Friedelite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Comments

Lovely friedelite cabochons cut from Franklin, New Jersey material show rich, brownish red colors, while cabs cut from material from the deep manganese mine at Kuruman, South Africa show rose-red colors. Cut stones from both these locations are usually translucent. However, gem cutters have faceted very little of this material.

Friedelite belongs to the pyrosmalite mineral group, which includes schallerite and pyrosmalite.

Identifying Characteristics

Refractometer readings usually show a shadow edge at about 1.645.

Synthetics

No known synthetics.

Sources

Franklin, New Jersey produces gem-quality material, typically brownish and cryptocrystalline, that looks like fibrous chalcedony. Seams of the material at this deposit range up to 2 inches wide. Most gem-quality friedelites come from this location.

Kuruman, South Africa produces massive, dark rose-red material.

Other notable sources of this mineral include the following:

• Austria; Adervielle, France; Kazahkstan; Orebro, Sweden.

Stone Sizes

Translucent stones can normally range up to 1 to 5 carats in size. Although cabochons can be cut to about 30 x 40 mm, larger stones lose any transparency.

Care

You're more likely to find friedelites, if at all, in mineral collections than in jewelry collections. These gems have significantly lower hardness (4-5) than more common jewelry stones. So, store them separately from other gems to avoid contact scratches. Use protective settings for ring wear. However, necklace and earring use should pose fewer risks. Clean these gems only with a soft brush, mild detergent, and warm water. Consult our gemstone jewelry cleaning guide for more recommendations.