Bustamite Gemstone: Properties, Meanings, Value & More

Bustamite is a gemstone considered by some to be a variety of rhodonite. The two are quite similar, but they’re different enough to be separate minerals.

What color is bustamite? The stone is pale pink to brownish-red, but it can also be medium-pink, yellowish-pink, or orangish-pink.

Is bustamite rare? The mineral itself isn’t rare, but large faceted bustamite gems and chatoyant (“cat’s eye”) cat’s eye material are both quite rare.

Eager to learn more? Come along as we unpack all of bustamite’s mineral and gemstone properties, along with its history, benefits, prices, and more!

Pictured above: Pastel pink bustamite rough specimen from Kalahari district | Image credit: Rob Lavinsky, iRocks.com – CC-BY-SA-3.0

About Bustamite Stone

Bustamite is a somewhat rare semi-precious gemstone with a range of pink hues. Other monikers include “buchstamite” and “manganese wollastonite.”

Though closely related to rhodonite, bustamite has a biaxial (-) optic sign while rhodonite has a biaxial (+) optic sign. Additionally, fresh pink bustamite specimens have a lighter pink coloring than rhodonite.

Astrologically, bustamite benefits Libra signs.

Bustamite Specifications & Characteristics

As a calcium manganese inosilicate, bustamite’s formula can be written as:

• CaMn2+(Si2O6) or

• (Mn,Ca)3Si3O9 or

• (Ca,Mn2+)3Si3O9 or

• Mn2Ca2MnCa(Si3O9)2 — only formula approved by the International Mineralogical Association (IMA)

Common impurities in bustamite include magnesium, zinc, and iron, all of which can substitute for manganese in the structure.

The mineral is in the wollastonite group. Some other wollastonite group members you may know are pectolite (larimar), cascandite, and ferrobustamite. Bustamite is a manganese analogue of ferrobustamite.

Bustamite crystals are often tabular, prismatic, or equant. Some may be needle-like or rough and rounded. More often, the mineral occurs as compact and fibrous masses. Simple twinning can happen on {110} but it’s rare.

Bustamite properties listed:

• Mohs hardness: 5.5-6.5

• Color: Pale pink, medium pink, orange-pink, yellowish-pink, brownish-red; Colorless to yellow-pink in thin section

• Crystal structure: Triclinic

• Luster: Vitreous, subvitreous, resinous, or waxy

• Transparency: Transparent to opaque

• Refractive index: 1.64-1.71

• Density: 3.32-3.43

• Cleavage: Perfect on {100}, distinct/good on {110} and {110}, poor on {010}

• Fracture: Conchoidal, irregular/uneven, or splintery

• Streak: White

• Luminescence: Present in specimens from Franklin Hill (New Jersey, USA) – magenta-red or cherry-red in LW-UV & rarely cherry-red or violet-red in SW-UV

• Pleochroism: Sometimes present but weak - rose-red to orange

• Birefringence: 0.013-0.015

• Dispersion: Weak

• Optical phenomena: Extremely rarely chatoyancy

Pictured above: Intense pastel pink bustamite rough specimen, unusually thick and well-colored for gemstone use | Image credit: Rob Lavinsky, iRocks.com – CC-BY-SA-3.0

Types of Bustamite

There’s only one “variety” of bustamite, keatingine, but its status as a bustamite variety has changed over time.

Keatingine is a calcium manganese silicate with the formula CaMn2+(Si2O6). American mineralogist Charles Upham Shepard first described and named the stone (found in New Jersey) in 1876 after American geologist and chemist William H. Keating.

Shepard chose the name because Keating “was one of the first to examine the minerals of Franklin Furnace, N.J.” Keating studied the district in the 1820s, discovering and naming minerals like willemite and jeffersonite.

However, American geologist Albert Huntington Chester wrote of keatingine as a synonym of fowlerite instead in 1896. Furthermore, American mineralogist Charles Palache discredited Shepard’s specimens as a type of bustamite in 1935.

Other specimens of Shepard’s that he thought to be bustamite or keatingine were later found to be rhodonite.

Bustamite Meaning & History

In terms of bustamite’s metaphysical properties, bustamite symbolizes happiness, grace, and vitality. It’s believed to help you channel your inner child so you can view the world full of opportunities and feel unified with your place in it.

History

Bustamite was first discovered in 1822 in Tetela de Ocampo, Mexico by either Mexican mineralogist Miguel Bustamante y Septiem or Mexican General Anastasio Bustamente (sources differ, but it’s most likely the former).

French chemist Alexandre Brongniart published the first description in 1826, naming it after the discoverer.

However, the original material was later discredited as bustamite, as it was actually a mixture of rhodonite and johansennite.

In 1922, American geologists Esper Signius Larsen, Jr. and Earl Victor Shannon discovered (and published a description of) an actual bustamite specimen in New Jersey, USA. They still used the name “bustamite.” This New Jersey location has become the mineral’s new type locality.

Back to the metaphysical, what are the healing properties of bustamite?

Pictured above: Intergrown calcite and massive bustamite as matrix for flesh-colored, prismatic galena crystals | Image credit: Rob Lavinsky, iRocks.com – CC-BY-SA-3.0

Bustamite Healing Properties

As a pink healing stone, bustamite has the nurturing and loving properties of other pink gemstones.

Physical Healing

Physically, what are the benefits of bustamite? Crystal healers claim it can help with issues related to:

• Blood circulation

• Respiratory health

• Sexual function

• Hormone imbalance

• Headaches

Emotional Healing

Emotionally, bustamite is said to:

• Ease stress

• Promote feelings of belonging

• Encourage positivity and gratitude

• Help you manifest desires

Chakra Healing

Chakra healing involves opening a blocked energy center (chakra) so energy flows through it properly.

Bustamite is a chakra stone for the heart chakra, the center of spirituality, love, and acceptance. Resolving blockages here promotes connection between ourselves and others, our spirituality, and the world.

Bustamite Gemstone Properties

Besides rarity, bustamite gemstone value depends on the color, cut, clarity, transparency, and carat weight of the stone.

Color

Bustamite’s range of pink hues all come from the presence of manganese in its formula. Brighter or purer pink tones may be more valuable.

It’s important to know that bustamite’s pink color fades from sunlight exposure.

Cut

In terms of cuts, faceted bustamites are most valuable. These are difficult to make, given the stone’s cleavage.

More often, massive bustamite specimens are cut into cabochons or carvings. It can also be sold rough (uncut). Chatoyant specimens must be cut as cabochons to properly display their “cat’s eye.”

Clarity & Transparency

Clarity describes the degree of visible inclusions in a stone, which can negatively affect its transparency and value. Higher clarity and greater transparency make bustamite more valuable.

The most common inclusions in bustamite are black manganese.

Unlike many chatoyant gems, bustamite’s rare chatoyancy comes from a fibrous crystal habit, not inclusions.

Carat Weight

Most faceted bustamites are 1 to 2 carats, with almost all being under 5 carats. However, bustamite mixed with other stones (like bustamite with sugilite or rhodonite) can be found in larger sizes. The largest cat’s eye bustamite cabochons are around 5 carats.

Pictured above: Side-by-side of rough specimen in artificial light and shortwave UV light, consisting of bustamite (not fluorescent), harystonite (deep blue fluorescence), calcite (red fluorescence), willemite (green fluorescence), and clinohedrite (dim orange fluorescence) | Image credit: Stephen E. Fritz, CC-BY-SA-3.0

Bustamite Formation & Sources

Bustamite usually forms when manganese-bearing sediments undergo metamorphism and attendant metasomatism (hydrothermal fluids chemically alter the rock).

As such, the mineral is usually found in metasomatic (or metamorphosed) manganese ore bodies like skarns. It’s an essential component of mangan-calc-skarn.

Common associated minerals include:

• Calcite

• Diopside

• Glaucochroite

• Grossular garnet

• Johannsenite

• Rhodonite

• Tephroite

• Wollastonite

Geographically, where is bustamite found?

Mining Locations

Facetable bustamite material is found in:

• Australia

• South Africa

• Namibia

• Japan

Attractive crystals may also come from:

• USA (New Jersey)

• Sweden

• UK (England, Scotland)

Pictured above: Brown rough bustamite specimen from Devon, England | Image credit: Leon Hupperichs

Bustamite Price & Value

Bustamite comes at a range of prices depending on its quality, size, and cut. Many bustamites (rough or gems) are mixtures, like bustamite with sugilite.

Faceted bustamite gemstones are generally around $20 to $30 per carat or around $90 to $500 each.

Bustamite cabochons have a wider range, from around $9 to $175 per carat or about $25 to $1,100 each. Cabochons of sugilite with bustamite are about $30 to $100 each.

Tumbled bustamites (not mixed with other minerals) range from around $5 to $70 each. Sugilite tumbled stones containing bustamite range from around $10 to $240.

Pink bustamite carving prices vary by size and shape, approximately:

• Spheres: $70 to $1200

• Pyramids: $175 to $190

• Merkaba Star: $60 to $150

• Cube: $60 to $90

Rough bustamite specimens go for about $20 to $50 on the low end and $400 to $670 on the high end (many higher-end specimens being mixed with stones like sugilite, sphalerite, and/or richterite).

Bustamite Care and Maintenance

The most important tip to know about bustamite gemstone care is that pink coloring will fade from sunlight exposure. As such, it’s best to reserve bustamite jewelry for evening wear and store it away from sunlight.

You should always handle bustamite carefully, as a drop can split it along its many cleavage planes. We recommend protective settings for bustamite jewelry.

You can clean bustamite with warm water, mild soap, and a soft toothbrush.

Embrace Your Best Self with Bustamite!

Bustamite is a bright pink stone radiating positivity, so get ready to step into your bust self. This gem is perfect for any collection or unique jewelry pieces!

Buy bustamite and other beautiful gemstones today!