How much does Dumortierite cost?

Dumortierite is a boron-bearing aluminum silicate that forms in aluminum-rich metamorphic rocks - specifically in high-grade metamorphic environments where boron is available. It typically occurs as fibrous aggregates within schists, gneisses, and pegmatites.

The deep blue color comes from intervalence charge transfer between iron and titanium within the crystal structure - the same mechanism that colors blue sapphire. This makes dumortierite one of the few relatively affordable minerals that achieves a genuinely deep blue through a 'precious' coloring mechanism.

Dumortierite commonly occurs included within quartz, creating 'dumortierite quartz' - a blue, opaque to translucent material that's harder and more durable than massive dumortierite alone. This variety is popular in lapidary work and produces attractive cabochons.

Identification Guide

Dumortierite is identified by its deep blue to violet-blue color, fibrous habit, and hardness of 7. The fibrous crystal structure gives broken surfaces a splintery appearance.

Distinguish from sodalite (more uniform color, associated with white), lapis lazuli (contains pyrite, different minerals), and blue kyanite (bladed habit, different hardness variation). Dumortierite's fibrous texture visible under magnification is diagnostic.

Spotting Fakes

Dumortierite is affordable enough that direct faking is uncommon. The main confusion is with sodalite and lapis lazuli, both of which are different minerals. Dyed blue quartz or chalcedony may be sold as dumortierite - genuine dumortierite has a fibrous, somewhat uneven texture rather than the smooth, waxy feel of dyed chalcedony.

Some links in this post go to Amazon. Crystal Almanac earns a commission from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. Tools recommended here are ones we would use ourselves to run the tests described - the recommendation comes first, the link is downstream of it.

Verify Dumortierite Before You Buy

Affiliate picks

Dumortierite gets imitated with glass, dyed stand-ins, and cheaper lookalikes. These four tools run the checks in the Spotting Fakes section above, so you can tell real from fake before you pay - online, at a show, or in a shop.

10x triplet jeweler's loupe$20-40
The first tool worth owning. Round gas bubbles (glass), dye pooled in cracks (dyed howlite, magnesite, agate), and flow lines are invisible to the naked eye and obvious at 10x. A triplet lens keeps the edges sharp.
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Mohs hardness pick set~$40
Calibrated picks settle the cheap swaps in seconds - howlite (3.5) sold as turquoise (5-6), glass (5.5) sold as quartz (7). Faster and more accurate than the fingernail-and-knife method.
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0.01g digital pocket scale~$15
Density catches what the eye misses. A glass 'quartz' weighs suspiciously light; lead-loaded plastic 'lapis' weighs suspiciously heavy. Weigh, compare to the known density, and flag the mismatch before the money leaves your hand.
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365nm UV flashlight$20-30
Many stones have a distinctive fluorescence (hyalite opal, fluorite, ruby, scheelite). A longwave UV light is the fastest tiebreaker when a piece passes the other tests but still looks off.
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Cultural & Metaphysical Traditions

Presented as cultural traditions, not scientific evidence

Named after French paleontologist Eugene Dumortier who discovered it in 1881. Dumortierite has no ancient traditions due to its relatively recent identification. Modern crystal practitioners associate it with patience, organization, and mental clarity. It's sometimes called the 'student's stone' for its purported ability to enhance learning and memory retention. In some traditions, it's connected to past-life recall.

Metaphysical and “healing” associations are cultural traditions, not medical advice or scientific fact. Crystals are not a substitute for professional medical care.

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Where It's Found

Mozambique - Various

Fine vivid blue material, major source

Brazil - Bahia

Good quality blue specimens

Madagascar - Various

Cabochon-grade material

United States - Nevada and Arizona

Dumortierite in quartz varieties

Price Guide

Entry$2-8 tumbled

Mid-Range$10-40 cabochons

Collector$20-100 polished specimens

Good to Know

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Scratch test: At hardness 7, Dumortierite can scratch glass and steel. It's durable enough for any type of jewelry.

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Global supply: Found in 4 notable locations worldwide, from Mozambique to United States.

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Heft test: Dumortierite has average mineral density (3.30). It feels about as heavy as you'd expect from a stone its size.

Care & Safety

What dumortierite can and cannot tolerate, based on its hardness (Mohs 7) and chemistry (Al₇(BO₃)(SiO₄)₃O₃).

Can Dumortierite go in water?

Yes. Dumortierite is hard (Mohs 7) and chemically stable, so plain water is fine for rinsing and cleaning with mild soap. Avoid prolonged soaking, which serves no purpose, and dry the stone afterward.

Can Dumortierite go in salt water?

Not recommended, even though dumortierite itself is hard and not water-soluble. Salt is corrosive and mildly abrasive: it can dull a polished surface, attack metal settings, and crystallize inside small fractures as the stone dries. A brief dip will not destroy dumortierite, but rinse it with fresh water afterward and dry it. For routine cleaning, plain water is the safer choice.

Water safety for every stone →Full crystal care guide →