Pollucite Gemstone: Properties, Meanings, Value & More

Pollucite is a zeolite gemstone mostly known among collectors. It’s quite rare as well-developed crystals and important industrially.

What makes pollucite rare? The same reason it’s industrially important: it’s the only mineral with cesium as an essential part of its composition.

Even more interesting, pollucite is named after a mythological figure that even appears in astrology.

Eager to learn more? Come along to find out pollucite’s properties, uses, history, prices, and more!

Pictured above: Natural, untreated colorless pollucite gemstone, faceted, 8.40 carat 

What is Pollucite?

Pollucite is a rare semi-precious gemstone also called “cesium silicate” and formerly “pollux.”

Astrologically, pollucite is especially tied to Gemini, as its mythological namesake Pollux is one of the twins in the Gemini constellation.

Outside of gem collectors, pollucite is better known for its industrial uses.

Pollucite Uses

The primary use of pollucite is as a source of cesium, a very rare element. In fact, pollucite ore is the most important mineral source of cesium. Pollucite is also sometimes used as a source of rubidium, a common impurity in the stone.

The top use of cesium is for cesium formate, a biodegradable, highly stable fluid used in the gas and oil industry for high-temperature and high-pressure drilling projects.

Cesium is also used in various industries including the pharmaceutical, military, and medical fields. Some other cesium uses include:

• Alkaline rechargeable batteries electrolyte

• Analytical chemistry solder and reagent

• Coloring agent in pyrotechnics

• Fluoroscopy equipment (shows moving X-ray images)

• Insect repellent

• Nuclear medicine radioisotope (specialized radiology material for medical diagnosis and treatment)

• Petroleum cracking (breaking down heavier molecules into lighter ones to refine the substance into fuel)

• Photoelectric cells (convert light into electricity)

• Scintillators (detects radiation by emitting fluorescence)

• Scintillation counters (measures radioactivity)

• Spectrophotometers (measures color)

And that’s just some of the uses of cesium! Another fascinating use is in atomic clocks. Atomic clocks are thought to be among the most accurate clocks, as they measure the precise vibration of cesium’s atoms to measure each second.

Additionally, scientists have made synthetic pollucite for research on radioactive waste storage.

Pictured above: Yellow faceted pollucite gemstone with oval shape, 1.75 carat

Pollucite Specifications & Characteristics

Pollucite is a hydrated cesium aluminum silicate. The official International Mineralogical Association (IMA) formula is Cs(Si2Al)O6 · nH2O, but it’s also written as (Cs,Na)(AlSi2)O6·nH2O or (Cs,Na)2(Al2Si4O12)·2H2O. Iron, calcium, potassium, and rubidium often substitute in the stone.

The pollucite mineral is in the zeolite group alongside stones like natrolite, thomsonite, and mesolite, to name a few. It forms a series, as the cesium endmember, with analcime, the sodium endmember.

Crystals of pollucite are cubic or trapezohedral but rare. More often, it occurs in massive habits.

Pollucite properties listed:

• Mohs hardness: 6.5-7

• Color: Usually colorless, white, or light gray; Sometimes light pink, light blue, or light violet

• Crystal structure: Isometric/cubic

• Luster: Vitreous, greasy, or dull

• Transparency: Transparent to opaque

• Refractive index: 1.507-1.528

• Density: 2.68-3.03

• Cleavage: None

• Fracture: Conchoidal, subconchoidal, or irregular/uneven

• Streak: White

• Luminescence: Occasionally fluorescence present - bluish-white, orange, or pink in LW-UV & X-rays; Blue-green or pale yellow in SW-UV

• Pleochroism: None

• Birefringence: None or weakly anisotropic

• Dispersion: 0.012 (weak to unobservable)

Pictured above: Colorless faceted pollucite gemstone, round brilliant shape, 45.16 carat

Pollucite History

First, we’ll get into the mythology behind pollucite’s name.

Mythological Name Origin

The name “pollucite” comes from the mythological figure named Pollux in Roman mythology or Polydeuces in Greek mythology. He is the twin half-brother of Castor, sharing the same mother while Castor’s father was (human) Sparta king Tyndareus and Pollux’s father was sky god Zeus.

As a pair, they’re known as the Dioscuri and make up the constellation of Gemini.

Myths differ on whether Pollux and/or Castor are immortal or mortal. Some versions even say they’re brothers to Helen of Troy and her twin sister Clytemnestra.

Why the naming? Well, pollucite is frequently found with petalite, formerly known as “castorite” after Castor.

Petalite was discovered before pollucite. Brazilian naturalist Jose Bonifacio de Andrada e Silva found it in Sweden and described it in 1800, naming it “petalite” after the Greek petalos, for “leaf,” after its leaf-like cleavage. However, the stone was also called “castorite.”

While “castorite” has since become obsolete, “pollucite” has stuck, coincidentally matching some accounts like Pollux was immortal while Castor wasn’t.

Pictured above: Roman (3rd century AD) marble statuettes of Castor and Pollux displayed in Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City, NY, USA | Image credit: Foto Ad Meskens

History

The first discovery of pollucite occurred in Elba Island, Italy in 1844, specifically La Speranza or Pisani's Quarry. German mineralogist August Breithaupt published the first description in 1846 with the name “pollux”, later adjusted to “pollucite” by American geologist James Dwight Dana in 1868.

In the same year, German metallurgic chemist Karl Friedrich Plattner published a chemical analysis of the stone. However, cesium wasn’t discovered until 1860, so French chemist and mineralogist Félix Pisani published a more accurate analysis of pollucite (with its cesium content) in 1864.

On the spiritual side, what are the healing properties of pollucite?

Pollucite Healing Properties

As a commonly white healing stone, pollucite’s meaning reflects the cleansing and protective properties of other white gemstones. It’s also used as a crown chakra stone.

Physical Healing

Physically, crystal healers believe pollucite can help with:

• Detoxifying the body and environment

• Boosting immunity

• Treating infections

Emotional Healing

Emotionally, pollucite is said to:

• Dispel negativity

• Reduce stagnation, providing more motivation

• Facilitate meditation

• Balance emotions

Pictured above: Pear-shaped faceted colorless pollucite gemstone

Pollucite Gemstone Properties

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

Color

Pollucite is usually colorless or white, sometimes gray. Iron staining can occur, causing a slightly yellow tint on colorless gems. This will lower value.

Occasionally, it can be tinted pale shades of blue, violet, or pink. Pink colors can come from montmorillonite inclusions.

Many white pollucite gems have a milky or cloudy appearance.

Cut

Well-cut, faceted pollucite gemstones are the most valuable of any cut. Many have oval, cushion, or round shapes.

Occasionally, pollucite is cut into cabochons. It’s often sold rough (uncut), with well-developed crystals being more valuable.

Clarity

Clarity describes the degree of visible inclusions in a gem — fewer inclusions meaning higher value. Some pollucites are eye-clean (no visible inclusions to the naked eye), while others have small inclusions like:

• White spiky or ball-shaped crystals

• Snowflakes

• Peripheral fractures

• Plane of crystals

• Parallel, lath-like solids

Pollucite has also been found as an inclusion in rhodizite-londonite.

Carat Weight & Size

The size of pollucite gems often depends on its source, though most are under 10 cts. Larger sizes can have higher price-per-carat rates.

Pictured above: Rough pollucite specimen from Mogok, Myanmar | Image credit: Rob Lavinsky, iRocks.com – CC-BY-SA-3.0

Pollucite Formation & Sources

Pollucite minerals are usually found in lithium-rich granite pegmatites that likely formed from extreme alkali-metal fractionation.

The mineral itself can form as a primary mineral as the pegmatite solidifies or as a secondary mineral from later hydrothermal alteration of other minerals in the pegmatite.

Geographically, where is pollucite mined?

Mining Locations

Facetable pollucite is primarily found in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Russia, and Maine (USA). Other significant pollucite mines include:

• Canada

• Finland

• Italy

• Kazakhstan

• Madagascar

• Myanmar

• Namibia

• Sweden

• USA (Massachusetts, California, Connecticut, South Dakota)

The vast majority of industrial pollucite is mined in Canada.

Now, how much is pollucite worth?

Pictured above: Colorless faceted pollucite gemstone with trillion shape, 3.42 carat

Pollucite Price & Value

Pollucite’s price per carat ranges mostly based on its quality, cut, and size.

The most expensive faceted pollucites, weighing on average around 20 cts, are about $45 to $100 per carat or about $800 to almost $2,200 each.

You can find faceted pollucite for sale as low as $10 per carat, but they’ll be small and lower-quality. Overall, faceted pollucites are around $50 per carat on average.

Pollucite cabochons are less common, ranging from about $20 to $200 each.

Rough pollucite crystals and mineral specimens also range broadly, largely based on their size and any valuable crystals attached.

For instance, the most valuable pollucite rough is usually attached to kunzite, going for $1,000 to $16,500. Another valuable combination is pollucite with green tourmaline, going for $60 to $150 on the lower end and $1,000 to $6,750 on the high end.

The most expensive pollucite rough not attached to other minerals is about $1,200 to $3,500, usually for huge (2 kg to 6 kg) etched crystals. However, you can find more affordable pollucite rough for around $15 to $20.

For pollucite jewelry, pendants are most common, costing about $70 to $170 each.

Pictured above: Colorless rough pollucite crystal from Pakistan, 15.35 grams | Image credit: 2x910, CC-BY-SA-4.0

Pollucite Care and Maintenance

Last up is gemstone care.

First off, although pollucite contains cesium (which is toxic in isotope form), the natural cesium in these gems isn’t harmful, making pollucite a low-risk gem. You still should avoid contact with the mouth — meaning no pollucite elixirs — and keep it away from pets or kids who might put it in their mouth.

You may want protective settings for pollucite jewelry. You can clean it with warm water, mild soap, and a soft toothbrush.

Pulling for Your Own Pollucite Gem?

Although pollucite gems are rare, recent Afghanistan finds could increase their availability. And that’s great, because pollucite is a gentle stone with legendary roots and beautiful colors perfect for any gem lover or collector!

Buy pollucite gemstones today!