The facts
What llanite actually is
Mineralogically, llanite is rhyolite porphyry — SiO₂ phenocrysts in a K-feldspar-quartz groundmass, crystallising in the aggregate system.
The colour is caused by blue quartz phenocrysts owe their colour to Rayleigh scattering off submicroscopic inclusions, not a chromophore; pink comes from microcline. That is worth knowing because it determines what heating, light and time can and cannot do to the stone.
A refractometer reads 1.54 (spot), and the specific gravity sits near 2.60–2.70; cleavage is none in the rock.
Where llanite comes from
The recognised sources are Llano County, Texas, USA.
One source only — which is unusual, and which means an origin claim naming anywhere else is either a mistake or a different material.
How llanite is treated
Untreated. A single-county Texas rock roughly 1.1 billion years old, sold slabbed and as cabochons; the blue is natural scattering and cannot be enhanced.
None of this is a problem when it is said out loud. It becomes one the moment it is left out.
What llanite is confused with
The usual confusions are Dumortierite quartz, Granite, Larvikite and Sodalite-bearing rock.
The separation is rarely a matter of opinion: refractive index 1.54 (spot) and specific gravity 2.60–2.70 settle most of it in a minute, and magnification settles the rest.
What llanite is used for
Llanite is bought by jewellery, architecture and interiors, decorative objects and mineral collecting — and each of those trades wants a different form of the same material.
We quote each application in the unit that trade actually buys in, by the carat, by the square metre or by the piece.
Durability and care
Hardness 6.5–7; cleavage none in the rock. 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 llanite costs
Indicative pricing for llanite is Slabs 10–50 USD/kg; cabochons 15–60 USD.
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 llanite treated, and how?
Untreated. A single-county Texas rock roughly 1.1 billion years old, sold slabbed and as cabochons; the blue is natural scattering and cannot be enhanced.
Where does llanite come from?
Llano County, Texas, USA. That is the only commercial source.
Is llanite hard enough to wear every day?
Yes. At 6.5–7 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 llanite cost?
Indicatively Slabs 10–50 USD/kg; cabochons 15–60 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 llanite confused with?
Most often Dumortierite quartz, Granite, Larvikite and Sodalite-bearing rock. A refractive index of 1.54 (spot) and a specific gravity near 2.60–2.70 separate it quickly.
What is llanite used for besides jewellery?
architecture and interiors, decorative objects and mineral collecting. Each of those trades buys it in a different form and a different unit.
Related stones
Looking for llanite?
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 llanite