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Home / Gem Library / Gemstones Varieties / Phenakite March 19, 2024

Natural Phenakite

Phenakite is among the hardest and brightest of the colorless gemstones. With hardness of 7 1/2 to 8 and no cleavage, phenakite is easy to work and hard enough to facilitate an excellent polish. Although its colors may range from white or pink to yellow or brown, phenakite is known predominantly as a transparent colorless gemstone. Many stones are perfectly colorless without even a trace of any modifying color.

Also spelled “Phenacite”, phenakite has in the past been confused with other white gemstones such as diamonds, sapphires, quartzes, topazes and beryls. Even its name comes from the Greek word meaning meaning deceiver ... a name ascribed because of its close similarity to quartz, especially rock crystal. Even today, unscrupulous sellers of rough or cut stones still try pass off abundant quartz specimens as the much more valuable phenakites.


  • There are 6 Phenakite gemstones available at Multicolour.com
  • Phenakite(s) are organized in the following categories: Single,  gemstones.
  • Our most expensive Phenakite is USD 15849.00 and largest Phenakite weight is CTS 117.78.
  • Our cheapest Phenakite is USD 2090.00 and smallest Phenakite weight is CTS 19.00.

Phenakite Profile

Color information: White
Refractive Index: 1.651-1.696
Chemical Composition: Be2SiO4
Hardness: 7.5-8.0
Density: 2.94-2.96
Crystal Group: Hexagonal
Ocurrence: Russia, Colorado (USA); Kragero, Norway; Alsace province France; Mogok, Myanmar; Brazil, Switzerland, East Africa, Burma, Madagascar, Italy, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, and Nigeria
Sign of the Zodiac: N/A
Month of the year: N/A
Phenakite Phenakite Phenakite
Phenakite is a rare mineral, found as white or colorless tabular crystals or stubby prisms. Twinning is common and this is one of the properties that distinguishes it from rock crystal. The crystals are often rhombohedral and sometimes prismatic, showing wedge-shaped ends. Magnificent etching is apparent especially in specimens from Nigeria. Large clean stones are always sought by collectors but even smaller stones are in demand and relatively easy to sell.

Found in high-temperature pegmatite veins and in mica-schists associated with quartz, chrysoberyl, apatite and topaz, phenakite occurs as isolated crystals. Phenakite is a rare nesosilicate mineral consisting of beryllium orthosilicate, Be2SiO4. There is no cleavage, and its fracture is conchoidal. The specific gravity is 2.96. With a Mohs hardness of 7.5 – 8, phenakite is a relatively tough and durable gemstone.

Phenakite was first found in the early 19th century in the emerald mines of the Sverdlovskaya region in the eastern foothills of the Ural Mountains in Southern Russia. Later it was also found in other parts of the Urals. Today, it as been found on nearly every continent, but never in significant quantities.

Well defined crystals of Phenakite have also found in the Pikes Peak region of Colorado (USA). Other occurrences include; Kragero, Norway; Alsace province France; Mogok, Myanmar; Brazil, Switzerland, East Africa, Burma, Madagascar, Italy, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, and Nigeria.

The most important recent discoveries have been in Madagascar and Nigeria. In Madagascar, the material was mined at the turn of the millennium from a single remote locality in Abalavato. A few years later, that deposit was covered by a landslide and since then, no substantial occurrences of Madagascar phenakites have been reported.

In Nigeria phenakite was discovered in the year 2008 by Tunde Jimba (Min.), the lead miner for Salistone Ventures. The stone was found at a depth of 45 feet and some large, clean, and impressive crystals were recovered. The Salistone Mine is located on the Jos Plateau, in Plateau State of Nigeria. The name "OKUTA-DIDAN" in Native Yoruba language, meaning "A shinning stone", was given to this gemstone and is often referenced as the mine name which it is not. This local name was given to phenakite because of its high transparency and reflectivity dissimilar to any other stones in the region. Production continues at a limited level and there is never much material on the market.

Phenakite is always sought for its metaphysical properties and has always been near the top of every empowering gemstone list. It is said to possess a host of remedial values. It is said to offer protective energy and to enhances one’s sense of the self. Phenakite supposedly gets rid of negative emotions. Despair, denial, a desire for revenge, or a death wish are said to be alleviated with phenakite. With this gemstone, our problems allegedly become our teachers enabling a path to the future.

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Phenakite range/
Phenakite Single
Phenakite Single Cushion Eye clean to Slightly included
Size: 29.40 X 25.50 MM
Weight: 117.780 CTS
Shape: Cushion
Clarity: Eye clean to Slightly included
Usually ships within 24 hours
RECOMMENDED
OUR PRICE
USD 15849.00
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Phenakite Single
Phenakite Single Round Eye clean to Slightly included
Size: 16.60 X 16.60 MM
Weight: 19.000 CTS
Shape: Round
Clarity: Eye clean to Slightly included
Usually ships within 24 hours
RECOMMENDED
OUR PRICE
USD 2090.00
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