The facts
What verdelite actually is
Verdelite is classified as elbaite (tourmaline supergroup), with the composition Na(Li,Al)₃Al₆(BO₃)₃Si₆O₁₈(OH)₄. It crystallises in the trigonal system.
Colour comes from fe²⁺, sometimes with Ti; distinct from chrome tourmaline, which is coloured by Cr/V, which is also what a laboratory looks at when it is asked whether a colour is natural.
Refractive index 1.619–1.644. Specific gravity around 3.01–3.11. Cleavage: indistinct. Those three numbers separate it from most of what imitates it.
Where verdelite comes from
Verdelite is produced at Minas Gerais, Brazil, Paprok, Nuristan, Afghanistan, Karibib, Namibia and Himalaya Mine, California, USA.
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 verdelite is treated
Heating to lighten dark stones is standard and undetectable. Resin filling of fractures is common in lower-grade material.
Treatment changes value, sometimes by a multiple, so it belongs in the description before the price and not after the sale.
What verdelite is confused with
In the trade verdelite is most often mistaken for, or substituted by, Chrome tourmaline, Emerald, Peridot, Green sapphire or Green glass.
The separation is rarely a matter of opinion: refractive index 1.619–1.644 and specific gravity 3.01–3.11 settle most of it in a minute, and magnification settles the rest.
What verdelite is used for
Demand for verdelite comes from jewellery, mineral collecting and carving and sculpture, which is why one price per carat never covers it.
We quote each application in the unit that trade actually buys in, by the carat, by the specimen or by the block.
Durability and care
Verdelite is 7–7.5 on the Mohs scale, with indistinct 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 verdelite costs
As a guide, verdelite trades around $30–400/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 verdelite treated, and how?
Heating to lighten dark stones is standard and undetectable. Resin filling of fractures is common in lower-grade material.
Where does verdelite come from?
Minas Gerais, Brazil, Paprok, Nuristan, Afghanistan, Karibib, Namibia and Himalaya Mine, California, USA. Origin affects price, so we name the locality rather than the country on every quote.
Is verdelite hard enough to wear every day?
Yes. At 7–7.5 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 verdelite cost?
Indicatively $30–400/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 verdelite confused with?
Most often Chrome tourmaline, Emerald, Peridot, Green sapphire and Green glass. A refractive index of 1.619–1.644 and a specific gravity near 3.01–3.11 separate it quickly.
What is verdelite used for besides jewellery?
mineral collecting and carving and sculpture. Each of those trades buys it in a different form and a different unit.
Related stones
Looking for verdelite?
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 verdelite