The facts
What mtorolite actually is
Mtorolite is classified as chalcedony, with the composition SiO₂. It crystallises in the trigonal (cryptocrystalline) system.
Colour comes from chromium, which is also what a laboratory looks at when it is asked whether a colour is natural.
Refractive index 1.530–1.539. Specific gravity around 2.58–2.64. Cleavage: none. Those three numbers separate it from most of what imitates it.
Where mtorolite comes from
Mtorolite is produced at Mtoroshanga, Zimbabwe and Turkey.
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 mtorolite is treated
Untreated. Distinguished from chrysoprase by a chromium spectrum and red reaction under the Chelsea filter.
Treatment changes value, sometimes by a multiple, so it belongs in the description before the price and not after the sale.
What mtorolite is confused with
In the trade mtorolite is most often mistaken for, or substituted by, Chrysoprase, Jadeite or Dyed chalcedony.
The separation is rarely a matter of opinion: refractive index 1.530–1.539 and specific gravity 2.58–2.64 settle most of it in a minute, and magnification settles the rest.
What mtorolite is used for
Demand for mtorolite comes from jewellery, carving and sculpture, decorative objects and mineral collecting, which is why one price per carat never covers it.
We quote each application in the unit that trade actually buys in, by the carat, by the block or by the piece.
Durability and care
Hardness 6.5–7; 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 mtorolite costs
As a guide, mtorolite trades around $3–40/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 mtorolite treated, and how?
Untreated. Distinguished from chrysoprase by a chromium spectrum and red reaction under the Chelsea filter.
Where does mtorolite come from?
Mtoroshanga, Zimbabwe and Turkey. Origin affects price, so we name the locality rather than the country on every quote.
Is mtorolite 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 mtorolite cost?
Indicatively $3–40/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 mtorolite confused with?
Most often Chrysoprase, Jadeite and Dyed chalcedony. A refractive index of 1.530–1.539 and a specific gravity near 2.58–2.64 separate it quickly.
What is mtorolite used for besides jewellery?
carving and sculpture, decorative objects and mineral collecting. Each of those trades buys it in a different form and a different unit.
Related stones
Looking for mtorolite?
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 mtorolite