Augelite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information
Soft and brittle, rare augelites are difficult to cut and unsuitable for wear. Faceted transparent pieces are only found in very complete gem and mineral collections.
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Soft and brittle, rare augelites are difficult to cut and unsuitable for wear. Faceted transparent pieces are only found in very complete gem and mineral collections.
Comments
Although new gem-quality finds of this phosphate mineral have appeared, augelites remain quite rare. Furthermore, facetable crystals are typically very small and very rarely transparent. With a hardness of 4.5-5, a brittle tenacity, and two planes of perfect and good cleavage, this gem poses some challenges to gem cutters and jewelry enthusiasts alike. Although it can occur in lovely pale greens, yellows, blues, and pinks, as well as colorless, and has a striking vitreous, glass-like luster, augelite has no dispersion or “fire” to catch the eye.
This rough and cut set features a colorless, sharp augelite crystal on quartz and a colorless, round brilliant-cut augelite. 2.1 x 1.3 x 0.8 cm (crystal), 0.95-ct (gem), Champion Mine, Mono County, California, USA. © Rob Lavinsky, www.iRocks.com. Used with permission.
Identifying Characteristics
Gem-quality light green augelites from a new find in Peru in 2006 have shown light yellow fluorescence under shortwave ultraviolet light. Gems from other sources have shown no fluorescence.
Synthetics
Scientists have used synthetic augelites for research purposes. However, there is no known jewelry use for this lab-created material.
Enhancements
No known gem treatments or enhancements.
Sources
Long the only source for facetable augelites, crystals from the Champion Mine in Mono County, California could reach about one inch in size. This source is now depleted. New facetable material has come from Peru.
Yukon Territory, Canada and Bolivia produce fine-quality crystal specimens.
Other notable sources include the following:
- United States: Palermo Mine, New Hampshire; Keystone, South Dakota (massive, non-gem).
- Australia; Sweden; Uganda (massive).
Stone Sizes
Most existing faceted gems from the California material weigh less than one carat. Some weigh up to three carats. This rare mineral very rarely yields larger stones.
Care
Clean augelites only with a soft brush, mild detergent, and warm water. Consult our gemstone jewelry cleaning guide for more recommendations.
Joel E. Arem, Ph.D., FGA
Dr. Joel E. Arem has more than 60 years of experience in the world of gems and minerals. After obtaining his Ph.D. in Mineralogy from Harvard University, he has published numerous books that are still among the most widely used references and guidebooks on crystals, gems and minerals in the world.
Co-founder and President of numerous organizations, Dr. Arem has enjoyed a lifelong career in mineralogy and gemology. He has been a Smithsonian scientist and Curator, a consultant to many well-known companies and institutions, and a prolific author and speaker. Although his main activities have been as a gem cutter and dealer, his focus has always been education. joelarem.com
International Gem Society
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