Raw Stones
271 pieces
Tumbled Stones
202 pieces
Palm Stones
37 pieces
Crystal Points
38 pieces
Clusters & Geodes
63 pieces
Polished & Decor
125 pieces
Mineral Specimens
70 collector pieces
Crystal Chips
22 pieces
Browse everything
Every collection, one page.
View All Collections →
Aries
Mar 21 – Apr 19
Carnelian
›
Taurus
Apr 20 – May 20
Rose Quartz
›
Gemini
May 21 – Jun 20
Agate
›
Cancer
Jun 21 – Jul 22
Moonstone
›
Leo
Jul 23 – Aug 22
Citrine
›
Virgo
Aug 23 – Sep 22
Amazonite
›
Libra
Sep 23 – Oct 22
Blue Lace Agate
›
Scorpio
Oct 23 – Nov 21
Obsidian
›
Sagittarius
Nov 22 – Dec 21
Sodalite
›
Capricorn
Dec 22 – Jan 19
Black Tourmaline
›
Aquarius
Jan 20 – Feb 18
Amethyst
›
Pisces
Feb 19 – Mar 20
Aquamarine
›
Gifting?
A birthday stone is the safe bet.
Read the zodiac guide →
Cryolite
Cryolite is halide (fluoride), Na₃AlF₆. In the hand, it rates 2.5 to 3 on the Mohs scale, and it runs snow white and colorless. Greasy snow-white massive mineral with a party trick: its optics are so close to water's that fragments nearly VANISH when dropped in a glass.
The geology.
Cryolite carries the formula Na₃AlF₆. It belongs to the monoclinic system. Its listing category is halide (fluoride).
It sits at 2.5 to 3 on the Mohs scale. The surface reads vitreous to greasy. Light behaviour is translucent. Specific gravity runs 2.95 to 3.0. The streak is white. It breaks with no true cleavage; parting; uneven fracture.
Greasy snow-white massive mineral with a party trick: its optics are so close to water's that fragments nearly VANISH when dropped in a glass.
It turns up mostly as massive cleavable chunks or rare pseudo-cubic crystals.
The origins.
Essentially one historic source: Ivigtut, Greenland (mined out); minor Colorado (USA), Russia.
On value, the database notes: collector rarity since the mine closed.
Traditional associations.
In energy work traditions, cryolite is a niche 'ascension stone' in modern channeling circles, geologically it is a rare industrial halide.
This is lore, and we label it as lore. The measurable facts are further up the page.
Spotting the real thing.
Greasy snow-white massive mineral with a party trick: its optics are so close to water's that fragments nearly VANISH when dropped in a glass.
White quartz and feldspar are sometimes mislabeled cryolite, the water test and softness sort it.
| Looks like | How to tell them apart |
|---|---|
| Quartz (milky) | Quartz is far harder and stays plainly visible in water |
| Calcite | Calcite fizzes; cryolite doesn't |
| Halite | Halite tastes salty and dissolves; cryolite is insoluble |
At-home tests.
A loupe and a window seat settle most questions about cryolite. No workshop required.
| Test | What you should see |
|---|---|
| Water-glass test | edges fade toward invisibility |
| Scratch check | Knife scratches it easily |
| By eye | Greasy luster |
Anything that scratches, burns or dissolves the piece is a lab job. Get it appraised rather than testing it apart.
Care & handling.
At 2.5 to 3 on the Mohs scale this is a soft material. Keep it as a display piece, store it apart from harder stones, and skip daily-wear settings.
It breaks with no true cleavage; parting; uneven fracture, which is worth knowing before you set it or drop it.
Warm water and a soft cloth clean almost everything. Ultrasonic tanks, steamers and household cleaners are where pieces get ruined.
Fluoride mineral, harmless to handle, but don't grind or ingest it.
A deeper look.
Extended detail on composition, sourcing, authentication and market value.
The physical record
The formula on record is Na₃AlF₆. Crystal system: Monoclinic. Specific gravity: 2.95 to 3.0. Streak: White. Cleavage and fracture: No true cleavage; parting; uneven fracture.
How it reaches the market
Essentially one historic source: Ivigtut, Greenland (mined out); minor Colorado (USA), Russia.
What it gets confused with
Quartz (milky): Quartz is far harder and stays plainly visible in water. Calcite: Calcite fizzes; cryolite doesn't. Halite: Halite tastes salty and dissolves; cryolite is insoluble.
What it is worth
Collector rarity since the mine closed.
Where buyers get caught
White quartz and feldspar are sometimes mislabeled cryolite, the water test and softness sort it.
One more thing
Ivigtut's cryolite once made aluminum smelting possible, an obscure Greenland mine quietly enabled the age of flight.
An education-first guide.
No product links here. We do not sell cryolite, and a guide that only covers our own shelves would not be much of a guide.
Explore the Crystal Guide