The facts
What scapolite actually is
Scapolite is classified as marialite–meionite series, with the composition Na₄Al₃Si₉O₂₄Cl to Ca₄Al₆Si₆O₂₄CO₃. It crystallises in the tetragonal system.
Colour comes from yellow from Fe³⁺; violet from radiation-induced carbonate radical anions and F-centres, with a minority of violets instead owing colour to the S₃⁻ polysulfide, which is also what a laboratory looks at when it is asked whether a colour is natural.
Refractive index 1.540–1.579. Specific gravity around 2.60–2.74. Cleavage: distinct in two directions {100} and {110}. Those three numbers separate it from most of what imitates it.
Where scapolite comes from
Scapolite is produced at Mogok, Myanmar, Ratnapura, Sri Lanka, Morogoro, Tanzania, Badakhshan, Afghanistan and Ihosy, Madagascar.
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 scapolite is treated
Two issues. Heat is used to improve colour, is common and is undetectable. More seriously, purple scapolite is routinely irradiated from colourless or yellow material, and the induced purple fades rapidly in ordinary light and with mild heat — there is no published laboratory detection protocol, so the only practical test is a fade test that destroys the colour. Light-test any purple scapolite before displaying it. Cat's eye scapolite is natural.
Treatment changes value, sometimes by a multiple, so it belongs in the description before the price and not after the sale.
What scapolite is confused with
In the trade scapolite is most often mistaken for, or substituted by, Amethyst, Citrine, Chrysoberyl, Golden beryl, Kunzite or Tanzanite.
The separation is rarely a matter of opinion: refractive index 1.540–1.579 and specific gravity 2.60–2.74 settle most of it in a minute, and magnification settles the rest.
What scapolite is used for
Demand for scapolite 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
Scapolite is 5.5–6 on the Mohs scale, with distinct in two directions {100} and {110} 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 scapolite costs
As a guide, scapolite trades around $10–150/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 scapolite treated, and how?
Two issues. Heat is used to improve colour, is common and is undetectable. More seriously, purple scapolite is routinely irradiated from colourless or yellow material, and the induced purple fades rapidly in ordinary light and with mild heat — there is no published laboratory detection protocol, so the only practical test is a fade test that destroys the colour. Light-test any purple scapolite before displaying it. Cat's eye scapolite is natural.
Where does scapolite come from?
Mogok, Myanmar, Ratnapura, Sri Lanka, Morogoro, Tanzania, Badakhshan, Afghanistan and Ihosy, Madagascar. Origin affects price, so we name the locality rather than the country on every quote.
Is scapolite hard enough to wear every day?
Yes. At 5.5–6 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 scapolite cost?
Indicatively $10–150/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 scapolite confused with?
Most often Amethyst, Citrine, Chrysoberyl, Golden beryl, Kunzite and Tanzanite. A refractive index of 1.540–1.579 and a specific gravity near 2.60–2.74 separate it quickly.
Related stones
Looking for scapolite?
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 scapolite