Ceruleite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information
A little-known gem material of truly exquisite color, sky-blue ceruleite takes a very high polish easily and quickly. However, fine, solid, cuttable pieces are extremely rare.
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A little-known gem material of truly exquisite color, sky-blue ceruleite takes a very high polish easily and quickly. However, fine, solid, cuttable pieces are extremely rare.
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Polished ceruleite gems can have a far deeper blue color than that of the rough nodules. Due to its rarity, good, cuttable material is quite expensive. You'll see few cut stones, even in museum collections.
Identifying Characteristics
This gemstone leaves a bluish white streak. However, keep in mind that streak testing ranks as a destructive test. Conduct it on a piece of rough, never a finished gem, only as a last resort.
Enhancements
Ceruleite's porosity poses a major problem for jewelry use, rendering the material too soft and fragile for cutting and wear. Plastic impregnation can solve this problem. Such impregnated material has a specific gravity of 2.58.
Sources
The type locality for this gem is the Emma Luisa Mine in Guanaco, Chile. Chile remains an important source for this gem.
Southern Bolivia has produced cabbing material of fine color. However, the total amount of this yield may not exceed several hundred pounds.
Other notable gem sources include:
- United States: Arizona; Idaho.
- Cornwall, England.
- Australia; France; Namibia; South Africa.
Stone Sizes
Nodules usually range in size from less than 1 inch up to several inches. Typically small, this material yields cabochons only.
Care
You're more likely to find ceruleites, if at all, in mineral collections than in jewelry collections. These gemstones have a lower hardness (5-6) than more common jewelry stones such as quartz. Therefore, store them separately from other gems to avoid contact scratches and use protective settings for ring wear. However, pendant and earring use should pose fewer risks.
Avoid cleaning ceruleites with any mechanical systems. Clean these gems only with a soft brush, mild detergent, and warm water. Don't use any other cleaning solutions, since ceruleites may react to chemicals in them. Wipe pieces with a damp cloth after wearing them. 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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