The facts
What pumice actually is
The species behind pumice is vesicular volcanic glass, SiO₂-rich glass; it forms in the amorphous system.
On the instruments it reads a specific gravity of about 0.25–0.9 — it floats, with none cleavage.
Where pumice comes from
Commercial material comes from Lipari, Italy, Turkey, Greece and USA.
Different localities give different colour and different clarity, and the trade prices them differently. We state which one.
Is pumice treated?
None.
That makes disclosure simple: there is nothing to declare. It also means a seller offering a "treated" version of this material is offering something else.
What pumice is confused with
Watch for Scoria and Synthetic foam abrasives — these are what turn up sold under this name.
Because the material is opaque, refractive index is no help. Specific gravity around 0.25–0.9 — it floats, hardness of 5–6 (friable), streak and magnification do the work instead.
What pumice is used for
The trades that buy pumice are textile finishing, cosmetics, abrasives, horticulture and construction. 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 tonne.
Durability and care
Hardness 5–6 (friable); cleavage none. That combination decides what it can safely be set into.
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 pumice costs
Expect roughly $60–300/tonne, 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 pumice treated?
None.
Where does pumice come from?
Lipari, Italy, Turkey, Greece and USA. Origin affects price, so we name the locality rather than the country on every quote.
Is pumice hard enough to wear every day?
Not really. At 5–6 (friable) 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 pumice cost?
Indicatively $60–300/tonne. 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 pumice confused with?
Most often Scoria and Synthetic foam abrasives. Since the material is opaque, separation relies on specific gravity near 0.25–0.9 — it floats, hardness and magnification.
What is pumice used for besides jewellery?
textile finishing, cosmetics, abrasives, horticulture and construction. Each of those trades buys it in a different form and a different unit.
Related stones
Looking for pumice?
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 pumice