Natrolite Gemstone: Properties, Meanings, Value & More

Natrolite is a zeolite mineral usually found as colorless to white but also available in other colors like pink and yellow. Is natrolite a gemstone? Yep, natrolite can be faceted as a gemstone, though it’s more common as a collector’s mineral.

Is natrolite rare? As a mineral, it’s common, but faceted natrolite gems are fairly rare. The stone can be found with extremely rare minerals like benitoite, though.

In terms of properties, natrolite is both pyroelectric and piezoelectric, meaning it conducts electricity from heat or mechanical stress. It will also become gelatinous in acids.

Join us as we uncover natrolite’s benefits, properties, prices, history, and more!

Image credit: Didier Descouens | Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license

About Natrolite Stone

Natrolite is a semi-precious gemstone with a few monikers and informal nicknames:

• Needle Stone / Needle-Zeolite (referencing the needle-like crystals)

• Ædelite

• Cockalite

• Apoanalcite

• Crocalite

• Laubanite / Laubannite

• Lehuntite

• Natronite

• Portite

• Epinatrolite

• Radiolite

• Rhodatrolite / Rose Natrolite

• Pink Larimar

The last two names reference a unique type of pink natrolite found in Indonesia in 2020. The sellers originally labeled it as thomsonite, then “pink larimar,” after the similar texture to larimar.

The stones had an orange-pink, brownish-pink, or rosy pink color, often with white zoning. Once they were identified as natrolite, the trade name “rhodatrolite,” meaning “rose natrolite” replaced “pink larimar.”

Astrologically, natrolite is a planetary star stone for Jupiter and a lucky stone for the water signs Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces.

Natrolite Uses

Industrially, what is natrolite used for? As a zeolite mineral, natrolite can be used for ion exchange, gas separation, and catalysis. In fact, natrolite was one of the first zeolites used for ion exchange (meaning magnesium, potassium, sodium, and calcium replace one another when dissolved).

As such, natrolite can be used in:

• Chemical filters

• Water & air purifiers

• Water softeners

• Detergents

• Pet litter

• Animal feed

• Wastewater treatment

• Molecular sieves

• Soil conditioners

Additionally, zeolite minerals like natrolite are sometimes marketed to “balance pH levels” and “remove heavy metals” as dietary supplements, but these claims aren’t backed by scientific research.

Image credit: Rob Lavinsky, iRocks.com – CC-BY-SA-3.0

Natrolite Specifications & Characteristics

As a hydrated sodium aluminum silicate, natrolite’s formula is Na2Al2Si3O10·2H2O. Common impurities are calcium and potassium.

The mineral is part of the natrolite subgroup of the zeolite group. Minerals in the zeolite family are tetrahedral aluminosilicates with a microporous structure. Other members of the natrolite subgroup are mesolite, gonnardite, paranatrolite, and scolecite.

However, the primary members are natrolite, mesolite, and scolecite. Natrolite and mesolite are orthorhombic, while scolecite is monoclinic.

Natrolite often forms acicular (needle-like) or fibrous crystals, along with radiating crystal aggregates, sprays, prismatic crystals, spherical clusters, geodes, and granular masses. Large, prismatic natrolite crystals commonly have a square prism with a low pyramid termination.

Natrolite properties listed:

• Mohs hardness: 5-5.5

• Color: Usually white or colorless; Can be pink, reddish, yellow, gray, brown, green, bluish

• Crystal structure: Orthorhombic, pseudo-tetragonal

• Luster: Vitreous, pearly, or silky; Fibrous varieties usually silky

• Transparency: Transparent to opaque

• Refractive index: 1.473-1.495

• Density: 2.20-2.26

• Cleavage: Perfect on {110}

• Fracture: Uneven/irregular

• Streak: White

• Luminescence: Sometimes fluorescence - orange to yellow or greenish-white in LW-UV, green in SW-UV

• Pleochroism: Unobservable or absent

• Birefringence: 0.012-0.013

• Dispersion: 0.005 (weak)

Types of Natrolite

There are a few subtypes of natrolite:

• Fargite: Red calcium-bearing type from Scotland

• Galactite: Calcium-bearing type; Sometimes misidentified ferrierite

• Kondrikovite: Type with microscopic inclusions of a rinkite-like mineral, possibly an alteration product of lovchorrite, a variety of mosandrite

• Mooraboolite: Type with higher potassium content, originally found in the Moorabool River in Victoria, Australia

• Bergmannite / Spreustein: Fine-grained type formed by replacing hydrothermally altered sodalite and/or nepheline

Enough mineralogy — it’s time to discuss the natrolite crystal metaphysical properties!

Pictured above: Natrolite sprays of stark white crystals are shooting out from a vug of inesite | Image credit: Rob Lavinsky, iRocks.com – CC-BY-SA-3.0

Natrolite Gemstone Meaning & History

Natrolite symbolizes ascension, transformation, and exploration. Looking at natrolite’s spiritual meaning, the crystal is believed to have very high vibrations, meaning it’s incredibly powerful for healing, cleansing negativity, and bringing in positivity.

Many spiritual crystal users describe natrolite as having vibrant light that helps you discover your purpose in life.

History

German chemist Martin Henrich Klaproth chose the name “natrolite” in 1803 after the Greek or Latin natron, meaning “soda,” alluding to the mineral’s sodium content. The type locality of the minerals Klaproth studied is Hohentweil, Germany.

However, many people confuse it with the sodium-bearing scapolite variety also named “natrolite” in 1812 by English chemist William Hyde Wollaston.

The first mineralogist to handle a zeolite mineral sample was Swedish mineralogist Axel F. Cronstedt after heating and analyzing what was probably stilbite. He also coined the name “zeolite” in 1756.

In 1792, Bosch D’Antic made the first official description of a zeolite mineral, chabazite. By 1850, there were around 20 types of zeolite known, including natrolite. Presently, there are about 40 known types of natural zeolites.

The natrolite subgroup was originally named for being fibrous zeolites, like Abraham Gottlob Werner’s Faserzeolithe (German for “fibrous zeolites”) and René Just Haüy’s mesotype, before Klaproth’s “natrolite” name came and stuck.

Back to the metaphysical, what are the spiritual properties of natrolite crystals?

Image credit: Tjflex2, Flickr | Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 International license

Natrolite Healing Properties

As primarily white healing stones, natrolite crystals join other white gemstones in possessing soothing, purifying, and protective properties. They’re also great crown chakra stones.

Physical Healing

Purported physical natrolite gemstone benefits include treating issues related to:

• The nervous system

• Edema

• The lower intestines

• Slow metabolism

• Thyroid glands

• Environmental toxins

Emotional Healing

Emotionally, natrolite crystals are said to help you understand your true self, identify what you want to change, and help you change it so you can find your true purpose. They’re believed to absorb negativity, attract romance, and renew your inner spark.

Pictured above: Geode of quartz-lined vug with two intergrown balls of natrolite needles | Image credit: Rob Lavinsky, iRocks.com – CC-BY-SA-3.0

Natrolite Gemstone Properties

Natrolite gemstone value is based on the stone’s color, cut, clarity, transparency, and carat weight.

Color

The most common natrolite colors are colorless, pale gray, white, and cream. Rare, more valuable hues are pink, orange, yellow, and light brown. Pink natrolite has become increasingly popular, so prices may reflect its popularity.

Up close, white natrolite crystals can have other colors like blue, green, red, or yellow. Blue benitoite on a white natrolite matrix is a stunning, valuable specimen.

Cut

Many natrolite stones are sold uncut, as most crystals are fibrous, around 1/8 inch in diameter, and not facetable. Plus, their perfect cleavage, heat sensitivity, and mid-range hardness also make cutting difficult. Most faceted natrolite gems have step or emerald shapes, and colorless faceted natrolites are the most valuable.

Natrolite can also be cut into cabochons (more common for opaque specimens), beads, or carvings.

Clarity & Transparency

Transparent natrolites are most valuable for cut gems, and inclusions can affect transparency. The most common inclusion is yellowish-brown, rod-like acmite (aegirine).

Carat Weight & Size

Before the 1970s, all known natrolite stones were under 1 carat. That changed upon the 1978 discovery of huge natrolite crystals in New Jersey, USA, some of which became flawless, 20-carat gems! San Benito County, California, also produces fairly large natrolite crystals.

Still, most faceted natrolite gems today are under 5 carats. Even large natrolite crystals (uncut) are highly sought-after by collectors.

Natrolite Formation & Sources

Natrolite can form by crystallizing from alkaline fluids or from the reaction of nepheline or analcime with fluids when minerals alter as the rock around them finishes forming.

Miners often find natrolite in fissures or cavities of amygdaloidal lava rocks and veins of rocks like granite or gneiss. It also forms in volcanic ash deposits and altered nepheline syenites, dolerites, or aplites.

Mining Locations

Where is natrolite most commonly found? The top sources of natrolite are New Jersey (USA), Tasmania (Australia), Canada, and Norway. San Benito County, California, USA, is also a major source.

Additional significant natrolite locales are:

• Bohemia

• Bolivia

• Connecticut, USA

• France

• Germany

• India

• Indonesia

• Oregon, USA

• Russia

Ready to browse natrolite crystals for sale? Then let’s talk about prices.

Pictured above: Natrolite and Thomsonite-(Ca) crystal specimen | Image credit: Rob Lavinsky, iRocks.com – CC-BY-SA-3.0

Natrolite Price & Value

Natrolite’s price greatly varies by its quality, cut, and size.

Colorless, faceted natrolite gems cost around $130-$300 per carat.

Individual rough crystals range all the way from $12 to $325. Incredible, large specimens like crystal sprays or geodes can be $1,950 to $3,500.

Larimar-like natrolite cabochons are much less pricey, ranging from around $20 to $150.

Natrolite Care and Maintenance

Last up is gemstone care. Natrolite is brittle with perfect cleavage, so be careful handling it. Always use protective settings on natrolite jewelry.

Since natrolite is a zeolite, avoid inhaling small particles of rough, fibrous material and wash your hands after handling it.

Natrolite will also easily fuse in heat and decompose in hydrochloric acid (separating into a gelatinous silica), so avoid those.

You can clean natrolite with distilled water and mild soap, then rinse it with distilled water. Keep it separate from other gems to avoid scratches.

Nurture Your Soul with Natrolite!

Natrolite crystals are perfect for adding to a mineral collection, wearing as a pendant, or decorating your space — with the added benefit of positive energies abounding. If you’re lucky enough to get a faceted natrolite, it’s a stunning keeper!

Buy natrolite and other gorgeous gemstones today!