The facts
What scolecite actually is
The species behind scolecite is scolecite (zeolite group), CaAl₂Si₃O₁₀·3H₂O; it forms in the monoclinic system.
Essentially colourless with no chromophore; the cause of occasional salmon-pink tints is not documented is responsible for the colour — and the chromophore, not the name, is what decides whether a colour is stable.
On the instruments it reads a refractive index of 1.507–1.521 and a specific gravity of about 2.16–2.40, with perfect {110} cleavage.
Where scolecite comes from
Commercial material comes from Nashik and Pune (Junnar) quarries, Maharashtra, India, Teigarhorn, eastern Iceland and Kaiserstuhl, Baden, Germany (type locality).
Different localities give different colour and different clarity, and the trade prices them differently. We state which one.
How scolecite is treated
Untreated. Pyroelectric and piezoelectric. Sold mainly as radiating acicular specimen sprays; faceted stones are rare and fragile.
We state the treatment on every stone, including when the honest answer is that it cannot be determined. A treatment disclosed is a fact; a treatment discovered later is a refund.
What scolecite is confused with
Watch for Natrolite, Mesolite, Quartz and Apophyllite — these are what turn up sold under this name.
The separation is rarely a matter of opinion: refractive index 1.507–1.521 and specific gravity 2.16–2.40 settle most of it in a minute, and magnification settles the rest.
What scolecite is used for
The trades that buy scolecite are mineral collecting and decorative objects. 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 specimen or by the piece.
Durability and care
Hardness 5–5.5; cleavage perfect {110}. 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 scolecite costs
Expect roughly Specimen pricing; faceted material $20–120/ct, 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 scolecite treated, and how?
Untreated. Pyroelectric and piezoelectric. Sold mainly as radiating acicular specimen sprays; faceted stones are rare and fragile.
Where does scolecite come from?
Nashik and Pune (Junnar) quarries, Maharashtra, India, Teigarhorn, eastern Iceland and Kaiserstuhl, Baden, Germany (type locality). Origin affects price, so we name the locality rather than the country on every quote.
Is scolecite 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 scolecite cost?
Indicatively Specimen pricing; faceted material $20–120/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 scolecite confused with?
Most often Natrolite, Mesolite, Quartz and Apophyllite. A refractive index of 1.507–1.521 and a specific gravity near 2.16–2.40 separate it quickly.
Related stones
Looking for scolecite?
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 scolecite