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Clinochlore Gemstone: Properties, Meanings, Value & More

斜绿石宝石：属性、含义、价值等

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Clinochlore (pronounced KLINE-oh-klore) is a group of chlorite minerals, some of which are cut as gemstones. One popular gemstone variety of clinochlore is seraphinite.

What is the difference between chlorite and clinochlore? Clinochlore is a subgroup of the larger chlorite group — all clinochlores are chlorites, but not all chlorites are clinochlore.

Is clinochlore rare? As a mineral, no. In fact, clinochlore is among the most common types of chlorite. The gemstone forms, however, are rare. They’re mostly known as collector’s gems.

In this guide, we’ll go over all the clinochlore varieties, properties, prices, history, and more!

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

About Clinochlore Stone

“Clinochlore” may refer to a group of chlorite minerals or an individual mineral in that group. The clinochlore varieties used as semi-precious gemstones include seraphinite, kammererite, and sheridanite. Kammererite is an astrological talisman for Virgo and Pisces.

Other names for clinochlore include:

• Klinochlor

• Clinocloro

• Clinochlorite

• Grastite

• Tabergite

• Prochlorite

• Chlorophoeite

What colors can clinochlore be? Most clinochlore stones are some shade of green, though you’ll see other colors in varieties like kammererite, which has red to purple hues.

Industrially, what is clinochlore used for? Clinochlore and chlorite stones overall don’t have many industrial uses beyond being in construction stones.

That said, chlorite minerals like clinochlores are often present in clay, which has an abundance of industrial applications. In Iran, a natural clinochlore clay compound made of dolomite, chlorite, and talc is used to make carved stone vessels.

Image credit: © Raimond Spekking / CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Clinochlore Specifications & Characteristics

The chlorite mineral group encompasses micaceous phyllosilicates with compositions that have iron, aluminum, silicon, and magnesium substituting for each other.

Clinochlore and chamosite are the most common chlorite species. In fact, clinochlore is the magnesium-rich end member in a series with chamosite as the iron-rich end member.

The clinochlore formula can be written as Mg5Al(AlSi3O10)(OH)8 or (Mg,Fe2+)5Al(Si3Al)O10(OH)8, the latter accounting for the frequent presence of ferrous iron.

Other common impurities in clinochlore are manganese, zinc, calcium, and chromium.

Clinochlore crystals can be prismatic or tabular and pseudo-hexagonal. The mineral also occurs as masses that are foliated, flaky, globular, radiating, and/or fibrous.

Iron-bearing clinochlore can have varied levels of oxidation, altering its appearance and optical properties.

Clinochlore’s (general) properties listed:

• Mohs hardness: 2-2.5

• Color: Green, yellow-green, yellow, olive green, blackish-green, blue-green, white, colorless, pink, red, reddish-purple, purple

• Crystal structure: Monoclinic, pseudo-hexagonal

• Luster: Vitreous, pearly, greasy, or dull

• Transparency: Transparent to opaque

• Refractive index: 1.571-1.600

• Density: 2.55-3.02

• Cleavage: Perfect on {001}

• Fracture: Uneven/irregular (on non-cleavage, flat surfaces); Micaceous

• Streak: Greenish-white to white

• Luminescence: None

• Pleochroism: Present; Usually pale yellow-green or pale blue-green to pale greenish-yellow or pale blue-green; Sheridanite: Colorless, pale green, pale yellow-green, pale brownish-yellow; Kammererite: Violet to red

• Birefringence: 0.005-0.011

• Dispersion: Unknown

• Optical phenomena: Chatoyancy (in seraphinite)

With the basics established, what are the different types of clinochlore?

Types of Clinochlore

There are quite a few clinochlore minerals. We’ll start with the non-gemstone types:

• Corundophilite: Aluminum-rich variety

• Diabantite: Ferroan and silicon-rich variety

• Nickel-Bearing Clinochlore: Nickel-bearing variety

• Pennine: Trigonal or pseudo-trigonal variety

• Penninite: Silica-rich, iron-poor variety

• Pycnochlorite / Pyknochlorite: Iron-rich variety

• Ripidolite: Historical name for intermediate/unknown minerals in clinochlore-chamosite series OR ferroan variety from Russia

• Talc-chlorite: Very silica-rich, aluminum-poor variety; Note: talc is not a chlorite

Onto the gemstones:

Seraphinite

Arguably the most popular clinochlore, seraphinite is a variety with forest-green coloring and light green to silver feather-like, radiating patterns. The patterns come from iridescent mica fiber inclusions, which can cause chatoyancy (the “cat’s eye” effect).

Kammererite

Image credit: Géry PARENT, CC-BY-SA-4.0

Kammererite, or kämmererite, is a chromium-bearing clinochlore variety with red to purple-red, pink, or lilac colors. One of the rarest clinochlores, gem-quality specimens only come from Turkey, though some 2016 cabochons emerged from India.

The stone may resemble charoite, but with a significantly lower Mohs hardness.

Sheridanite

Sheridanite is an aluminum-rich variety named for the stone’s original location: Sheridan County, Wyoming, USA. This variety can be olive green, blue-green, or blackish-green.

Other Clinochlore Gems

Pictured above: Quartz crystal with golden rutile needles and mossy green clinochlore | Image credit: Rob Lavinsky, iRocks.com – CC-BY-SA-3.0

Clinochlore can also appear in other gems, namely Burmese jadeite and maw-sit-sit. Both of these stones are rocks, meaning they contain multiple (sometimes varied) minerals, one of which is often clinochlore.

Additionally, some types of quartz with lily pad-shaped clinochlore inclusions, sometimes called “clinochlore quartz,” are fairly popular and attractive.

Clinochlore History

American geologist William Phipps Blake chose the name “clinochlore” in 1851 for specimens found in Pennsylvania, USA. The name derives from the Greek terms klino, meaning “oblique” or “inclined,” and chlōros, meaning “green,” because the minerals were green, tabular crystals with inclined axes (tapered, pyramidal terminations).

Previously, German geologist Abraham Gottlob Werner named clinochlore “chlorite” in 1789, also from the Greek term for “green” mentioned above.

However, clinochlore has been used since prehistoric times, particularly in the Middle East.

Ancient Clinochlore Artifacts

Clinochlore and chlorite minerals were used for thousands of years, particularly in the Middle East, for objects like seals, tombstones, and beads.

Archeologists have found prehistoric artifacts containing chlorite. Some were practical — pipes, bannerstones, gorgets, tubes, spindle-whorls — and many were decorative — like beads, vases, figurines, small vessels, and amulets.

Mesopotamian chlorite vessels found in royal graves and temples dated around the Early Dynastic period (2900 to 2350 BC) were likely luxury items with ritual or funerary importance.

Pictured above: Cinnamon-colored grossular garnets with green diopside crystals and dark green clinochlore crystals | Image credit: Rob Lavinsky, iRocks.com – CC-BY-SA-3.0

Clinochlore Healing Properties

As a mostly green healing stone, clinochlore’s meaning reflects that of other green gemstones, offering rejuvenation, fresh starts, and renewed hope. Clinochlore crystals can be used as chakra stones for balancing the entire chakra system.

Physical Healing

Physically, clinochlore is said to treat issues related to:

• Headaches

• Muscle stiffness

• Sinus infections

• Fatigue

Emotional Healing

Emotionally, clinochlore’s metaphysical properties are believed to boost or facilitate:

• Creativity

• Open-mindedness

• Concentration

• Stress reduction

• Inner peace

• Personal growth

Clinochlore Gemstone Properties

Besides rarity, clinochlore gemstone value depends on color, cut, clarity, transparency, and carat weight.

Color

Many collectors seek out emerald-green clinochlore gems. But rare shades like kammererite’s reds and purples are also quite valuable.

Pure clinochlore is colorless or white. Common green shades come from iron impurities. Chromium causes red/pink to purple hues, while other impurities can cause yellow to brown colors.

Cut

Clinochlore is quite soft with perfect cleavage, making faceting difficult. Only seraphinite, kammererite, and sheridanite have been faceted, and faceted options of any of these stones are quite valuable.

Common cuts for the gemstone varieties include:

• Seraphinite: Cabochons, carvings, and decorative items

• Kammererite: Cabochons, carvings, and rough crystals

• Sheridanite: Cabochons and rough crystals

Clarity & Transparency

Clarity, the degree of visible inclusions, can affect a stone’s transparency and value. More transparent clinochlore gems may be more valuable, but inclusions often produce desirable effects, like those in seraphinite.

Clinochlore may be an inclusion in other gemstones, like:

• Quartz

• Ethiopian emerald

• German topaz

Carat Weight & Size

Massive clinochlore specimens can yield fairly large cabochons, but faceted gems are usually small, up to 5 or 6 carats (or for kammererite, up to 2 carats).

Treatments

Treatments aren’t common for clinochlore gems, but some may be wax-treated to increase their durability.

Now, how is clinochlore formed?

Pictured above: Garnet and clinochlore specimen

Clinochlore Formation & Sources

Clinochlore forms when rocks undergo low-grade metamorphism or hydrothermal alteration, transforming minerals inside like amphibole, biotite, and pyroxene into clinochlore.

What type of rock is clinochlore found in? It’s found in many metamorphic or sedimentary rocks like:

• Chlorite schists

• Zeolite facies

• Serpentinites

• Marbles

• Amphibolites

• Basalts

• Gabbros

Geographically, where is clinochlore found?

Mining Locations

Attractive clinochlore crystals are mostly found in:

• Australia

• Austria

• Brazil

• Canada

• Germany

• Italy

• Mexico

• Russia

• Scotland

• Sweden

• Switzerland

• Turkey

• UK (England)

• USA (Arizona, Connecticut, Colorado, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Wyoming)

Gem-quality specimens of the gem varieties have fewer sources:

• Seraphinite: Siberia, Russia

• Kammererite: Turkey; India

• Sheridanite: Wyoming, USA

So, how much does clinochlore cost?

Clinochlore Price & Value

Despite their rarity, clinochlore gemstones can be more affordable than you’d think.

Seraphinite is the only faceted option easily found, besides quartz with clinochlore inclusions.

Faceted seraphinites go for about $10 to $15 per carat. Cabochons are generally around $6 per carat, and rough specimens are about $1 per carat. The most expensive options are huge carvings or spheres, which can be $500 to $1,000.

Kammererite is mostly available as cabochons, which are usually around $10 to $25 each. Carvings can be $30 to $200 or higher, depending on complexity and size. Rough crystals range from around $20 to upwards of $400, depending on quality and size.

Rough clinochlore specimens range broadly, from around $2.50 to $400.

Clinochlore Care and Maintenance

In terms of gemstone care, clinochlore gems are pretty fragile. Jewelry-wise, we recommend choosing only pendants or earrings and always opting for protective settings.

The stone is heat-sensitive, so store it in a cool place separate from other gems. You can clean it with lukewarm water, mild soap, and a soft, microfiber cloth.

Inclined to Choose Clinochlore?

Gems named “clinochlore” may seem mundane, but don’t judge a stone by its name! These crystals can have beautiful angelic wings, romantic pink hues, and rejuvenating green colors perfect to refresh any space or outfit.

Buy clinochlore and more captivating gemstones today!