the rest.
What leucite is used for
Demand for leucite comes from mineral collecting and technical and precision components, 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 or by the piece.
Durability and care
Hardness 5.5–6; cleavage very poor. 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 leucite costs
As a guide, leucite trades around Specimens 15–200 USD; the rare faceted stone 50–200 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 leucite treated, and how?
Untreated. Trapezohedral crystals from Vesuvius are collector pieces; cut stones are tiny and rare. Also used in dental ceramics.
Where does leucite come from?
Mount Vesuvius, Campania, Italy, Alban Hills, Lazio, Italy and Leucite Hills, Wyoming, USA. Origin affects price, so we name the locality rather than the country on every quote.
Is leucite hard enough to wear every day?
Yes. At 5.5–6 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 leucite cost?
Indicatively Specimens 15–200 USD; the rare faceted stone 50–200 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 leucite confused with?
Most often Analcime, Garnet and Quartz. A refractive index of 1.504–1.510 and a specific gravity near 2.45–2.50 separate it quickly.
Related stones
Looking for leucite?
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 leucite