The facts
What novaculite actually is
The species behind novaculite is microcrystalline quartz, SiO₂; it forms in the trigonal (cryptocrystalline) system.
On the instruments it reads a refractive index of 1.544–1.553 and a specific gravity of about 2.5–2.6, with none cleavage.
Where novaculite comes from
Commercial material comes from Ouachita Mountains, Arkansas, USA and Texas.
Different localities give different colour and different clarity, and the trade prices them differently. We state which one.
Is novaculite treated?
None.
Nothing needs disclosing, and nothing about the stone can change after you buy it. If a price looks impossible, the risk is substitution rather than treatment.
What novaculite is confused with
Watch for Chert and Synthetic ceramic stones — these are what turn up sold under this name.
The separation is rarely a matter of opinion: refractive index 1.544–1.553 and specific gravity 2.5–2.6 settle most of it in a minute, and magnification settles the rest.
What novaculite is used for
The trades that buy novaculite are sharpening stones, tools and mineral collecting. 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 stone or by the specimen.
Durability and care
Novaculite 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 novaculite costs
Expect roughly $30–400/stone, 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 novaculite treated?
None.
Where does novaculite come from?
Ouachita Mountains, Arkansas, USA and Texas. Origin affects price, so we name the locality rather than the country on every quote.
Is novaculite 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 novaculite cost?
Indicatively $30–400/stone. 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 novaculite confused with?
Most often Chert and Synthetic ceramic stones. A refractive index of 1.544–1.553 and a specific gravity near 2.5–2.6 separate it quickly.
What is novaculite used for besides jewellery?
sharpening stones, tools and mineral collecting. Each of those trades buys it in a different form and a different unit.
Related stones
Looking for novaculite?
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 novaculite