Petalite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information
Gem-quality, colorless, facetable petalite is rare and desirable to collectors. More so if the stones are large and free of inclusions.
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Gem-quality, colorless, facetable petalite is rare and desirable to collectors. More so if the stones are large and free of inclusions.
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A major source of lithium, the mineral petalite rarely occurs in gem-quality crystal form. Although colorless, glassy crystals can make stunning faceted jewelry pieces, beautiful pale gray, white, yellow, and pink stones can also be found. Gem cutters occasionally cab massive pink material from Namibia.
Included cab-cut petalites may show a weak chatoyancy or cat's eye effect.
Crystal petalites are sometimes called castorites. See "Sources" below.
Enhancements
No known treatments.
Sources
Notable gem sources include:
- Utö, Sweden: the type locality
- United States: San Diego County, California; Greenwood, Maine; Bolton, Massachusetts; North Bonneville, Wyoming.
- Elba, Italy: When the mineral pollucite was discovered here in 1846, it was named after Pollux, the twin brother of Castor in Classical mythology. The discoverers associated it with castorite, named after Castor, since both occurred in lithium-rich granite pegmatites at this source. Although castorite was later renamed petalite, the name pollucite remained.
- Londonderry, Western Australia: facetable material.
- Arassuahy, Brazil: large, clean masses.
- Bikita, Zimbabwe: considerable material mined for lithium content.
- Karibib, Namibia: colorless, transparent, and pinkish material.
- Afghanistan; Myanmar; Russia.
Stone Sizes
Faceted petalites are usually small. You can find faceted gems from Brazil for sale, ranging from 1 to 10 cts. Rough can range up to 20 cts. Some Brazilian and Namibian rough material has yielded somewhat larger stones in the 50-ct range.
- Smithsonian Institution (Washington, D.C.): 55 (colorless, Namibia): 48.3, 45.9, 26.6 (colorless, Brazil).
- Devonian Group (Calgary, Alberta, Canada): 14.8 (colorless. Australia).
- Private Collection: 48.25 (colorless).
Care
Below quartz in hardness and with perfect cleavage, petalites are best suited for earrings and pendants. These jewelry pieces receive minimal physical impact. Avoid ring use without a protective setting. Store your petalites separately from other harder gems to avoid scratching. Use a soft brush, mild detergent, and warm water for cleaning. 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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