Kornerupine Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Optics: varies with locality:

Biaxial (-), 2V= 3-48°; gems sometimes pseudo-uniaxial.

Inclusions:Zircon, apatite crystals.

Occurrence: First found in Greenland in radiating crystals (not gemmy), later in cuttable fragments.

Finskenaesset, Southwest Greenland: giant crystals up to 23 cm, yielding cabochons and small (up to  2 carats) faceted gems of dark green color.

Weligama gem gravels, Matara district,  SriLanka: greenish to dark yellowish-green catseyes. The eye effect is intense. Stones tend to be small, but cabochons over 7 carats have been reported. Also from Matale, yellowbrown and reddish pebbles, in gravels.

Mogok, Burma: greenish-brown material in gem gravels.

Kwale district, Kenya: light green material, some large clean pieces; colored green by vanadium. Tanzania: chrome variety with green color, cuttable.

Gatineau County, Quebec, Canada: large crystals, dark green to greenish yellow.

Itrongahy, Madagascar: large gemmy dark green crystals, also pale aquamarine-blue.

Betroka and Inanakafy, Madagascar: gray to brown prismatic crystals.

Comments: Star kornerupine also has been found I(Mogok, Burma) but is very rare. Kornerupine is generally dark brown or green and not very attractive due to the somber colors. The light green material from Kenya is much more appealing, but the sizes are always small (under 3 carats as a rule). The color is caused by traces of Fe, Cr. and V. Despite the fact that many stones are in museums and private collections, kornerupine is a rather rare gemstone and, for the collector, worth acquiring when available.

Name: After the Danish geologist Kornerup.