Although not well known, scapolite would make an attractive gem material for both jewelry enthusiasts and mineral collectors. It comes in a wide variety of colors and can show dramatic fluorescence and phenomenal effects.
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The scapolite mineral group contains a solid state series from marialite to meionite, with mizzonite as the intermediate member. Gemologically speaking, the term scapolite refers to the gems that form in this series. Older sources may refer to this series as "wernerite."
With a hardness of 5.5 to 6 and perfect cleavage, scapolites require care when setting and wearing as jewelry. Although daily wear as a ring stone may be inadvisable, protective settings and occasional use will let you show off these rarely seen gems.
Scapolites would also make excellent choices for pendants and earrings.
The colors and properties of scapolites vary as the amount of sodium and calcium in their chemical composition changes. Colors range from near colorless through pinks and purples to yellow and orange. By far, yellows occur most commonly. Purples come a distant second.
Scapolites may show strong fluorescence and pleochroic colors.
This 14.41-ct, oval Portuguese-cut scapolite from Sri Lanka appears brownish yellow under white light and orangish under longwave ultraviolet light. © The Gem Trader. Used with permission.
Some rare scapolites have displayed a variety of phenomenal effects. These include chatoyancy (in many colors and with unusually sharp "eyes") and tenebrescence.
Under shortwave ultraviolet light, this tenebrescent colorless scapolite changes to a light blue. Over time, the blue fades back to colorless. Cushion cut, 1.55 cts, 7.6 × 7.4 ×5.0, Pakistan. © ARK Rare Gems. Used with permission.
In addition, so-called "rainbow" or "sunstone scapolites" display iridescence. Recently, the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) found that brownish orange platelets, possibly hematite inclusions, caused aventurescence in a scapolite specimen. Of course, true sunstones are feldspars, and scapolites don't belong to that mineral group. (Be aware that pink scapolite with sheen is sometimes erroneously called pink moonstone).
"Rosalinda," an ornamental laidary rock from Peru, consists of calcite, scapolite, and red epidote-piedmontite.
Distinguishing citrines, a yellow variety of quartz, from yellow scapolites may sometimes prove challenging (without a destructive scratch test). Consult this article on difficult separations for advice.
| Locality | Color | o | e | Birefringence | Specific Gravity |
| Marialite | - | 1.546-1.550 | 1.540-1.541 | 0.004-0.008 | 2.50-2.62 |
| Entire Rios, Mozambique | yellow | 1.568 | 1.548 | 0.02 | 2.70 |
| Umba River, Tanzania | yellow-gold | 1.562-1.567 | 1.543-1.548 | 0.019 | 2.66-2.67 |
| Umba River, Tanzania | violet | 1.539-1.540 | 1.531-1.534 | 0.007 | 2.59 |
| Umba River, Tanzania | yellow | 1.553 | 1.539 | 0.014 | 2.63 |
| Umba River, Tanzania | very pale yellow | 1.579 | 1.553 | 0.026 | 2.74 |
| Rio Pardo, Brazil | golden yellow | 1.570-1.574 | 1.549-1.552 | 0.021 | 2.68-2.70 |
| Myanmar | colorless | 1.56 | 1.544 | 0.016 | - |
| Myanmar | pink | 1.558 | 1.545 | 0.013 | - |
| Myanmar | light yellow | 1.587 | 1.554 | 0.033 | - |
| Myanmar | pale pink | 1.549 | 1.54 | 0.009 | 2.63 |
| Myanmar (cat's eye) | violet | 1.560 | 1.544 | 0.016 | 2.63 |
| Sri Lanka (cat's eye) | gray | 1.583 | 1.553 | 0.030 | - |
| Kenya (cat's eye) | brown | 1.57 | - | 2.73 | |
| Madagascar | colorless | 1.568-1.571 | 1.550-1.552 | 0.018-0.020 | - |
| Meionite | - | 1.590-1.600 | 1.556-1.562 | 0.024-0.037 | 2.78 |
Note: Dipyre is a Ca-rich marialite.
Scientists have synthesized scapolites, from marialites to meionites, for research purposes. However, there are no known jewelry uses for these lab-made materials.
Heating can improve color in scapolites. This common enhancement is undetectable.
Yellow and colorless scapolites may receive radiation treatments. This uncommon enhancement creates a brownish purple color, which fades rapidly.
Tanzania produces the finest golden yellow scapolite known in commercial quantities. Dodoma yields transparent, golden yellow to orangey yellow gem material. This source sometimes produces very pale to near colorless stones, as well as violetish and pink (rare) cuttable crystals.
Espirito Santo, Brazil produces pale yellow crystals, sometimes large and facetable.
Madagascar produces yellow, facetable crystals.
Other notable gem-quality sources include the following:
The pink and purple Tanzanian material is extremely rare in sizes over 5 carats. You'll find most gems of this color in the 1-2 carat range.
Brazilian yellow scapolite is cuttable up to about 30 carats. However, at that size, it's usually flawed (long thin tubes).
Faceted Myanmar scapolites are rarely encountered on the market. However, white and yellow specimens from Myanmar have been found in large sizes. Pink Myanmar step-cut gems to 70 carats have been reported. Cat's eyes usually run under 10 carats. However, larger ones are known.
Avoid cleaning scapolites with mechanical systems. Instead, use only a soft brush, mild detergent, and warm water. Consult our gemstone jewelry cleaning guide for more recommendations.
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The scapolite mineral group contains a solid state series from marialite to meionite, with mizzonite as the intermediate member. Gemologically speaking, the term scapolite refers to the gems that form in this series. Older sources may refer to this series as "wernerite."
With a hardness of 5.5 to 6 and perfect cleavage, scapolites require care when setting and wearing as jewelry. Although daily wear as a ring stone may be inadvisable, protective settings and occasional use will let you show off these rarely seen gems.
Scapolites would also make excellent choices for pendants and earrings.
The colors and properties of scapolites vary as the amount of sodium and calcium in their chemical composition changes. Colors range from near colorless through pinks and purples to yellow and orange. By far, yellows occur most commonly. Purples come a distant second.
Scapolites may show strong fluorescence and pleochroic colors.
This 14.41-ct, oval Portuguese-cut scapolite from Sri Lanka appears brownish yellow under white light and orangish under longwave ultraviolet light. © The Gem Trader. Used with permission.
Some rare scapolites have displayed a variety of phenomenal effects. These include chatoyancy (in many colors and with unusually sharp "eyes") and tenebrescence.
Under shortwave ultraviolet light, this tenebrescent colorless scapolite changes to a light blue. Over time, the blue fades back to colorless. Cushion cut, 1.55 cts, 7.6 × 7.4 ×5.0, Pakistan. © ARK Rare Gems. Used with permission.
In addition, so-called "rainbow" or "sunstone scapolites" display iridescence. Recently, the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) found that brownish orange platelets, possibly hematite inclusions, caused aventurescence in a scapolite specimen. Of course, true sunstones are feldspars, and scapolites don't belong to that mineral group. (Be aware that pink scapolite with sheen is sometimes erroneously called pink moonstone).
"Rosalinda," an ornamental laidary rock from Peru, consists of calcite, scapolite, and red epidote-piedmontite.
Distinguishing citrines, a yellow variety of quartz, from yellow scapolites may sometimes prove challenging (without a destructive scratch test). Consult this article on difficult separations for advice.
| Locality | Color | o | e | Birefringence | Specific Gravity |
| Marialite | - | 1.546-1.550 | 1.540-1.541 | 0.004-0.008 | 2.50-2.62 |
| Entire Rios, Mozambique | yellow | 1.568 | 1.548 | 0.02 | 2.70 |
| Umba River, Tanzania | yellow-gold | 1.562-1.567 | 1.543-1.548 |
Note: Dipyre is a Ca-rich marialite.
Scientists have synthesized scapolites, from marialites to meionites, for research purposes. However, there are no known jewelry uses for these lab-made materials.
Heating can improve color in scapolites. This common enhancement is undetectable.
Yellow and colorless scapolites may receive radiation treatments. This uncommon enhancement creates a brownish purple color, which fades rapidly.
Tanzania produces the finest golden yellow scapolite known in commercial quantities. Dodoma yields transparent, golden yellow to orangey yellow gem material. This source sometimes produces very pale to near colorless stones, as well as violetish and pink (rare) cuttable crystals.
Espirito Santo, Brazil produces pale yellow crystals, sometimes large and facetable.
Madagascar produces yellow, facetable crystals.
Other notable gem-quality sources include the following:
The pink and purple Tanzanian material is extremely rare in sizes over 5 carats. You'll find most gems of this color in the 1-2 carat range.
Brazilian yellow scapolite is cuttable up to about 30 carats. However, at that size, it's usually flawed (long thin tubes).
Faceted Myanmar scapolites are rarely encountered on the market. However, white and yellow specimens from Myanmar have been found in large sizes. Pink Myanmar step-cut gems to 70 carats have been reported. Cat's eyes usually run under 10 carats. However, larger ones are known.
Avoid cleaning scapolites with mechanical systems. Instead, use only a soft brush, mild detergent, and warm water. Consult our gemstone jewelry cleaning guide for more recommendations.
0.019
2.66-2.67 |
| Umba River, Tanzania | violet | 1.539-1.540 | 1.531-1.534 | 0.007 | 2.59 |
| Umba River, Tanzania | yellow | 1.553 | 1.539 | 0.014 | 2.63 |
| Umba River, Tanzania | very pale yellow | 1.579 | 1.553 | 0.026 | 2.74 |
| Rio Pardo, Brazil | golden yellow | 1.570-1.574 | 1.549-1.552 | 0.021 | 2.68-2.70 |
| Myanmar | colorless | 1.56 | 1.544 | 0.016 | - |
| Myanmar | pink | 1.558 | 1.545 | 0.013 | - |
| Myanmar | light yellow | 1.587 | 1.554 | 0.033 | - |
| Myanmar | pale pink | 1.549 | 1.54 | 0.009 | 2.63 |
| Myanmar (cat's eye) | violet | 1.560 | 1.544 | 0.016 | 2.63 |
| Sri Lanka (cat's eye) | gray | 1.583 | 1.553 | 0.030 | - |
| Kenya (cat's eye) | brown | 1.57 | - | 2.73 | |
| Madagascar | colorless | 1.568-1.571 | 1.550-1.552 | 0.018-0.020 | - |
| Meionite | - | 1.590-1.600 | 1.556-1.562 | 0.024-0.037 | 2.78 |
Although not well known, scapolite would make an attractive gem material for both jewelry enthusiasts and mineral collectors. It comes in a wide variety of colors and can show dramatic fluorescence. Rare specimens also display phenomenal effects, like chatoyancy.
Yellow scapolite’s value depends on size, clarity, and strength of color. Expect the usual premiums on price in terms of color saturation and custom versus native or commercial cutting. Values for natural purple or violet scapolites differ greatly from irradiated stones, since the untreated stones are rarer and have a delicate, but much purer, purple.
Prices for untreated purple stones would exceed yellow, while prices for irradiated purple stones fall below yellow.
Rare cat’s eye scapolites are highly varied and quite beautiful.
Cabochons cut from opaque Quebec and Ontario material are very lovely and often fluoresce brightly.
Tanzanian golden scapolite is much darker in tone than the Brazilian material, as well as much cleaner. Moreover, there is enough available to make jewelry promotion feasible.
