The facts
What seraphinite actually is
The species behind seraphinite is clinochlore (chlorite group), (Mg,Fe²⁺)₅Al(Si₃Al)O₁₀(OH)₈; it forms in the monoclinic system.
Deep green from Fe²⁺ and Cr in the chlorite; the silvery feathery chatoyant shimmer is a structural and inclusion effect 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 1.571–1.599 and a specific gravity of about 2.60–3.02, with perfect basal {001} — micaceous, and the practical limit on this material cleavage.
Where seraphinite comes from
Commercial material comes from Korshunovskoye deposit area, Irkutsk Oblast, eastern Siberia, Russia.
That is the whole list. A single source makes supply fragile and makes any claim of a second origin worth questioning.
How seraphinite is treated
Usually untreated, sometimes resin-stabilised and waxed. Effectively a single-source material. Far too soft for rings; sold as cabochons, spheres and slabs. The chrome-bearing pink clinochlore, kämmererite, is a separate collector material.
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 seraphinite is confused with
Watch for Chlorastrolite, Nuummite, Malachite, Serpentine and Pietersite — these are what turn up sold under this name.
The separation is rarely a matter of opinion: refractive index 1.571–1.599 and specific gravity 2.60–3.02 settle most of it in a minute, and magnification settles the rest.
What seraphinite is used for
The trades that buy seraphinite are carving and sculpture, decorative objects, jewellery, mineral collecting and wellness and body care. 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 block, by the piece or by the carat.
Durability and care
Seraphinite is 2–2.5 on the Mohs scale, with perfect basal {001} — micaceous, and the practical limit on this material 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 seraphinite costs
Expect roughly $1–20/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 seraphinite treated, and how?
Usually untreated, sometimes resin-stabilised and waxed. Effectively a single-source material. Far too soft for rings; sold as cabochons, spheres and slabs. The chrome-bearing pink clinochlore, kämmererite, is a separate collector material.
Where does seraphinite come from?
Korshunovskoye deposit area, Irkutsk Oblast, eastern Siberia, Russia. That is the only commercial source.
Is seraphinite hard enough to wear every day?
Not really. At 2–2.5 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 seraphinite cost?
Indicatively $1–20/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 seraphinite confused with?
Most often Chlorastrolite, Nuummite, Malachite, Serpentine and Pietersite. A refractive index of 1.571–1.599 and a specific gravity near 2.60–3.02 separate it quickly.
What is seraphinite used for besides jewellery?
carving and sculpture, decorative objects, mineral collecting and wellness and body care. Each of those trades buys it in a different form and a different unit.
Related stones
Looking for seraphinite?
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 seraphinite