Gemological Information for Benitoite
| Color: | Blue or Violet Blue, Rarely Colorless or Pink |
| Crystal Structure: | Hexagonal |
| Refractive Index: | 1.757 – 1.804 |
| Durability: | Fair |
| Hardness: | 6 to 6.5 |
| Family: | |
| Similar Stones: | Azurite, Sapphire, Synthetic Sapphire |
| Treatments: | None Known at this Time |
| Country of Origin: | U.S. |
Benitoite Care
| Ultrasonic Cleaning: | Risky |
| Steam Cleaning: | Never |
| Warm Soapy Water: | Safe |
| Chemical Attack: | Attacked by Hydrofluoric Acid and Slowly Slowly Affected by Hydrochloric Acid |
| Light Sensitivity: | Stable |
| Heat Sensitivity: | No Rapid Temperature Changes |
Further Resources
Gems & Gemology: The Quarterly Journal of The Gemological Institute of America.
Benitoite:
- Summer 1953, Benitoite, by Ehrmann, p. 317, 1p.
- Summer 1963, A Beautiful 4 1/2-ct. Benitoite and a Colorless Benitoite, p. 55, 1p.
- Spring 1968, Pink Benitoite from Calif., p. 284, 2pp.
- Spring 1968, Benitoite Inclusions, p. 285, 2pp.
Online Texts on Benitoite:
- 1907, Benitoite, A New California Gem Mineral, by G. D. Louderback, Univ. of Calif. Geol. pub., Vol. 5, #9, pp. 149-153