Gemstone Toxicity Table

Gem faceters and jewelry enthusiasts alike should learn about gemstone toxicity. This table has toxicity ratings for 280+ gems, based on their composition and potential for bioactivity, as well as descriptions of the hazards they may pose.

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Home Learning Center Gemology Reference Charts & MaterialsGemstone Toxicity Table

By Addison Rice

Gem faceters and jewelry enthusiasts alike should learn about gemstone toxicity as it relates to three activities: normal handling, cutting, and ingestion. The table below has toxicity ratings for 280+ gems, based on their composition and potential for bioactivity, as well as descriptions of the hazards they may pose.

Gemstone Toxicity During Normal Handling

Most minerals are safe to handle normally. However, radioactivity in minerals containing uranium and thorium should be assessed using a Geiger counter prior to handling. Water soluble gems will also require extra care.

While certain heavy metals have adverse effects at any concentration, others are far less toxic.

Gemstone Toxicity While Cutting

Lapidaries should exercise caution when cutting potentially toxic minerals. Inhalation or accidental ingestion of particles could be detrimental to your health. Furthermore, inhalation of asbestos and silica can be physically toxic.

For additional information, see our articles on lapidary health hazards and safety tips and toxic and radioactive gem safety tips.

Potential Toxicity for Intentional Gemstone Ingestion

Crystal healers should avoid making potions with toxic gems. They should also avoid putting these gems in their or their patients' mouths. In addition, some gems have no known toxicity but are still soluble in acids. If you swallow particles of these gems, their dissolution in your stomach could release impurities in the mineral. Certain gems may react dangerously with stomach acid to produce hydrofluoric acid (HF) or hydrogen sulfide gas (H₂S). Avoid ingesting gems that may produce these dangerous substances.

Finally, most lists of toxic gems on crystal healing websites include aluminum and a few other elements as toxic. While these can be toxic, the dose required to induce a toxic reaction is exceptionally high. As long as you're not eating rock dust, toxicity from these stones is unlikely.

Gemstone Toxicity Table

If you find any incorrect or inconsistent information in this table, please contact the IGS team.

Name	Toxicity Risk	Hazard
Actinolite	Low	Asbestos
Adamite	High	Arsenic, Copper; soluble in acids
Agate	Low	Silicosis
Albite	None Known	N/A
Alexandrite	None Known	N/A
Algodonite	High	Arsenic, Copper; may react with water and acids
Almandine	None Known	N/A
Amazonite	Low	Lead
Amber	High	Organic Material
Amblygonite	High	Can react dangerously if accidentally swallowed
Amethyst	High	Silicosis
Ametrine	High	Silicosis
Ammolite	High	Organic Material
Analcime	None Known	N/A
Anatase	None Known	Soluble in acids
Andalusite	None Known	N/A
Andesine	None Known	N/A
Andradite	None Known	N/A
Anglesite	High	Lead
Anhydrite (Angelite)	None Known	Soluble in acids
Anorthite	None Known	Soluble in acids
Apatite	High	Can react dangerously if accidentally swallowed
Apophyllite	None Known	Soluble in acids
Aquamarine	None Known	N/A
Aragonite	None Known	Soluble in acids
Augelite	None Known	Soluble in acids
Axinite	None Known	N/A
Azurite	High	Copper; Soluble in acids
Barite	Low	Barium
Bayldonite	High	Copper, Lead, Arsenic; Slightly soluble in acids
Benitoite	None Known	N/A
Beryl	None Known	N/A
Beryllonite	None Known	Soluble in acids
Bismutotantalite	Unknown	Bismuth
Black Onyx	Low	Silicosis
Bloodstone	Low	Silicosis
Boleite	High	Copper, Lead; Soluble in acids
Boracite	Low	Borate; Soluble in acids
Bornite	High	Copper; Soluble in acids
Brazilianite	None Known	N/A
Breithauptite	Medium	Nickel, Antimony
Brookite	None Known	N/A
Brucite	High	Asbestos; Soluble in acids
Bustamite	None Known	Soluble in acids
Bytownite	None Known	N/A
Calcareous Concretions	High	Organic Material
Calcite	None Known	Soluble in acids
Canasite	None Known	N/A
Cancrinite	None Known	Soluble in acids
Carnelian	Low	Silicosis
Cassiterite	None Known	N/A
Catapleiite	None Known	Soluble in acids
Celestite	None Known	N/A
Ceruleite	High	Arsenic, Copper; Soluble in acids
Cerussite	High	Lead; Soluble in acids
Chabazite	None Known	Soluble in acids
Chalcedony	Low	Silicosis
Chambersite	Low	Borate; Soluble in acids
Charoite	None Known	N/A
Chicken-Blood Stone	High	Mercury, Silicosis
Childrenite	None Known	Soluble in acids
Chiolite	None Known	N/A
Chromite	High	Hexavalent Chromium Traces
Chrysoberyl	None Known	N/A
Chrysocolla Chalcedony	Low	Silicosis
Chrysocolla	Low	Silicosis
Chrysoprase	Low	Silicosis
Cinnabar	High	Mercury; Can react dangerously if accidentally swallowed
Citrine	High	Silicosis
Clinochlore	None Known	N/A
Cobaltite	High	Arsenic, Cobalt; Can react dangerously if accidentally swallowed
Colemanite	None Known	Soluble in acids
Coral	High	Organic Material
Cordierite	None Known	Soluble in acids
Cordundum	None Known	N/A
Covellite	High	Copper; Can react dangerously if accidentally swallowed
Creedite	None Known	Soluble in acids
Crocoite	High	Hexavalent Chromium, Lead; Soluble in acids
Cryolite	High	Can react dangerously if accidentally swallowed
Cuprite	High	Copper; Soluble in acids
Danburite	None Known	Slightly soluble in acids
Datolite	Low	Borate; Soluble in acids
Demantoid Garnet	None Known	N/A
Diamond	None Known	N/A
Diaspore	None Known	N/A
Dickinsonite	None Known	Soluble in acids
Diopside	None Known	N/A
Dioptase	High	Copper; Soluble in acids
Dolomite	Medium	May contain heavy metals; Soluble in acids
Dumortierite	None Known	N/A
Ekanite	High	Lead, Radioactivity (Uranium, Thorium)
Emerald	None Known	N/A
Enstatite	None Known	N/A
Eosphorite	None Known	Soluble in acids
Epidote	None Known	Soluble in acids; Other members of the epidote group contain lead and radioactive elements
Ettringite	None Known	May contain heavy metals; Soluble in water
Euclase	None Known	N/A
Eudialyte	Medium	Zircon; Slightly radioactive; Soluble in acids
Euxenite	High	Uranium, Thorium
Feldspar	None Known	N/A
Fergusonite	Low	Rare Earth Elements; Soluble in acids
Fluorite	None Known	Can react dangerously if accidentally swallowed
Freshwater Pearls	High	Organic Material
Friedelite	None Known	Soluble in acids
Gadolinite	Low	Rare Earth Elements; Soluble in acids
Gahnospinel	None Known	N/A
Garnet	None Known	N/A
Gaylussite	None Known	Soluble in acids
Glass	Low	Silicosis
Grandidierite	None Known	N/A
Grossular Garnet	None Known	N/A
Gypsum	None Known	Soluble in acids
Hambergite	Low	Borate; Soluble in acids
Haüyne	None Known	Soluble in acids
Heliodor	None Known	N/A
Hematite	Low	Iron; Soluble in acids
Hemimorphite	None Known	Soluble in acids
Herderite	None Known	Soluble in acids
Hessonite	None Known	N/A
Hodgkinsonite	None Known	Soluble in acids
Holtite	Medium	Arsenic, Rare Earth Elements
Howlite	None Known	Soluble in acids
Huebnerite	Low	Tungsten; Soluble in acids
Humite	None Known	Soluble in acids
Hureaulite	None Known	Soluble in acids
Hurlbutite	None Known	Soluble in acids
Hydrogrossular	None Known	Soluble in acids
Idocrase	Low	May contain beryllium, copper, and rare earths; Soluble in acids
Inderite	Low	Borate; Soluble in acids
Iolite	None Known	Soluble in acids
Jadeite	None Known	N/A
Jasper	Low	Silicosis
Jeremejevite	None Known	N/A
Jet	High	Organic Material
Kämmererite	None Known	N/A
Kornerupine	None Known	N/A
Kurnakovite	Low	Borate; Soluble in acids
Kyanite	None Known	N/A
Labradorite	None Known	N/A
Langbeinite	None Known	Water soluble
Lapis Lazuli	Medium	Often included with pyrite
Lawsonite	None Known	N/A
Lazulite	None Known	N/A
Legrandite	High	Arsenic
Lepidolite	None Known	Soluble in acids
Leucite	None Known	Soluble in acids
Linarite	High	Copper, Lead; Soluble in acids
Ludlamite	None Known	Soluble in acids
Magnesite	Low	Soluble in acids. As a powder, it can irritate the skin, eyes, and respiratory system.
Malachite	High	Copper; Soluble in acids
Malaya Garnet	None Known	N/A
Mali Garnet	None Known	N/A
Mandarin Garnet	None Known	N/A
Manganotantalite	None Known	N/A
Marcasite	Medium	Reacts with water
Meliphanite	None Known	N/A
Mellite	High	Organic Material
Microcline	None Known	N/A
Microlite	High	Can react dangerously if accidentally swallowed
Milarite	None Known	N/A
Millerite	High	Nickel; can react dangerously if accidentally swallowed
Mimetite	High	Arsenic, Lead; Soluble in acids
Moldavite	None Known	N/A
Monazite	Low	Rare Earth Elements; Soluble in acids
Moonstone	None Known	N/A
Mordenite	High	Fibrosis
Morganite	None Known	N/A
Nambulite	None Known	N/A
Natrolite	High	Asbestos
Mesolite	High	Asbestos
Scolecite	High	Asbestos
Nepheline	None Known	Soluble in acids
Nephrite	None Known	N/A
Neptunite	None Known	N/A
Niccolite (Nickeline)	High	Arsenic, Nickel
Obsidian	Low	Silicosis
Oligoclase	None Known	N/A
Opal	Low	Silicosis
Oregon Sunstone	Medium	Copper
Orthoclase	None Known	N/A
Padparadscha Sapphire	None Known	N/A
Painite	None Known	N/A
Palygorskite	None Known	N/A
Papagoite	Low	Copper
Paraiba Tourmaline	None Known	N/A
Pargasite	None Known	N/A
Parisite	High	Can react dangerously if accidentally swallowed
Pearl	High	Organic Material
Pectolite (Larimar)	None Known	N/A
Pentlandite	High	Nickel
Periclase	High	Laxative; reacts with water
Peridot	None Known	N/A
Peristerite	None Known	N/A
Perthite	None Known	N/A
Petalite	None Known	N/A
Phenakite	None Known	N/A
Phosgenite	Medium	Lead; Soluble in acids
Phosphophyllite	None Known	Soluble in acids
Pollucite	Low	Cesium; Soluble in acids
Powellite	Medium	Molybdenum; Soluble in acids
Prehnite	None Known	Soluble in acids
Prosopite	High	Can react dangerously if accidentally swallowed
Proustite	High	Can react dangerously if accidentally swallowed
Pumpellyite	None Known	N/A
Purpurite	Low	Soluble in acids
Pyrargyrite	High	Can react dangerously if accidentally swallowed
Pyrite	High	Can react dangerously if accidentally swallowed
Pyrope	None Known	N/A
Pyrophyllite	Low	Soluble in acids
Pyroxmangite	None Known	N/A
Pyrrohotite	High	Can react dangerously if accidentally swallowed
Quartz	High	Silicosis
Quartzite	High	Silicosis
Realgar	High	Arsenic; Can react dangerously if accidentally swallowed
Red Beryl	None Known	N/A
Rhodizite	None Known	N/A
Rhodochrosite	Low	Manganese; Soluble in acids
Rhodolite	None Known	N/A
Rhodonite	Low	Manganese; Soluble in acids
Rose Quartz	High	Silicosis
Rubellite Tourmaline	None Known	N/A
Ruby	None Known	N/A
Rutile	None Known	N/A
Saltwater Pearls	High	Organic Material
Samarskite	High	Lead, Uranium, Rare earth elements; Soluble
Sanidine	None Known	N/A
Sapphire	None Known	N/A
Sapphirine	None Known	N/A
Scapolite	None Known	N/A
Scorodite	High	Arsenic; Soluble in acids
Sellaite	High	Can react dangerously if accidentally swallowed
Senarmontite	Low	Antimony; soluble in water
Serandite	None Known	N/A
Serpentine	None Known	N/A
Shattuckite	Medium	Copper; soluble in acids
Shell	High	Organic Material
Shortite	None Known	Water soluble
Siderite	None Known	Soluble in acids
Sillimanite	None Known	N/A
Simpsonite	Medium	Tantalum; soluble in acids
Sinhalite	None Known	N/A
Smaltite	High	Arsenic, Cobalt, Nickel; soluble in acids
Smithsonite	Medium	Zinc; soluble in acids
Smoky Quartz	High	Silicosis
Sodalite	None Known	Soluble in acids
Sogdianite	None Known	N/A
Spessartite Garnet	None Known	N/A
Sphalerite	None Known	N/A
Sphene (Titanite)	None Known	N/A
Spinel	None Known	N/A
Spodumene	Low	Lithium
Spurrite	None Known	N/A
Staurolite	None Known	N/A
Stibiotantalite	Low	Antimony, Niobium, Tantalum
Stichtite	None Known	Soluble in acids
Stolzite	High	Lead, Tungsten
Strontianite	Low	Strontium
Sugilite	None Known	N/A
Sulfur	High	Sulfur
Sunstone	None Known	N/A
Taafeite	None Known	N/A
Talc	None Known	N/A
Tantalite	Medium	Niobium, Tantalum; soluble in acids
Tanzanite	None Known	N/A
Tektite	Low	Silicosis
Tephroite	None Known	N/A
Thomsonite	None Known	N/A
Tiger's Eye	High	Asbestos; Silicosis
Topaz	None Known	N/A
Tourmaline	None Known	N/A
Tremolite	None Known	N/A
Triphylite (Tryphylite)	Medium	Lithium; soluble in acids
Tsavorite	None Known	N/A
Tugtupite	None Known	N/A
Turquoise	Low	Copper
Ulexite	Low	Borate
Uvarovite	None Known	N/A
Vanadinite	High	Lead, Vanadium
Variscite	None Known	N/A
Väyrynenite	None Known	N/A
Villiaumite	High	Water soluble; Can react dangerously if accidentally swallowed
Vivianite	None Known	N/A
Wardite	None Known	Soluble in acids
Wavellite	None Known	N/A
Weloganite	Low	Zirconium
Whewellite	High	Oxalate
Wilkeite	High	Can react dangerously if accidentally swallowed
Willemite	None Known	N/A
Witherite	High	Barium
Wollastonite	None Known	N/A
Wulfenite	High	Lead
Xonotlite	None Known	N/A
Yugawaralite	None Known	N/A
Zektzerite	Low	Lithium, Zirconium
Zincite	None Known	Soluble in acids
Zircon	Low	Zirconium; soluble in acids
Zunyite	High	Can react dangerously if accidentally swallowed

Addison Rice

A geologist, environmental engineer and Caltech graduate, Addison's interest in the mesmerizing and beautiful results of earth's geological processes began in her elementary school's environmental club. When she isn't writing about gems and minerals, Addison spends winters studying ancient climates in Iceland and summers hiking the Colorado Rockies.

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Gemstone Toxicity Table

Gemstone Toxicity During Normal Handling

Gemstone Toxicity While Cutting

Potential Toxicity for Intentional Gemstone Ingestion

Gemstone Toxicity Table

Addison Rice

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