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Strontianite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information


Strontianite is a collector’s oddity, with no spectacular properties to recommend it. Colors are usually pale and there is little fire; in addition, the high birefringence doubles back facets and kills the brilliance of the stone. Cut strontianites are, however, decidedly uncommon and worth pursuing for their scarcity value.

HomeGemstonesStrontianite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information
By Joel E. Arem, Ph.D., FGA, updated on

STRONTIANITE Aragonite Group. Series to Aragonite (CaCO). Witherite (BaCO3)

Optics:a=1.52;β=1.66; γ= 1.67.

Biaxial (-), 2V= 7°.

Occurrence: A low-temperature mineral, in veins, geodes, marls, and sulfide veins.

San Bernardino County, California; Schoharie. New York; Ohio; New Mexico; Texas; Louisiana; South Dakota; Washington.

Scotland; Mexico; India; Austria.

Carleton County, Ontario, Canada; British Columbia.

Canada; Germany: major deposits.

Pennsylvania; small crystals.

Comments: Strontianite is a collector's oddity, with no spectacular properties to recommend it. Colors are usually pale and there is little fire; in addition, the high birefringence doubles back facets and kills the brilliance of the stone. Cut strontianites are, however, decidedly uncommon and worth pursuing for their scarcity value.

Name: From the town in Scotland where the mineral was first found.

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