The facts
What serandite actually is
Serandite is classified as wollastonite group, with the composition NaMn²⁺₂Si₃O₈(OH). It crystallises in the triclinic system.
Colour comes from mn²⁺ gives salmon-pink to orange-red, which is also what a laboratory looks at when it is asked whether a colour is natural.
Refractive index 1.672–1.708. Specific gravity around 3.52. Cleavage: perfect in two directions. Those three numbers separate it from most of what imitates it.
Where serandite comes from
Serandite is produced at Poudrette Quarry, Mont Saint-Hilaire, Québec, Canada and Rouma Island, Los Islands, Guinea.
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 serandite is treated
Untreated. The Mont Saint-Hilaire crystals are among the best-known Canadian mineral specimens; faceted stones are small because of the cleavage.
Treatment changes value, sometimes by a multiple, so it belongs in the description before the price and not after the sale.
What serandite is confused with
In the trade serandite is most often mistaken for, or substituted by, Rhodonite, Pectolite or Hessonite.
The separation is rarely a matter of opinion: refractive index 1.672–1.708 and specific gravity 3.52 settle most of it in a minute, and magnification settles the rest.
What serandite is used for
Demand for serandite 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
Hardness 5–5.5; cleavage perfect in two directions. 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 serandite costs
As a guide, serandite trades around Specimens 60–3,000 USD; faceted stones 100–400 USD/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 serandite treated, and how?
Untreated. The Mont Saint-Hilaire crystals are among the best-known Canadian mineral specimens; faceted stones are small because of the cleavage.
Where does serandite come from?
Poudrette Quarry, Mont Saint-Hilaire, Québec, Canada and Rouma Island, Los Islands, Guinea. Origin affects price, so we name the locality rather than the country on every quote.
Is serandite 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 serandite cost?
Indicatively Specimens 60–3,000 USD; faceted stones 100–400 USD/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 serandite confused with?
Most often Rhodonite, Pectolite and Hessonite. A refractive index of 1.672–1.708 and a specific gravity near 3.52 separate it quickly.
Related stones
Looking for serandite?
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 serandite