The facts
What meionite actually is
The species behind meionite is scapolite group, Ca₄Al₆Si₆O₂₄CO₃; it forms in the tetragonal system.
Usually colourless to white or grey; violet from irradiation-induced centres 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 1.556–1.600 and a specific gravity of about 2.70–2.78, with distinct prismatic cleavage.
Where meionite comes from
Commercial material comes from Mogok, Myanmar, Monte Somma, Campania, Italy and Pargas, Finland.
Different localities give different colour and different clarity, and the trade prices them differently. We state which one.
How meionite is treated
Same treatment realities as marialite: irradiation for violet, heat for yellow. Fades under prolonged light in irradiated material.
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 meionite is confused with
Watch for Marialite, Quartz and Apatite — these are what turn up sold under this name.
The separation is rarely a matter of opinion: refractive index 1.556–1.600 and specific gravity 2.70–2.78 settle most of it in a minute, and magnification settles the rest.
What meionite is used for
The trades that buy meionite are mineral collecting and jewellery. 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 or by the carat.
Durability and care
Meionite is 5–6 on the Mohs scale, with distinct prismatic 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 meionite costs
Expect roughly 15–100 USD/ct, 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 meionite treated, and how?
Same treatment realities as marialite: irradiation for violet, heat for yellow. Fades under prolonged light in irradiated material.
Where does meionite come from?
Mogok, Myanmar, Monte Somma, Campania, Italy and Pargas, Finland. Origin affects price, so we name the locality rather than the country on every quote.
Is meionite 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 meionite cost?
Indicatively 15–100 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 meionite confused with?
Most often Marialite, Quartz and Apatite. A refractive index of 1.556–1.600 and a specific gravity near 2.70–2.78 separate it quickly.
Related stones
Looking for meionite?
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 meionite