Crystal Treatment Awareness Guide
Treatment isn't automatically bad. Hiding treatment is the ethical line. This guide helps you understand which crystals are commonly treated in the market, what to ask sellers, and how to make informed purchases.
13 crystals with high treatment risk
6 crystals with moderate treatment risk
105 crystals with low treatment risk
High Treatment Risk Crystals
These crystals are frequently treated, dyed, or enhanced in the market. Always ask about treatments before purchasing.
Agate
Common – dyeing (esp. bright colors); Est.. 20–60%
Banded Agate
Common – dyeing (esp. bright colors); Est.. 20–60%
Blue Onyx
Common – dye/stain (often banded calcite); Est.. 40–80%
Chalcedony
Common – dyeing; Est.. 20–50%
Crazy Lace Agate
Common – dyeing (esp. bright colors); Est.. 20–60%
Dendritic Agate
Common – dyeing (esp. bright colors); Est.. 20–60%
Flower Agate
Common – dyeing (esp. bright colors); Est.. 20–60%
Jade
Common – waxing; jadeite may be bleached/polymer/dyed; Est.. 20–60%
Orca Agate
Common – dyeing (esp. bright colors); Est.. 20–60%
Patagonia Agate
Common – dyeing (esp. bright colors); Est.. 20–60%
Pink Agate
Common – dyeing (esp. bright colors); Est.. 20–60%
Red Agate
Common – dyeing (esp. bright colors); Est.. 20–60%
Tree Agate
Common – dyeing (esp. bright colors); Est.. 20–60%
Moderate Treatment Risk Crystals
Some treatment occurs in the market for these crystals. Worth asking about, especially for higher-priced pieces.
Apatite
Occasional – heat reported (gem trade); stabilization Uncommon; Frequency Varies
Clear Quartz
Occasional – coatings (vapor deposition/aura), crackle + dye (decor); Frequency Varies
Opal
Occasional – smoke/sugar or impregnation; Est.. 10–30%
Smoky Amethyst
Occasional – irradiation; Est.. 20–50%
Smoky Quartz
Occasional – irradiation (esp. to deepen); Est.. 20–50%
White Opal
Occasional – smoke/sugar or impregnation; Est.. 10–30%
Low Treatment Risk Crystals
These crystals are rarely treated. Most material on the market is natural.
African Bloodstone (Heliotrope)
Amazonite
Amethyst
Ametrine
Angelite
Anhydrite
Apache Tears
Aragonite
Aventurine
Azurite
Banded Amethyst
Black Jade
Black Kyanite
Black Moonstone
Black Obsidian
Black Tourmaline
Black Tourmaline in Quartz
Bloodstone
Blue Calcite
Blue Kyanite
Blue Lace Agate
Blue Opal
Blue Rose Quartz
Brown Aragonite
Bumblebee Jasper
Cactus (Spirit) Quartz Amethyst
Calcite
Celestite
Chevron Amethyst
Chlorite Quartz
Chocolate Calcite
Chrysocolla
Chrysoprase
Cobalt Calcite
Dendritic Opal
Diopside
Dioptase
Dragon Bloodstone
Earth Moonstone
Epidote
Fire Quartz
Fluorite
Fuchsite
Garnet
Golden Healer
Green Nephrite Jade
Green Tourmaline
Hematite
Honey Calcite
Hyalite Opal
Included Quartz (Lodolite)
Iolite
Jasper
Kambaba Jasper
Kyanite
Labradorite
Larimar
Lazulite
Lemurian Quartz
Leopard Skin Jasper
Lepidolite
Lithium Quartz
Malachite
Mangano Calcite
Mookaite Jasper
Moonstone
Nontronite
Obsidian
Ocean Jasper
Orange Calcite
Peach Aragonite
Peach Moonstone
Peridot
Petrified Wood
Phantom Amethyst
Pink Opal
Pink Rose Quartz
Pink Tourmaline
Prehnite
Purpurite
Quartz
Rainbow Obsidian
Red Aragonite
Red Jasper
Red Rose Quartz
Rhodochrosite
Rhodonite
Rose Quartz
Rutilated Quartz (Rutile)
Selenite
Septarian
Serpentine
Shattuckite
Shungite
Snow Quartz
Snowflake Obsidian
Sodalite
Stichtite
Sunstone
Tangerine Quartz
Tiger Eye
Tourmaline
Unakite
Watermelon Tourmaline
Yellow Jasper
What to Ask Your Seller
Good sellers welcome these questions. If they can't or won't answer, that tells you something too.
- "Has this been treated, dyed, heated, or coated in any way?"
- "Where was this sourced from?" (Country is fine; mine-level may not always be available or safe to share)
- "Is this natural or lab-created?"
- "Are these the stone's natural colors?"
At Beyond Bohemian, we disclose all known treatments and share sourcing details on every product. Because you deserve to know what you're buying.