Triphylite (Tryphylite) Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

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As any long-term student of gemology knows, the reported properties of gems expand over time. Textbooks written in the 1950s show a narrower range of properties than those written in the 1990s and 2000s. The simple reason is that gemologists have examined more gems. Thus, more information becomes available.

With gems as rare as triphylite (sometimes spelled tryphylite or triphyllite), gemologists have examined very few specimens ever. In addition, this phosphate mineral forms a solid solution series with lithiophilite. As a result, previously unobserved blends can appear. Lithiophilite has a chemical formula nearly identical to triphylite: Li(Mn⁺², Fe⁺²)PO₄. It differs by being rich in manganese (Mn) instead of iron (Fe). Due to this lower iron content, lithiophilite is slightly less dense. Its colors run from pinkish to greenish brown, while triphylite's color is usually a gray shade of blue or green.

Triphylite is a primary phosphate mineral. It alters easily into other phosphate minerals, especially manganese phosphates. Secondary phosphate minerals include: dickinsonite, eosphorite, fairfieldite,  fillowite, heterosite, hureaulite, phosphoferrite, purpurite, reddingite, salmonsite, sicklerite, stewartite, strengite, triploidite, vivianite, and wolfeite.

New Facetable Triphylites from Brazil

The new discovery clearly shows the blend, being clove brown and grayish green. Previously studied examples of this gem were just melee size and had very little pleochroism. The newly discovered gems go up to two carats and show beautiful orangish/brown and green pleochroism, similar to andalusite.

Below is a summary of their properties.

• Refractive Index: 1.680 - 1.695
• Birefringence: 0.011 - 0.015
• Color: Clove brown and grayish green.
• Cleavage: Perfect one direction (basal) and imperfect in two directions (prismatic). All cleavages are at right angles to each other.
• Absorption Spectrum: Strong line at 485 and strong to weak line at 460.
• Pleochroism: Orangish/brown and green.

Additional Brazilian material has also demonstrated color change. Some gems have shown slight color change, from greenish brown in daylight to brownish pink or purple in incandescent light.

This 0.99-ct triangle-cut triphylite gem from Minas Gerais, Brazil shows color change, from a dominant green in daylight to flashes of brownish copper red in incandescent light. © The Gem Trader. Used with permission.

Identifying Characteristics

Optics

You may sometimes observe triphylites with optic character biaxial (-). Depending on the Fe: Mn ratio, you may observe uniaxial interference figures. Refractive indices increase with Fe content but may substantially decrease if magnesium (Mg) substitutes for (Fe, Mn).

Specific Gravity

• Pure Fe end of the triphylite-lithiophilite series = 3.58.
• The pure Mn end (lithiophilite) = 3.34.
• The halfway point (Fe: Mn = 1:1) = 3.52. Density isn't linear with Fe: Mn ratio.

Synthetics

Scientists have explored using this mineral, in both natural and synthetic forms, in lithium batteries. However, no commercial jewelry use for lab-created triphylite is known.

Enhancements

None known.

Sources

Minas Gerais, Brazil has produced facetable material. Other notable gem-quality sources include the following:

• United States: Pala, California; Maine; Massachusetts; New Hampshire (excellent crystals at Chandler's Mill, Palermo, Grafton Center, North Groton); Black Hills, South Dakota (as enormous crystals up to 6 feet long).
• Finland; France; Germany; Sweden.

Stone Sizes

Triphylites don't usually form in distinct crystals. Most crystals appear as compact masses, embedded in other stones, or as inter-grown crystal clumps. Facetable material is very rare. Most gem-quality material is best suited for cabbing.

Conceivably, lapidaries could cut large stones from some of the immense crystals found in South Dakota. However, this material is usually opaque or altered. The Brazilian material has yielded tiny, brown, cut stones.

Triphylites could have more surprises in store for gem collectors. New sources could yield cuttable crystals at any time.

Care

With perfect cleavage and mid-range hardness (4-5), these gems would require great care as jewelry stones. Make sure they have protective settings and avoid ring use. You're more likely to encounter these rare gems, if at all, in gem collections than jewelry collections.

Store these gems separately from other harder stones to avoid contact scratches. For cleaning, use a soft brush, mild detergent, and warm water. 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

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Donald Clark, CSM IMG

The late Donald Clark, CSM founded the International Gem Society in 1998. Donald started in the gem and jewelry industry in 1976. He received his formal gemology training from the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) and the American Society of Gemcutters (ASG). The letters “CSM” after his name stood for Certified Supreme Master Gemcutter, a designation of Wykoff’s ASG which has often been referred to as the doctorate of gem cutting. The American Society of Gemcutters only had 54 people reach this level. Along with dozens of articles for leading trade magazines, Donald authored the book “Modern Faceting, the Easy Way.”

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International Gem Society

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