Enstatite Gemstone: Properties, Meanings, Value & More

Enstatite is a gemstone often found in brownish hues and known for being found in a small group of meteorites called enstatite chondrites. These enstatite meteorites are rare, only making up around 2% of the chondrites that fall on Earth. This space stone has also been observed outside the Solar System!

Speaking of which, is enstatite a rare gemstone? As a mineral, enstatite is fairly common, but gem-quality enstatite specimens are rare and exotic finds.

Ready to learn more? In this guide, we’ll cover all of enstatite’s properties, varieties, prices, meanings, and more!

About Enstatite Stone

Enstatite is a semi-precious gemstone often found in brown or green shades. Other monikers for enstatite include:

• Amblystegite

• Chladnite

• Enstadite

• Ficinite

• Orthobronzite

• Paulite

• Peckhamite

• Shepardite (formerly used for brucite)

• Protobastite

• Victorite

Though not a birthstone, the green chrome-enstatite variety can substitute for emerald as a May birthstone.

What is enstatite used for? It’s not commonly used industrially, but enstatite may be used in silicate glass-ceramics.

Enstatite Specifications & Characteristics

As a magnesium pyroxene silicate, enstatite’s formula is Mg2Si2O6 or MgSiO3 as the simplified version. Common impurities include iron, calcium, aluminum, cobalt, nickel, manganese, titanium, chromium, sodium, potassium.

Enstatite belongs to the orthopyroxene — (Mg, Fe)2Si2O6 — mineral group. This group is a solid-solution series with pure enstatite on one end and pure ferrosilite on the other. Between these two are bronzite and hypersthene.

Enstatite forms short, prismatic crystals, but finding distinct enstatite crystals is rare. Usually, it occurs in lamellar, massive, or fibrous form, or as rolled pebbles.

Here are enstatite’s properties listed, with specifications for the different varieties given where applicable:

Mohs hardness: 5-6

Color: Enstatite & Bronzite – Green, brownish-green, brown, yellow, yellow-green, orange, reddish-brown, gray, colorless; Hypersthene – green, brown, grayish-black; Orthoferrosilite – green, dark brown

Crystal structure: Orthorhombic

Luster: Enstatite – Vitreous to pearly, pearly on cleavage; Bronzite – Vitreous to submetallic; Hypersthene – Vitreous, silky, or pearly; Orthoferrosilite – Vitreous

Transparency: Transparent to opaque

Refractive index: 1.650-1.788; Usually 1.663-1.673

Density: 3.20-3.96

Cleavage: Good/distinct on [210]

Fracture: Uneven/irregular

Streak: Gray to white

Luminescence: None

Pleochroism: Present & strong; Pale reddish-brown, purple, or brownish pink to pale greenish-brown, pale reddish-yellow, or pale brownish-yellow to pale green, smoky green, or green

Birefringence: 0.008-0.011

Dispersion: 0.010 (weak)

Optical effects: Asterism

Pictured above: Cat's eye enstatite gemstone parcel

Types of Enstatite

Enstatite has “varieties” that fall into the same pyroxene silicate solid-solution series with enstatite — bronzite, hypersthene, and orthoferrosilite — along with some gemstone varieties distinguished by their color or optical effects.

We’ll cover all of these below, with the exception of orthoferrosilite, since it’s not relevant as a gemstone.

Bronzite

Bronzite is the gemological name for the abundant, iron-bearing variety of enstatite. It’s mostly brown to black gemstone with scattered gold speckles from fibrous inclusions. Other names for bronzite include “bastite” and “schiller spar.”

Technically, bronzite should be called “altered enstatite,” as it forms when iron-bearing enstatite is weathered, giving it a bronzy color and submetallic luster.

Calcium-bearing bronzite is called “lime-bronzite” and vanadium-bearing enstatite is called “vanadinbronzite.”

Hypersthene

Hypersthene is usually a ferroan enstatite, meaning it contains ferrous iron. Some consider “hypersthene” a synonym of enstatite or ferrosilite, while others distinguish it as a mineral with an intermediate composition between the two — specifically (Mg,Fe)SiO3.

The stone itself is a brown, gray, or green gem with a labradorite-like schiller, earning it the nickname “velvet labradorite.” (Labradorite is a different mineral, however.)

Next, we have the gemstone varieties distinguished by their appearance.

Chrome Enstatite

Chrome enstatite is a chromium-bearing variety with an emerald-green color. This variety is often cut as a gemstone for jewelry.

Cat’s Eye Enstatite

When enstatite has black, needle-like inclusions that align parallel, it can create chatoyancy, or the “cat’s eye” effect.” This optical phenomenon allows you to see a thin ray of light on the surface when the stone is cut as a cabochon.

Star Enstatite

Similar to cat’s eye enstatite, star enstatite also has inclusions that cause light rays. However, these inclusions overlap, creating a multi-rayed “star” of light on the surface.

Most enstatites with asterism have 4- or 6-rayed stars, though rare ones have 8-rayed stars. Usually the star is fuzzy.

Moving into the metaphysical, what does enstatite symbolize?

Enstatite Gemstone Meaning & History

Enstatite symbolizes ambition, courage, and discovery. Some interpret the enstatite meaning as one of uplifting positivity and motivation, helping the wearer manifest their desires and achieve their dreams.

The name “enstatite” derives from the Greek term enstates, meaning “opponent” or “resistor,” because it resists high temperatures.

Curiously, enstatite was discovered long after bronzite and hypersthene. German geologist Abraham Gottlob Werner first analyzed hypersthene in 1789, while bronzite has been used since ancient times.

Gustav Adolph (G.A.) Kenngott made the first official discovery of enstatite in 1855. The material he studied, originally mistaken for scapolite, came from Mount Zdjar in Moravia, Czechia.

The earliest meteorites discovered to contain enstatite — later classified as enstatite chrondites — were the Pillistfer and Daniel's Kuil meteorites found in Estonia in 1863 and 1868, respectively.

The largest known enstatite chondrite (E-type, one of the two subtypes) to hit Earth fell in Abee, Alberta, Canada, in 1952. It was a 236-lb (107-kg) stone.

Enstatite Healing Properties

As healing stones, most enstatite crystals join other green gemstones in offering rejuvenation, hope, and balance. In energy healing, enstatite can be used as a chakra stone for aligning all seven chakras, with emphasis on the sacral chakra.

Physical Healing

According to crystal healers, physical enstatite gemstone benefits include treating:

• Memory loss

• Fatigue

• Digestion issues

• Menstruation pain

• Cramps

Emotional Healing

Emotionally, enstatite is believed to help you trust yourself and others. It can also help you become more trustworthy by purportedly increasing self-control and emotional regulation.

Additionally, enstatite is said to boost mental clarity, encourage positivity, and provide a feeling of purpose.

Enstatite Gemstone Properties

Enstatite value depends on the stone’s color, cut, clarity/transparency, carat weight, and the presence of optical effects (where applicable). The most important factors are transparency, size, and optical effects.

Color

Most enstatites range in color from green to brown shades, caused by iron and sometimes chromium impurities. Bright yellowish-green hues can come from iron and vanadium with chromium replacing some of the magnesium in the composition. Some specimens have white streaks, too. The rarest and most valuable enstatites are colorless.

Cut

The highest-quality enstatite specimens — often colorless or chrome enstatite crystals — are faceted. Cat’s eye and star enstatites must be cut as cabochons. Lower-grade material may also be cut into cabochons, beads, or tumbled stones.

Clarity & Transparency

Clarity describes the amount of visible inclusions in a gem, which can affect its transparency. Better clarity means fewer inclusions and greater transparency, which is more valuable.

However, some inclusions like properly oriented rutile needles can cause asterism or chatoyancy, a valuable property.

Carat Weight & Size

Large enstatite crystals (and 1 foot in length) have been found, but most enstatite gemstones are under 10 carats. The largest star enstatite, as of 2020, weighs 19.18 carats (3.83 grams).

Larger enstatite gemstones can carry higher prices, but the price-per-carat shifts for larger sizes are minimal.

Pictured above: An example of an E-type Chondrite (from the Abee fall) on display in the Vale Inco Limited Gallery of Minerals at the Royal Ontario Museum | Image credit: Captmondo, Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Unported license

Enstatite Formation & Sources

Enstatite forms when magnesium silicate is exposed to temperatures of 750°C to 1100°C, crystallizing into enstatite and forsterite.

What rocks are enstatites found in? Enstatite is often found in pyroxenites, peridotites, dunites, alkalic olivine basalts, and kimberlites. Miners often find enstatite in diamond mining areas. The stone can also form in volcanic rocks and stony meteorites.

Fun fact: the talc rock soapstone changes into cristobalite and enstatite when heated to 1,830–2,190 °F (1,000–1,200 °C).

Mining Locations

Where can I find enstatite? Currently, the top sources for gem-quality enstatite are Tanzania, Myanmar, and Sri Lanka.

Other significant localities include:

• Arizona, USA

• Austria (bronzite)

• California, USA (hypersthene)

• China

• Germany (hypersthene, bronzite)

• Greenland (hypersthene)

• Kenya

• India (cat’s eye enstatite, star enstatite, star bronzite)

• Norway (hypersthene)

• South Africa

Sources aside, is enstatite expensive? It depends on the stone, but enstatite has a broad price range.

Enstatite Price & Value

How much is enstatite worth? Well, faceted enstatite gemstone prices range from around $20 to $150 per carat. However, rare faceted enstatites of excellent quality can be $250 to $2,400 per carat.

Cabochons are much more affordable, typically around $15 to $20 each, unless they’re cat’s eye or star enstatites. Cat’s eye and star enstatites can cost anywhere between $40 to $700 each.

Enstatite Care and Maintenance

Last, we’ll discuss proper gemstone care. Though enstatite jewelry is rare, we recommend protective settings, particularly for an enstatite gemstone ring.

Don’t use steam or ultrasonic cleaners on enstatite. Instead, clean the stone with warm water and mild soap.

Store enstatite separately from other gems to avoid scratches.

Enthralled by Enstatite Yet?

Enstatite offers not only a range of colors and shimmers but also empowering benefits and unique rarity. With varieties and prices for any budget, you’re sure to find the perfect enstatite gem for you.

Buy enstatite gemstones today!