The facts
What pyromorphite actually is
Pyromorphite is classified as apatite supergroup, with the composition Pb₅(PO₄)₃Cl. It crystallises in the hexagonal system.
Colour comes from traces of Cr and Cu giving the vivid green and yellow-green; Ca substitution lightens it, which is also what a laboratory looks at when it is asked whether a colour is natural.
Refractive index 2.048–2.058. Specific gravity around 6.5–7.1. Cleavage: imperfect {1011}. Those three numbers separate it from most of what imitates it.
Where pyromorphite comes from
Pyromorphite is produced at Daoping Mine, Yangshuo, Guangxi, China, Bunker Hill Mine, Kellogg, Idaho, USA, Les Farges, Corrèze, France and Bad Ems, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany.
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 pyromorphite is treated
Untreated. The barrel-shaped hopper crystals from Daoping and Les Farges are among the most recognisable in collecting. Lead-bearing and soft — handle, do not wear.
Treatment changes value, sometimes by a multiple, so it belongs in the description before the price and not after the sale.
What pyromorphite is confused with
In the trade pyromorphite is most often mistaken for, or substituted by, Mimetite, Vanadinite, Apatite or Wulfenite.
The separation is rarely a matter of opinion: refractive index 2.048–2.058 and specific gravity 6.5–7.1 settle most of it in a minute, and magnification settles the rest.
What pyromorphite is used for
Demand for pyromorphite comes from 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 specimen.
Durability and care
Pyromorphite is 3.5–4 on the Mohs scale, with imperfect {1011} 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 pyromorphite costs
As a guide, pyromorphite trades around Specimens $30–$10,000; fine Chinese plates $200–$3,000.
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 pyromorphite treated, and how?
Untreated. The barrel-shaped hopper crystals from Daoping and Les Farges are among the most recognisable in collecting. Lead-bearing and soft — handle, do not wear.
Where does pyromorphite come from?
Daoping Mine, Yangshuo, Guangxi, China, Bunker Hill Mine, Kellogg, Idaho, USA, Les Farges, Corrèze, France and Bad Ems, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. Origin affects price, so we name the locality rather than the country on every quote.
Is pyromorphite hard enough to wear every day?
Not really. At 3.5–4 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 pyromorphite cost?
Indicatively Specimens $30–$10,000; fine Chinese plates $200–$3,000. 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 pyromorphite confused with?
Most often Mimetite, Vanadinite, Apatite and Wulfenite. A refractive index of 2.048–2.058 and a specific gravity near 6.5–7.1 separate it quickly.
Related stones
Looking for pyromorphite?
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 pyromorphite