The facts
What zeolite actually is
The species behind zeolite is zeolite group — stilbite, heulandite, apophyllite, Hydrated aluminosilicates; it forms in the various system.
Iron and manganese traces 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 1.47–1.54 and a specific gravity of about 2.0–2.4, with perfect in most species cleavage.
Where zeolite comes from
Commercial material comes from Maharashtra, India (Deccan traps), Iceland and New Jersey, USA.
Different localities give different colour and different clarity, and the trade prices them differently. We state which one.
Is zeolite treated?
None.
Nothing needs disclosing, and nothing about the stone can change after you buy it. If a price looks impossible, the risk is substitution rather than treatment.
What zeolite is confused with
Watch for Calcite and Quartz — these are what turn up sold under this name.
The separation is rarely a matter of opinion: refractive index 1.47–1.54 and specific gravity 2.0–2.4 settle most of it in a minute, and magnification settles the rest.
What zeolite is used for
The trades that buy zeolite are water treatment, agriculture, mineral collecting and heavy industry. 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 tonne.
Durability and care
Zeolite is 3.5–5.5 on the Mohs scale, with perfect in most species 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 zeolite costs
Expect roughly $120–600/tonne; specimens $5–500, 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 zeolite treated?
None.
Where does zeolite come from?
Maharashtra, India (Deccan traps), Iceland and New Jersey, USA. Origin affects price, so we name the locality rather than the country on every quote.
Is zeolite hard enough to wear every day?
Not really. At 3.5–5.5 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 zeolite cost?
Indicatively $120–600/tonne; specimens $5–500. 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 zeolite confused with?
Most often Calcite and Quartz. A refractive index of 1.47–1.54 and a specific gravity near 2.0–2.4 separate it quickly.
What is zeolite used for besides jewellery?
water treatment, agriculture, mineral collecting and heavy industry. Each of those trades buys it in a different form and a different unit.
Related stones
Looking for zeolite?
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 zeolite