Amazonite

Color, clarity, and weight are the decisive factors affecting the price of amazonite. At about 2.5 cm across, the price of a tumbled stone of average quality is usually $2-$8/piece.

Amazonite is often referred to as the "Hope Stone." It is said to release negative energy and restore the feelings of hope and joy that may be missing from one's life. It encourages communication and helps individuals speak their truth and follow through with positive actions. It is a great stone for visualization and manifestation.

When purchasing amazonite, consider these critical factors that affect its value:

1.Cut and Shape: A well-cut specimen with excellent symmetry and proportions is more desirable and valuable.

2.Origin: Certain regions are renowned for producing high-quality amazonite, including Colorado in the United States.

3.Carat and Size: A larger piece and those of higher weight typically have a higher value due to their rarity.

4.Color: Vibrant shades of green are most sought after. The value increases for specimens with evenly distributed and saturated colors.

5.Carving and Craftsmanship: Intricate designs, smooth lines, balanced symmetry, and a high-quality finish increase the stone's value.

6.Clarity and Luster: amazonite ranges from opaque to translucent, with a vitreous luster when polished. The transparent form is rare and thus more valuable.

7.Treatment: The stone may undergo treatments like impregnation (to conceal fracture inclusions) or coatings and dyes (to improve color). A treated stone, even if natural, may be less preferred by some buyers.

Amazonite has a legendary history. It was said to be a favorite gemstone of the fabled female warrior tribe that once called the Brazilian rainforest home. The stones were used for jewelry and to adorn battle shields. It may not be used to decorate armor anymore, but it is still fashionable in jewelry.

Amazonite was prized as a gemstone for ages. In ancient Egypt, it was worshiped for its healing properties, but it was also associated with fertility and good luck. Carved into amulets, amazonite was thought to strengthen one's reproductive health.

Amazonite is a mineral of limited occurrence. Formerly it was obtained almost exclusively from the area of Miass in the Ilmensky Mountains, 50 miles southwest of Chelyabinsk, Russia, where it occurs in granitic rocks. Amazonite is now known to occur in various places around the globe. Those places are, among others, as follows: China: Baishitouquan granite intrusion, Hami Prefecture, Xinjiang: found in granite Libya: Jabal Eghei, Tibesti Mountains: found in granitic rocks Mongolia: Avdar Massif, Töv Province: found in alkali granite South Africa: Mogalakwena, Limpopo Province Khâi-Ma, Northern Cape Kakamas, Northern Cape Ceres Valley, Western Cape United States: Colorado: Deer Trail, Arapahoe County Custer County Devils Head, Douglas County Pine Creek, Douglas County Crystal Park, El Paso County Pikes Peak, El Paso County: found in coarse granites or pegmatite St. Peter's Dome, El Paso County Tarryall Mountains, Park County Crystal Peak, Teller County Virginia: Morefield Mine, Amelia County: found in pegmatite Rutherford Mine, Amelia County Pennsylvania: Media, Delaware County Middletown, Delaware County