Langbeinite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

langbeinite - New Mexico
“Langbeinite-553833,” Carlsbad Potash District, Eddy and Lea Counties, New Mexico, USA, by John Kygier. Public domain.

This material is nondescript and is cut solely as a curiosity. The gems are soft, pale colored, or colorless, with no fire. Few cut stones have been reported, but this may be due to a lack of interest rather than a lack of suitable rough.

Langbeinite Value

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Langbeinite Information

DataValue
NameLangbeinite
Crystallography Isometric. Crystals are rare; usually massive, bedded; in nodules.
Refractive Index 1.536
Colors Colorless, white, gray, yellowish, greenish, pinkish, violet.
Luster Vitreous.
Fracture Conchoidal
Hardness 3.5-4.
Specific Gravity 2.83
Birefringence None.
Cleavage None
Stone SizesColorless stones potentially up to 10-15 carats. Cabochons of any size.
Luminescence Faint greenish white in LW (New Mexico).
Transparency Transparent.
FormulaK2Mg2(SO4)3.
Pleochroism None.
Optics N = 1.536.

Optics: N = 1.536.

Occurrence: Evaporite deposits from marine waters.

Saskatchewan, Canada; North Germany; Austria; India. Carlsbad, New Mexico: beds up to 7 feet thick.

Comments: This material is nondescript and is cut solely as a curiosity. The gems are soft, pale colored, or colorless, with no fire. Few cut stones have been reported, but this may be due to a lack of interest rather than a lack of suitable rough.

Name: After A. Langbein of Leopoldshall, Austria.