With light blue and green colors, no cleavage, and high hardness, boracite is an uncommon mineral. Unfortunately for jewelry lovers, faceted boracites are very rare.
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Boracite forms in salt deposits and similar environments as a result of seawater evaporation in enclosed basins. Rare cut boracites can show delicate shades of blue, green, yellow, white, and grey and have moderate dispersion. Some stones are colorless.
Under physical pressure, boracite generates an electric charge. This is known as known the piezoelectric effect. This mineral also exhibits the pyroelectric effect. It generates an electric charge when heated.
Boracites decompose slowly in water.
Scientists have synthesized boracites for various purposes, including research into its electrical properties as well as radioactive waste storage. However, there's no known jewelry use for this synthetic material.
Cuttable crystals occur only in the Stassfurt and Hanover districts of Germany, which usually yield small, pale crystals.
Other notable gem sources include the following:
Boracite crystals are very small and usually yield gemstones ranging from 1-2 carats, so gems over 2 carats would be considered extreme rarities.
Although boracites react to water very slowly, keep them dry in storage, where they would otherwise have time to sit and decompose. Alcohol may be used in lieu of water for cleaning. Otherwise, since these stones have high hardness (7-7.5) and no cleavage, they require no special care. Consult our gemstone jewelry cleaning guide for more recommendations.
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Boracite forms in salt deposits and similar environments as a result of seawater evaporation in enclosed basins. Rare cut boracites can show delicate shades of blue, green, yellow, white, and grey and have moderate dispersion. Some stones are colorless.
Under physical pressure, boracite generates an electric charge. This is known as known the piezoelectric effect. This mineral also exhibits the pyroelectric effect. It generates an electric charge when heated.
Boracites decompose slowly in water.
Scientists have synthesized boracites for various purposes, including research into its electrical properties as well as radioactive waste storage. However, there's no known jewelry use for this synthetic material.
Cuttable crystals occur only in the Stassfurt and Hanover districts of Germany, which usually yield small, pale crystals.
Other notable gem sources include the following:
Boracite crystals are very small and usually yield gemstones ranging from 1-2 carats, so gems over 2 carats would be considered extreme rarities.
Although boracites react to water very slowly, keep them dry in storage, where they would otherwise have time to sit and decompose. Alcohol may be used in lieu of water for cleaning. Otherwise, since these stones have high hardness (7-7.5) and no cleavage, they require no special care. Consult our gemstone jewelry cleaning guide for more recommendations.
With light blue and green colors, no cleavage, and high hardness, boracite is an uncommon mineral. Unfortunately for jewelry lovers, faceted boracites are very rare.
