Augelite Gemstone: Properties, Meanings, Value & More

Augelite is a soft aluminum phosphate mineral mostly known among collectors. It was first described from Sweden but the most famous sources are California (USA), Peru, and Bolivia.

The mineral itself is rare, and facetable material is even rarer, making augelite gemstones a rare commodity.

Today, we’ll go over all of augelite’s prices, properties, powers, and more!

Pictured above: Large, doubly terminated augelite crystal intergrown with other augelite crystals; Found in Peru | Image credit: Rob Lavinsky, iRocks.com – CC-BY-SA-3.0

About Augelite Stone

Augelite (pronounced AW-guh-lite) is a very rare semi-precious gemstone, usually seen as colorless or yellow gems when cut.

Alternative names for augelite include:

• Amfihalite

• Amfithalite

• Amphitalite

• Amphithalite

• Aluminum Phosphate

You may confuse augelite with the similarly named angelite.

“Angelite” is used as a synonym for anhydrite or a variety of anhydrite that’s opaque and sky-blue, grayish-blue, or lilac, often with white speckling.

But the similarity to augelite is in name only — besides having a different appearance, angelite (anhydrite) is a calcium sulfate with a much lower Mohs hardness.

Astrologically, augelite can benefit Aquarius and Capricorn signs.

Outside of gemstone purposes, what is augelite used for?

Augelite Uses

Augelite isn’t sourced for many industrial purposes, but it can be a clue for miners that other industrially important minerals are nearby such as pyrite and hematite.

Additionally, scientists have created synthetic augelites to research its vibrational spectra.

Pictured above: Group of green augelite crystals on quartz from recent find in Tamboras area; From "The Mineralogical Record", March-April 2011, vol. 42/2, page 141: "These specimens [augelite from Mundo Nuevo] are probably the world's finest for the species, with crystals as large as the largest known from Rapid Creek, Yukon, and from the Champion mine, California." | Image credit: Carles Millan, CC-BY-SA-3.0

Augelite Specifications & Characteristics

As an aluminum phosphate mineral, augelite’s formula is Al2(PO4)(OH)3.

Most often, augelite occurs as thick, tabular crystals. Augelite crystals can also be prismatic or acicular (needle-like). Some gorgeous specimens also grow as druzy. The mineral also occurs as masses.

Looking at augelite’s optics, it is biaxial with a positive (+) optic sign. The 2V angle is 50°.

Here are all of augelite’s mineral properties listed:

• Mohs hardness: 4.5-5

• Color: Colorless, white, light yellow, light rose, pink, light blue, green, yellowish-green

• Crystal structure: Monoclinic

• Luster: Vitreous (glassy); Pearly on {110} cleavage

• Transparency: Translucent to transparent

• Refractive index: 1.574-1.588; California material - 1.570-1.590

• Density: 2.696-2.750

• Cleavage: Perfect on {110}, Good/distinct on {201} (vinculum line over the 2), Imperfect on {001} and {101} (vinculum line over first 1 in 101)

• Fracture: Uneven/irregular

• Streak: White

• Luminescence: Usually none; Green Peruvian material - sometimes light yellow in SW-UV

• Pleochroism: None

• Birefringence: 0.014-0.015

• Dispersion: None

We’re good on mineral properties, but what are the metaphysical properties of augelite?

Pictured above: Large matrix featuring intergrown, glassy, light apple-green augelite crystals from Rapid Creek area in Yukon, Canada; Martin Zinn Collection | Image credit: Rob Lavinsky, iRocks.com – CC-BY-SA-3.0

Augelite Meaning & History

Augelite crystals symbolize growth, harmony, and spiritual transformation. The stone’s name ties to the word “light,” meaning it also represents radiance, clarity, and awareness.

Additionally, augelite is associated with the air element, connecting to communication and expansion.

Lastly, augelite is a planetary star stone for Saturn, which governs responsibility and ambition.

History

Technically, the first mention of augelite was in 1866 when it was reported by Swedish geologist & mineralogist Lars Johann Igelström from the Horrsjoberg (or Hålsjöberg) quarry in Värmland County, Sweden.

Igelström called it “Amfilatite” from the Greek term αμφιθαλής (amfithalis), transliterated into Swedish as bekranzt meaning “bordered,” because “it is usually surrounded on all sides by other beautiful minerals, while it itself is one of the inconspicuous ones” (quote translated from original Swedish).

However, the first official description came from Swedish mineralogist & chemist Christian Wilhelm Blomstrand in 1868. He described the mineral from massive specimens found in the Västanå (or Westanå) iron mine of Skåne County, Sweden.

What is the meaning of the name augelite?

Blomstrand chose the name “augelite” from the Greek term αυγή (auge) meaning “shine” or “luster.” This was because the cleavage surfaces had a bright, pearly luster or the stone overall had a glassy (vitreous) luster. As with Igelström’s description, Blomstrand’s specimens were associated with lazulite.

Unfortunately, the mineral remained not well-defined.

That is, until 1895 when British mineralogists George Thurland Prior and Leonard James Spencer gave a better definition of well-crystallized augelite from Bolivia.

Important Augelite Discoveries

In 1935, the first facetable augelite material was discovered in California, USA, and reported by American mineralogist Dwight Moulton Lemmon. But the mine was depleted within the 1930s.

The first report of augelite from the Rapid Creek in Yukon, Canada, was in 1989. These crystals became known for being the highest-quality for many years.

Another important discovery occurred in 2006 when gem-quality, facetable, green augelite crystals were found in the Ortega mine in northern Peru.

Back to the metaphysical, what are the benefits of augelite?

Pictured above: Brilliant green augelite crystals with higher luster on miniature from Rapid Creek area in Yukon, Canada; Tim Blackwood Collection | Image credit: Rob Lavinsky, iRocks.com – CC-BY-SA-3.0

Augelite Healing Properties

As an often green healing stone, green augelite crystal benefits include the renewing and harmonizing properties of other green gemstones, along with being heart chakra stones.

Alternatively, colorless or white augelite has the clarifying and purifying properties of other white gemstones. These can open the crown chakra.

Physical Healing

Physically, augelite is believed to help treat issues related to:

• Insomnia

• Night terrors

• Fatigue

• Weight management

• Blood circulation

• Cognitive function

• Immune system function

Emotional Healing

On the less physical side, crystal healers recommend augelite for:

• Dispelling brain fog

• Inspiring creativity

• Advancing work achievement

• Balancing emotional extremes

• Renewing motivation after mental burnout

• Encouraging self-discipline, focus & productivity

• Nurturing self-awareness through greater mental clarity

• Facilitating resolutions to conflicts, either internal or external

Pictured above: Cluster of augelite with several deep-colored, gemmy, doubly terminated crystals | Image credit: Rob Lavinsky, iRocks.com – CC-BY-SA-3.0

Augelite Gemstone Properties

Besides its rarity, augelite’s value also depends on its color, cut, clarity, transparency, and carat weight.

Color

Most often, augelite is colorless, white, green, or yellowish-green. Sometimes, it’s yellow or pale rose; blue or pink hues are rare. Blue stones may get their color from lazulite inclusions.

Since pale colors are typical, any brighter shades (often green ones) carry higher value. Plus, many green augelites are unevenly colored, making uniformly (homogeneously) colored augelites more valuable.

Fully colorless or green stones are the ones most often cut into gems.

Cut

Besides the scarcity of facetable material, augelite is also difficult to facet given its multiple directions of cleavage, brittle tenacity, and softness. Lapidarists (gem cutters) must also know how to orient the stone to best enhance its often-uneven coloring.

Among recently found Peruvian material, only small parts of the crystals were facetable.

Altogether, that means faceted augelites (especially when well-cut) are quite valuable. Among faceted augelite gems, step cuts like emerald or round brilliant shapes are common.

More often, augelite for sale is uncut (rough). Sometimes, it’s carved.

Clarity & Transparency

Clarity describes the degree of visible inclusions in a gem, which can lower its transparency and value.

Many facetable augelite crystals have a milky transparency, so fully transparent augelites (with no visible inclusions) are a valuable rarity.

Potential inclusions found in augelite include:

• Liquid cavities with bubbles

• Lazulite

• Brown siderite

• Cracks

• Needle-like crystals

Rough transparent augelite crystals are also valuable.

Carat Weight & Size

Faceted augelites are almost always small, mostly under 3 carats and more often under 1 carat.

Large, distinct, individual augelite crystals (up to 0.25 inches or 0.635 centimeters) are rare and sought-after.

Pictured above: Rough specimen with augelite, white barite, and small pyrite octahedrons; Historical piece from Bolivia

Augelite Formation & Sources

Augelite usually forms when phosphate-bearing, peraluminous (more aluminum than sodium oxide, potassium oxide, and calcium oxide combined) sediments undergo metamorphism, altering some of the minerals inside into augelite.

The augelite mineral is also found in high-temperature hydrothermal veins, phosphate-rich granite pegmatites, and phosphate-rich ironstones.

Commonly associated minerals are:

• Andorite

• Arsenopyrite

• Attakolite

• Barite

• Berlinite

• Cassiterite

• Hematite

• Lazulite

• Lithiophilite

• Pyrite

• Pyrophyllite

• Quartz

• Rutile

• Siderite

• Sphalerite

• Tannite

• Svanbergite

• Triphylite

• Trolleite

• Zinkenite

Geographically, where is augelite found?

Mining Locations

Sizable and facetable augelite material was once only known from the Champion Mine in California, USA, but the mine has run out. Luckily, facetable green augelites were discovered in Peru in 2006.

The only other known sources for quality augelite crystals are:

• Bolivia

• Canada

• New Hampshire, USA

Other notable augelite sources are:

• Australia

• Austria

• Brazil

• Japan

• Rwanda

• South Dakota, USA

• Sweden

• Uganda

• USA (Connecticut, Maine, Nevada)

Pictured above: Close-up of sharp, lustrous, and large augelite crystal sitting on quartz crystals on matrix | Image credit: Rob Lavinsky, iRocks.com – CC-BY-SA-3.0

Augelite Price & Value

Given their rarity, it’s no surprise that faceted augelite gemstones are somewhat pricey.

These gems are generally around $80 to $100 per carat (or about $40 to $80 total) if white to yellow. Faceted green augelites are roughly $280 to $875 per carat or around $215 to $385 total — remember, most are under 1 carat.

Many rough augelite specimens are green augelite crystals on quartz. These range from around $50 to $1,000. The highest-quality specimens are $3,000 to $30,000.

Green augelite druzy is around $300 to $3,900. Crystals on lazulite are $375 to $2,450.

Small augelite crystals can be $30 to $100 each. Green crystal clusters range from $100 to $750.

Rough augelite crystal pendants are available for around $100.

Augelite Care and Maintenance

Augelite is fragile, so gentle gemstone care is essential. Be careful to avoid sharp blows and opt for augelite jewelry with protective settings.

Clean augelite with warm water, mild soap, and a soft toothbrush or lint-free cloth. Keep it away from acids, particularly hot hydrochloric acid.

Store away from other gems to avoid scratches.

Augment Your Collection with Augelite!

Augelite is a very rare gemstone, with options in various soft, soothing colors like greens and yellows. Whether you seek it for its wonderful healing benefits or to round out your rare gem collection, augelite is a keeper!

Buy augelite and other rare gemstones today!