The facts
What verdite actually is
Verdite is classified as fuchsite-rich metamorphic rock, with the composition Chromian muscovite with clay minerals and quartz. It crystallises in the aggregate rock system.
Colour comes from chromium in the fuchsite mica, which is also what a laboratory looks at when it is asked whether a colour is natural.
Refractive index 1.55–1.60 (spot, variable). Specific gravity around 2.80–2.90. Cleavage: not applicable (aggregate). Those three numbers separate it from most of what imitates it.
Where verdite comes from
Verdite is produced at Barberton, Mpumalanga, South Africa, North Kaap and Muhla River, South Africa and Zimbabwe.
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 verdite is treated
Untreated, sometimes waxed. A soft carving rock, not jade — the name 'African jade' is misdescription. Widely used for African sculpture and curio carving.
Treatment changes value, sometimes by a multiple, so it belongs in the description before the price and not after the sale.
What verdite is confused with
In the trade verdite is most often mistaken for, or substituted by, Nephrite, Serpentine, Jadeite, Maw-sit-sit or Dyed soapstone.
The separation is rarely a matter of opinion: refractive index 1.55–1.60 (spot, variable) and specific gravity 2.80–2.90 settle most of it in a minute, and magnification settles the rest.
What verdite is used for
Demand for verdite comes from carving and sculpture, decorative objects, architecture and interiors and 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 block, by the piece or by the square metre.
Durability and care
Hardness 3; cleavage not applicable (aggregate). 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 verdite costs
As a guide, verdite trades around $0.20–3/ct; carvings by the piece.
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 verdite treated, and how?
Untreated, sometimes waxed. A soft carving rock, not jade — the name 'African jade' is misdescription. Widely used for African sculpture and curio carving.
Where does verdite come from?
Barberton, Mpumalanga, South Africa, North Kaap and Muhla River, South Africa and Zimbabwe. Origin affects price, so we name the locality rather than the country on every quote.
Is verdite hard enough to wear every day?
Not really. At 3 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 verdite cost?
Indicatively $0.20–3/ct; carvings by the piece. 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 verdite confused with?
Most often Nephrite, Serpentine, Jadeite, Maw-sit-sit and Dyed soapstone. A refractive index of 1.55–1.60 (spot, variable) and a specific gravity near 2.80–2.90 separate it quickly.
What is verdite used for besides jewellery?
carving and sculpture, decorative objects, architecture and interiors and mineral collecting. Each of those trades buys it in a different form and a different unit.
Related stones
Looking for verdite?
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 verdite