The facts
What wavellite actually is
The species behind wavellite is wavellite, Al₃(PO₄)₂(OH)₃·5H₂O; it forms in the orthorhombic system.
Traces of Fe and V; pale yellow-green to emerald-green radiating sprays is responsible for the colour — and the chromophore, not the name, is what decides whether a colour is stable.
On the instruments it reads a refractive index of 1.520–1.561 and a specific gravity of about 2.36, with perfect {110}, good {101} cleavage.
Where wavellite comes from
Commercial material comes from Avant and Mount Ida, Garland County, Arkansas, USA, Barnstaple (High Down Quarry), Devon, England, Zbirov, Czech Republic and Pannecé, Loire-Atlantique, France.
Different localities give different colour and different clarity, and the trade prices them differently. We state which one.
How wavellite is treated
Untreated. The radial 'starburst' cross-sections from Arkansas are what the market wants; cut cabochons are soft and rarely worn. Some cheap plates are glued composites.
We state the treatment on every stone, including when the honest answer is that it cannot be determined. A treatment disclosed is a fact; a treatment discovered later is a refund.
What wavellite is confused with
Watch for Variscite, Prehnite, Malachite (radial) and Chrysocolla — these are what turn up sold under this name.
The separation is rarely a matter of opinion: refractive index 1.520–1.561 and specific gravity 2.36 settle most of it in a minute, and magnification settles the rest.
What wavellite is used for
The trades that buy wavellite are mineral collecting and jewellery. They do not want the same thing, and they do not pay in the same unit.
We quote each application in the unit that trade actually buys in, by the specimen or by the carat.
Durability and care
Hardness 3.5–4; cleavage perfect {110}, good {101}. 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 wavellite costs
Expect roughly Arkansas plates $20–$800; cabochons $15–$80, depending on quality.
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 wavellite treated, and how?
Untreated. The radial 'starburst' cross-sections from Arkansas are what the market wants; cut cabochons are soft and rarely worn. Some cheap plates are glued composites.
Where does wavellite come from?
Avant and Mount Ida, Garland County, Arkansas, USA, Barnstaple (High Down Quarry), Devon, England, Zbirov, Czech Republic and Pannecé, Loire-Atlantique, France. Origin affects price, so we name the locality rather than the country on every quote.
Is wavellite hard enough to wear every day?
Not really. At 3.5–4 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 wavellite cost?
Indicatively Arkansas plates $20–$800; cabochons $15–$80. 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 wavellite confused with?
Most often Variscite, Prehnite, Malachite (radial) and Chrysocolla. A refractive index of 1.520–1.561 and a specific gravity near 2.36 separate it quickly.
Related stones
Looking for wavellite?
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 wavellite