Andara Crystal
Andara Crystal is glass (often slag glass), (soda-lime or slag glass). In the hand, it rates 5 to 5.5 on the Mohs scale, and it runs vivid teal and pink. Brilliantly colored, perfectly glassy chunks with conchoidal chips, swirls, and gas bubbles, no crystal faces ever. Man-made; sold with origin stories about California or 'etheric' sources.
The geology.
Andara Crystal carries the formula (soda-lime or slag glass). It belongs to the amorphous (none) system. It is classified as glass (often slag glass).
It sits at 5 to 5.5 on the Mohs scale. The surface reads vitreous. Light behaviour is transparent. Specific gravity runs 2.4 to 2.8. The streak is white. It breaks with conchoidal fracture.
Brilliantly colored, perfectly glassy chunks with conchoidal chips, swirls, and gas bubbles, no crystal faces ever.
You will most often meet it as raw glassy chunks or large display pieces.
The origins.
Man-made; sold with origin stories about California or 'etheric' sources.
On value, the database notes: materially worth little despite high asking prices.
Traditional associations.
In energy work traditions, andaras are marketed as rare high-vibration 'master crystals', chemically they are colored glass.
People buy on this language, so it belongs on the page. It belongs under the facts, though, not over them.
Spotting the real thing.
Brilliantly colored, perfectly glassy chunks with conchoidal chips, swirls, and gas bubbles, no crystal faces ever.
The product itself is glass; the deception is the premium price and origin story, not the material.
| Looks like | How to tell them apart |
|---|---|
| Obsidian | Natural obsidian is black, brown, or gray, never candy teal or pink |
| Fluorite | Fluorite shows cleavage planes and crystal faces; andara glass never does |
| Slag glass | There is no tell, andaras are slag or art glass by another name |
At-home tests.
You can run every one of these at a kitchen table. Good light matters more than gear when you are looking at andara crystal.
| Test | What you should see |
|---|---|
| Under a loupe | Round gas bubbles visible with a loupe |
| By eye | Conchoidal glassy fracture everywhere, no crystal structure |
| Scratch check | Hardness ~5.5, like bottle glass |
Stop short of anything that leaves a mark. A gemologist can answer the rest without damaging the stone.
Care & handling.
At 5 to 5.5 on the Mohs scale it handles careful wear but scratches against quartz and dust. Store it separately and take rings off before rough work.
It breaks with conchoidal fracture, which is worth knowing before you set it or drop it.
Skip the ultrasonic. Lukewarm water, mild soap and a soft cloth handle routine cleaning without risk.
A deeper look.
Extended detail on composition, sourcing, authentication and market value.
The physical record
The formula on record is (soda-lime or slag glass). Crystal system: Amorphous (none). Specific gravity: 2.4 to 2.8. Streak: White. Cleavage and fracture: Conchoidal fracture.
How it reaches the market
Man-made; sold with origin stories about California or 'etheric' sources.
What it gets confused with
Obsidian: Natural obsidian is black, brown, or gray, never candy teal or pink. Fluorite: Fluorite shows cleavage planes and crystal faces; andara glass never does. Slag glass: There is no tell, andaras are slag or art glass by another name.
What it is worth
Materially worth little despite high asking prices.
Where buyers get caught
The product itself is glass; the deception is the premium price and origin story, not the material.
One more thing
Lab analyses of andaras consistently come back as ordinary glass, often industrial slag.
An education-first guide.
We do not carry andara crystal. This page exists because the question comes up and the honest answer is worth writing down, whether or not there is anything here to sell you.
Explore the Crystal Guide