Boracite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information
With light blue and green colors, no cleavage, and high hardness, boracite is an uncommon mineral. Unfortunately for jewelry lovers, faceted boracites are very rare.
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With light blue and green colors, no cleavage, and high hardness, boracite is an uncommon mineral. Unfortunately for jewelry lovers, faceted boracites are very rare.
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Comments
Boracite forms in salt deposits and similar environments as a result of seawater evaporation in enclosed basins. Rare cut boracites can show delicate shades of blue, green, yellow, white, and grey and have moderate dispersion. Some stones are colorless.
Identifying Characteristics
Under physical pressure, boracite generates an electric charge. This is known as known the piezoelectric effect. This mineral also exhibits the pyroelectric effect. It generates an electric charge when heated.
Boracites decompose slowly in water.
Synthetics
Scientists have synthesized boracites for various purposes, including research into its electrical properties as well as radioactive waste storage. However, there's no known jewelry use for this synthetic material.
Sources
Cuttable crystals occur only in the Stassfurt and Hanover districts of Germany, which usually yield small, pale crystals.
Other notable gem sources include the following:
- United States: Otis, California; Choctaw Salt Dome, Louisiana.
- England: North Yorkshire, Aislaby.
- Bolivia; Canada; China; France; Kazahkstan.
Stone Sizes
Boracite crystals are very small and usually yield gemstones ranging from 1-2 carats, so gems over 2 carats would be considered extreme rarities.
Care
Although boracites react to water very slowly, keep them dry in storage, where they would otherwise have time to sit and decompose. Alcohol may be used in lieu of water for cleaning. Otherwise, since these stones have high hardness (7-7.5) and no cleavage, they require no special care. 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.
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