The facts
What tinzenite actually is
Tinzenite is classified as axinite group, with the composition (Ca,Mn²⁺,Fe²⁺)₃Al₂BSi₄O₁₅(OH). It crystallises in the triclinic system.
Colour comes from mn²⁺ gives bright lemon to orange-yellow, which is also what a laboratory looks at when it is asked whether a colour is natural.
Refractive index 1.690–1.705. Specific gravity around 3.36–3.43. Cleavage: good in one direction. Those three numbers separate it from most of what imitates it.
Where tinzenite comes from
Tinzenite is produced at Tinizong, Grisons, Switzerland, Cassagna Mine, Liguria, Italy and Gambatesa Mine, Liguria, Italy.
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 tinzenite is treated
Untreated. The manganese-rich yellow end of the axinite group; Ligurian manganese mines are the classic source.
Treatment changes value, sometimes by a multiple, so it belongs in the description before the price and not after the sale.
What tinzenite is confused with
In the trade tinzenite is most often mistaken for, or substituted by, Axinite, Manganaxinite, Citrine or Spessartine.
The separation is rarely a matter of opinion: refractive index 1.690–1.705 and specific gravity 3.36–3.43 settle most of it in a minute, and magnification settles the rest.
What tinzenite is used for
Demand for tinzenite 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
Tinzenite is 6.5 on the Mohs scale, with good in one direction cleavage.
With no cleavage plane to worry about, the practical limit is abrasion rather than breakage, and it takes daily wear well.
Warm water, mild soap and a soft brush. Avoid ultrasonic cleaners on anything fracture-filled, stabilised, dyed or visibly included.
What tinzenite costs
As a guide, tinzenite trades around Specimens 30–300 USD; faceted stones 80–350 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 tinzenite treated, and how?
Untreated. The manganese-rich yellow end of the axinite group; Ligurian manganese mines are the classic source.
Where does tinzenite come from?
Tinizong, Grisons, Switzerland, Cassagna Mine, Liguria, Italy and Gambatesa Mine, Liguria, Italy. Origin affects price, so we name the locality rather than the country on every quote.
Is tinzenite hard enough to wear every day?
Yes. At 6.5 on the Mohs scale with no cleavage plane, it handles daily wear well. The practical limit is gradual abrasion rather than chipping.
How much does tinzenite cost?
Indicatively Specimens 30–300 USD; faceted stones 80–350 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 tinzenite confused with?
Most often Axinite, Manganaxinite, Citrine and Spessartine. A refractive index of 1.690–1.705 and a specific gravity near 3.36–3.43 separate it quickly.
Related stones
Looking for tinzenite?
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 tinzenite