The facts
What papagoite actually is
Papagoite is classified as copper-calcium silicate, with the composition CaCuAlSi₂O₆(OH)₃. It crystallises in the monoclinic system.
Colour comes from cu²⁺ gives an intense cerulean blue, which is also what a laboratory looks at when it is asked whether a colour is natural.
Refractive index 1.607–1.672. Specific gravity around 3.25. Cleavage: good in one direction. Those three numbers separate it from most of what imitates it.
Where papagoite comes from
Papagoite is produced at New Cornelia Mine, Ajo, Pima County, Arizona, USA and Messina, Limpopo, South Africa.
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 papagoite is treated
Untreated. Most cut material is papagoite included in quartz from Messina, sold as 'papagoite in quartz'; solid papagoite is too small and soft to cut.
Treatment changes value, sometimes by a multiple, so it belongs in the description before the price and not after the sale.
What papagoite is confused with
In the trade papagoite is most often mistaken for, or substituted by, Ajoite, Shattuckite, Chrysocolla or Azurite.
The separation is rarely a matter of opinion: refractive index 1.607–1.672 and specific gravity 3.25 settle most of it in a minute, and magnification settles the rest.
What papagoite is used for
Demand for papagoite comes from jewellery 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 or by the specimen.
Durability and care
Papagoite is 5–5.5 on the Mohs scale, with good in one direction 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 papagoite costs
As a guide, papagoite trades around Papagoite-in-quartz cabochons 40–400 USD; fine specimens higher.
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 papagoite treated, and how?
Untreated. Most cut material is papagoite included in quartz from Messina, sold as 'papagoite in quartz'; solid papagoite is too small and soft to cut.
Where does papagoite come from?
New Cornelia Mine, Ajo, Pima County, Arizona, USA and Messina, Limpopo, South Africa. Origin affects price, so we name the locality rather than the country on every quote.
Is papagoite hard enough to wear every day?
Not really. At 5–5.5 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 papagoite cost?
Indicatively Papagoite-in-quartz cabochons 40–400 USD; fine specimens higher. 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 papagoite confused with?
Most often Ajoite, Shattuckite, Chrysocolla and Azurite. A refractive index of 1.607–1.672 and a specific gravity near 3.25 separate it quickly.
Related stones
Looking for papagoite?
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 papagoite