There is actually a benitoite mine in California which is open to visitors; if you pay a fairly hefty fee, you are permitted to do just that.What else should you know about the physical properties of benitoite? Demantoid is a remarkable green variety of andradite garnet that was discovered in the mid-1800s in Russia. The color range of benitoite is very small and they offer stones with a very good clarity and a high cutting quality. Benitoite crystals have been formed from hydrothermal solutions containing relatively high levels of rare components such as barium, titanium, fluorine, iron etc. In the event of San Benito, it is contained in natural veins in a serpentinite body in glaucophane schists.

Just as you are not going to find a lot of benitoite rings for sale at your local jewelry store, you also will not find a lot of results for “benitoite engagement ring” shopping online. Note however that you may sometimes find polished, rounded cabochons. Benitoite truly is a prize for any gemstone collection. In some cases, you may require a saw.Before you can etch a piece of benitoite, you need to be able to recognize a good specimen. Benitoite crystals of value are only found in California.This gem is quite expensive Rich blue, clean stones at a carat and above sizes will command high prices. This process of removal is known as “etching” benitoite.There are a number of different supplies you will need if you want to undertake the process of etching a piece of benitoite which is still concealed inside an encasing of natrolite.

How much is Benitoite worth? It is a collector’s gem that is highly wearable with a hardness of 6.5.

Where can I find Benitoite in California? There is a mountain range of basalt, chert, gray wack, shale, serpentine and Cretan and Tertiarian sandstones at the southern end or at the “Diablus Range.” It is a mountainous belt. couch who actually identified benitoite, or any of the jewelers that originally examined the stone. Where can benitoite be found? On the Mohs scale of hardness, benitoite rates a 6-6.5. While it makes a lovely choice for jewelry, it is quite distinctive in its raw form, making a beautiful contrast against the snowy white natrolite in which it is found.While you can buy benitoite in a “finished” form, you can also purchase the specimens in their raw form as they are extracted from the mine. This may help you to search for benitoite if you are prospecting for it. Very light and very dark rocks lie at the lower end of the price continuum. $175,500.So while it is tough to find benitoite at a low price, if you shop around, you may be able to find some great deals. Rubies can range in price from $100 to nearly $15,000 per carat.

Since benitoite is already so expensive, you might want to simply pay a little extra on top of that to get it crafted into custom jewelry.You are already making a huge investment into a unique gemstone; you would want a unique jewelry item to go with it. If you have one of the ultra-rare white specimens, it may fluoresce a red color.Just as benitoite occurs in more than one color, with some hues being rarer than others, it also occurs in more than one crystal form. Remember, this stone can easily fracture if you drop it or bang it against something.Benitoite crystals under UV light (Benitoite is fluorescent)Benitoite was first found by J.M.

These cut gems may be worth more than benitoite in its rare form, unless in the case of a rare Star of David crystal. Pronounced ye-REM-ay-ev-ite, this gemstone was discovered by the Russian mineralogist Jeremejev in 1883.This gemstone was at first mistaken for aquamarine, as the first crystals that were found were light blue. Benitoite is also crafted into jewelry such as pendants, earrings, and rings. This was a very irregular piece with natrolite in a wide, deep fold in the schist. If you are in search if a rare and compelling gemstone which could serve as the crowning jewel for any collection, you will want to take a look at benitoite.Benitoite is found in a number of locations, but gem-quality specimens have only been discovered in California.