Strontianite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information
Strontianite is a collector’s oddity, with no spectacular properties to recommend it. Colors are usually pale and there is little fire; in addition, the high birefringence doubles back facets and kills the brilliance of the stone. Cut strontianites are, however, decidedly uncommon and worth pursuing for their scarcity value.
Strontianite is a collector’s oddity, with no spectacular properties to recommend it. Colors are usually pale and there is little fire; in addition, the high birefringence doubles back facets and kills the brilliance of the stone. Cut strontianites are, however, decidedly uncommon and worth pursuing for their scarcity value.
Start an IGS Membership today
for full access to our price guide (updated monthly).Strontianite Value
STRONTIANITE Aragonite Group. Series to Aragonite (CaCO). Witherite (BaCO3)
Optics:a=1.52;β=1.66; γ= 1.67.
Biaxial (-), 2V= 7°.
Occurrence: A low-temperature mineral, in veins, geodes, marls, and sulfide veins.
San Bernardino County, California; Schoharie. New York; Ohio; New Mexico; Texas; Louisiana; South Dakota; Washington.
Scotland; Mexico; India; Austria.
Carleton County, Ontario, Canada; British Columbia.
Canada; Germany: major deposits.
Pennsylvania; small crystals.
Comments: Strontianite is a collector's oddity, with no spectacular properties to recommend it. Colors are usually pale and there is little fire; in addition, the high birefringence doubles back facets and kills the brilliance of the stone. Cut strontianites are, however, decidedly uncommon and worth pursuing for their scarcity value.
Name: From the town in Scotland where the mineral was first found.
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.
Related Articles
Thomsonite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information
Sapphire Value, Price, and Jewelry Information
Rhodonite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information
Scorodite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information
Never Stop Learning
When you join the IGS community, you get trusted diamond & gemstone information when you need it.
Get Gemology Insights
Get started with the International Gem Society’s free guide to gemstone identification. Join our weekly newsletter & get a free copy of the Gem ID Checklist!