The facts
What stichtite actually is
Stichtite is classified as hydrotalcite group, with the composition Mg₆Cr₂(CO₃)(OH)₁₆·4H₂O. It crystallises in the trigonal system.
Colour comes from cr³⁺ in a layered magnesium hydroxy-carbonate giving lilac to magenta, which is also what a laboratory looks at when it is asked whether a colour is natural.
Refractive index 1.516–1.542. Specific gravity around 2.16–2.22. Cleavage: perfect basal {0001}; greasy feel, flexible flakes. Those three numbers separate it from most of what imitates it.
Where stichtite comes from
Stichtite is produced at Dundas, Tasmania, Australia (type locality), Barberton, Mpumalanga, South Africa and Cunningsburgh, Shetland, Scotland.
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 stichtite is treated
Untreated, but far too soft to wear unprotected — it is almost always cut as 'atlantisite', where purple stichtite is bound in tough green serpentine that carries the polish. Beware dyed serpentine or magnesite sold as stichtite.
Treatment changes value, sometimes by a multiple, so it belongs in the description before the price and not after the sale.
What stichtite is confused with
In the trade stichtite is most often mistaken for, or substituted by, Sugilite, Charoite, Purpurite or Dyed magnesite.
The separation is rarely a matter of opinion: refractive index 1.516–1.542 and specific gravity 2.16–2.22 settle most of it in a minute, and magnification settles the rest.
What stichtite is used for
Demand for stichtite comes from mineral collecting, carving and sculpture and wellness and body care, 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, by the block or by the kilo.
Durability and care
Hardness 1.5–2; cleavage perfect basal {0001}; greasy feel, flexible flakes. 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 stichtite costs
As a guide, stichtite trades around Atlantisite cabochons $10–$60; pure stichtite specimens $30–$400.
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 stichtite treated, and how?
Untreated, but far too soft to wear unprotected — it is almost always cut as 'atlantisite', where purple stichtite is bound in tough green serpentine that carries the polish. Beware dyed serpentine or magnesite sold as stichtite.
Where does stichtite come from?
Dundas, Tasmania, Australia (type locality), Barberton, Mpumalanga, South Africa and Cunningsburgh, Shetland, Scotland. Origin affects price, so we name the locality rather than the country on every quote.
Is stichtite hard enough to wear every day?
Not really. At 1.5–2 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 stichtite cost?
Indicatively Atlantisite cabochons $10–$60; pure stichtite specimens $30–$400. 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 stichtite confused with?
Most often Sugilite, Charoite, Purpurite and Dyed magnesite. A refractive index of 1.516–1.542 and a specific gravity near 2.16–2.22 separate it quickly.
What is stichtite used for besides jewellery?
mineral collecting, carving and sculpture and wellness and body care. Each of those trades buys it in a different form and a different unit.
Related stones
Looking for stichtite?
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 stichtite