The facts
What strontianite actually is
Strontianite is classified as aragonite group, with the composition SrCO₃. It crystallises in the orthorhombic system.
Colour comes from colourless to pale yellow-green; Ca substitution is common, which is also what a laboratory looks at when it is asked whether a colour is natural.
Refractive index 1.518–1.667. Specific gravity around 3.74–3.78. Cleavage: perfect {110}. Those three numbers separate it from most of what imitates it.
Where strontianite comes from
Strontianite is produced at Strontian, Argyll, Scotland (type locality), Oberdorf an der Laming, Styria, Austria and Drensteinfurt and Hamm, Westphalia, Germany.
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 strontianite is treated
Untreated. Named after the Scottish village that also gave its name to the element strontium; faceted stones are pale and rare collector items.
Treatment changes value, sometimes by a multiple, so it belongs in the description before the price and not after the sale.
What strontianite is confused with
In the trade strontianite is most often mistaken for, or substituted by, Witherite, Aragonite, Celestine or Calcite.
The separation is rarely a matter of opinion: refractive index 1.518–1.667 and specific gravity 3.74–3.78 settle most of it in a minute, and magnification settles the rest.
What strontianite is used for
Demand for strontianite comes from mineral collecting and heavy industry, 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 or by the tonne.
Durability and care
Strontianite is 3.5 on the Mohs scale, with perfect {110} 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 strontianite costs
As a guide, strontianite trades around Specimens $30–$800; faceted stones $40–$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 strontianite treated, and how?
Untreated. Named after the Scottish village that also gave its name to the element strontium; faceted stones are pale and rare collector items.
Where does strontianite come from?
Strontian, Argyll, Scotland (type locality), Oberdorf an der Laming, Styria, Austria and Drensteinfurt and Hamm, Westphalia, Germany. Origin affects price, so we name the locality rather than the country on every quote.
Is strontianite hard enough to wear every day?
Not really. At 3.5 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 strontianite cost?
Indicatively Specimens $30–$800; faceted stones $40–$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 strontianite confused with?
Most often Witherite, Aragonite, Celestine and Calcite. A refractive index of 1.518–1.667 and a specific gravity near 3.74–3.78 separate it quickly.
Related stones
Looking for strontianite?
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 strontianite