triangle-cut augelite - Californiatriangle-cut augelite - California

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.

triangle-cut augelite - California
Colorless, triangle-cut augelite, 0.41 cts, 6.3 x 5.3 mm, Champion Mine, Mono Co., California. © The Gem Trader. Used with permission.

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Augelite Value

Augelites, faceted and rough - California
Augelites: California (~ 1.5, rough ½ inch across). Photo © Joel E. Arem, PhD, FGA. Used with permission.

Does Augelite Make a Good Jewelry Stone?

With a hardness of 4.5-5, a brittle tenacity, and two planes of perfect and good cleavage, augelite 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 luster, augelite has no dispersion or "fire" to catch the eye.

  • augelite rough and cut set - California
  • round brilliant augelite - California
  • Augelite crystal on quartz - California

    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.

    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. Any faceted augelites would likely appeal more to rare gemstone collectors and aficionados of the art of gem cutting than jewelry lovers.

    faceted augelite - California
    Augelite: California (1.4). Photo © Joel E. Arem, PhD, FGA. Used with permission.

    Does Augelite Fluoresce?

    Gem-quality, light green augelites from a new find in Peru in 2006 have shown light yellow fluorescence under shortwave ultraviolet light. However, gems from other sources have shown no fluorescence.

    step-cut augelite - Peru
    Yellowish green, rhomboid step-cut augelite, 1.04 cts, 7.2 x 4.3 mm, Ortega Mine, Ancash Dept., Peru. © The Gem Trader. Used with permission.

    Are There Synthetic Augelites?

    Scientists have used synthetic augelites for research purposes. However, there is no known jewelry use for this lab-created material.

    There are no known gem treatments or enhancements for augelites.

    Where is Augelite Found?

    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).
    augelites in vug - Bolivia
    Lustrous augelites in a vug. The largest crystal is 1.3 cm in length. Machacamarca Mine, Machacamarca, Machacamarca District (Colavi District), Cornelio Saavedra Province, Potosi Department, Bolivia. © Rob Lavinsky, www.iRocks.com. Used with permission.

    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.

    How to Care for Augelites

    Clean augelites only with a soft brush, mild detergent, and warm water. Consult our gemstone jewelry cleaning guide for more recommendations.

    Augelite: California (2.1). Photo © Joel E. Arem, PhD, FGA. Used with permission.

    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


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