Wavellite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

wavellite pendant
Wavellite Pendant by Lexi Erickson. Photo: Jim Lawson. Originally appeared in Lapidary Journal Jewelry Artist, December 2011. Used by permission of the publisher.

Wavellite is a very attractive mineral, well-known to collectors. Its radial aggregate crystal clusters can be cut into extremely interesting stones.

Wavellite Value

The International Gem Society (IGS) has a list of businesses offering gemstone appraisal services.

Wavellite Information

DataValue
NameWavellite
Crystallography Orthorhombic. Crystals very tiny; usually as radial aggregates of acicular crystals; often spherical crystal clusters; crusts; stalactitic.
Refractive Index 1.520-1.561
Colors White, greenish white, green, yellowish green, yellow, yellow-brown, brown to brownish black. Very rarely colorless, blueish.
Luster Vitreous: also resinous to pearly.
Fracture Subconchoidal to uneven
Hardness 3.5-4
Specific Gravity 2.36
Birefringence 0.025
Cleavage Perfect 1 direction
Luminescence Occasionally bluish in LW (various localities).
Transparency Translucent.
Absorption Spectrum Not diagnostic.
FormulaAl3(OH)3(PO4)2 · 5H2O.
Pleochroism Weak: Greenish/Yellowish.
Optics a = 1.520-1.535; β = 1.526-1.543; γ =1.545-1.561. Biaxial (+), 2V= 71°.
EtymologyNamed after William Wavell (1750-1829), the English physician who discovered the mineral.
OccurrenceA secondary mineral in hydrothermal veins; also in aluminous and phosphatic rocks.
Wavellite - Yellow stone, Arkansas
“Wavellite,” 6.0 x 5.5 x 3.9 cm, Saline Co., Arkansas, USA. © Rob Lavinsky, www.iRocks.com. Used with permission.

Comments

Since wavellite’s radiating crystal clusters can splinter, they make it a very difficult gem to cut. The individual crystals in the clusters are very small. Gem cutters can fashion cabochons as well as freeform shapes from this material. However, any faceted gems would be a tremendous rarity.

wavellite - acicular radiating crystals
This striking specimen displays massed, acicular, “needle-like,” crystals radiating from the center of the stone. You can also see how one “ball” of wavellite grew around another. “Wavellite,” 3.4 x 2.0 x 1.1 cm, Avant Mine, Avant, Garland Co., Arkansas, USA. © Rob Lavinsky, www.iRocks.com. Used with permission.

Synthetics

No known synthetics or enhancements.

Sources

Hot Springs, Arkansas produces wavellites in fine, spherical and radial groups of acicular crystals.

The type locality, High Down Quarry, Devon, England, also produces excellent specimens.

Other gem-quality sources include:

  • United States: Alabama; California; Colorado; Florida; Chester County, Pennsylvania.
  • Tasmania, Australia; Bolivia; Bulgaria; Czech Republic; France; Germany; Ireland; Portugal; Romania; Slovakia.
wavellite - Avant Mine, Arkansas
“Wavellite,” 10.1 x 5.5 x 5.8 cm, Avant Mine, Garland County, Arkansas, USA. © Rob Lavinsky, www.iRocks.com. Used with permission.

Stone Sizes

Lapidaries can cut cabochons up to several inches in length from Arkansas material. No faceted gems have been reported, yet.

Care

Wavellite has a relatively low hardness (3.5 to 4) and perfect cleavage. Thus, jewelry pieces such as rings need protective settings. Pendants and earrings would make excellent choices for this material. However, you’re more likely to encounter these stones 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.

wavellite - Chester County, PA
“Wavellite – USGS Mineral Specimens 1184,” collected by G. M. Baker, 1984, from Chester County, Pennsylvania. Mineral collection of Brigham Young University, Department of Geology, Provo, Utah by Andrew Silver. Public Domain.