The facts
What morion actually is
Morion is classified as quartz (variety), with the composition SiO₂. It crystallises in the trigonal system.
Colour comes from aluminium-related colour centres activated by natural gamma irradiation, saturated to near-opacity, which is also what a laboratory looks at when it is asked whether a colour is natural.
Refractive index 1.544–1.553. Specific gravity around 2.65. Cleavage: none. Those three numbers separate it from most of what imitates it.
Where morion comes from
Morion is produced at Mursinka, Ural Mountains, Russia, Pikes Peak, Colorado, USA and Alpine clefts, Switzerland.
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 morion is treated
Natural morion forms near radioactive granites, but much of the near-black quartz on the market is artificially gamma-irradiated colourless quartz — this is undetectable by standard testing and is routine, so assume irradiation unless the specimen has documented Alpine or Ural provenance. Heating fades it back to colourless.
Treatment changes value, sometimes by a multiple, so it belongs in the description before the price and not after the sale.
What morion is confused with
In the trade morion is most often mistaken for, or substituted by, Smoky quartz, Obsidian, Black tourmaline or Irradiated quartz.
The separation is rarely a matter of opinion: refractive index 1.544–1.553 and specific gravity 2.65 settle most of it in a minute, and magnification settles the rest.
What morion is used for
Demand for morion comes from mineral collecting, jewellery and decorative objects, 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, by the carat or by the piece.
Durability and care
Morion is 7 on the Mohs scale, with none cleavage.
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 morion costs
As a guide, morion trades around Faceted stones 3–30 USD/ct; fine natural crystal groups far more.
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 morion treated, and how?
Natural morion forms near radioactive granites, but much of the near-black quartz on the market is artificially gamma-irradiated colourless quartz — this is undetectable by standard testing and is routine, so assume irradiation unless the specimen has documented Alpine or Ural provenance. Heating fades it back to colourless.
Where does morion come from?
Mursinka, Ural Mountains, Russia, Pikes Peak, Colorado, USA and Alpine clefts, Switzerland. Origin affects price, so we name the locality rather than the country on every quote.
Is morion hard enough to wear every day?
Yes. At 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 morion cost?
Indicatively Faceted stones 3–30 USD/ct; fine natural crystal groups far more. 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 morion confused with?
Most often Smoky quartz, Obsidian, Black tourmaline and Irradiated quartz. A refractive index of 1.544–1.553 and a specific gravity near 2.65 separate it quickly.
What is morion 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 morion?
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 morion