Amblygonite is a lithium phosphate mineral, usually white or cream and sometimes a clear pale yellow. It is a collector's gem, not a bead stone, and we do not carry it.
Phosphate
Amblygonite
Ambligonita
- Palette
- Yellow White
- Mined in
- Brazil, United States, Australia, France, Germany, Namibia, Norway, Spain
- Hardness
- Mohs 5.5–6.0 ?
- See-through
- transparent
- Known since
- 1817
- Named for
- Greek amblus 'blunt' and gonia 'angle'
- Also sold as
- montebrasite (the hydroxyl-rich end of the same series)
- Intention
- Calm
- Looking for
- Calm
- Water
- Keep it dry; wipe with a soft cloth
- Dye or finish
- Amblygonite is a collector's gem more than a bead stone, and sellers rarely disclose what is done to it; check any colored piece for dye in cracks and at the drill hole.
Not in our pieces now
102 TONS
The largest amblygonite crystal on record measured about 7.6 by 2.4 by 1.8 meters and weighed roughly 102 tons.
MONTEBRASITE
Montebrasite is far more common than true amblygonite, and miners and dealers often used one name for both, so many amblygonite gems are really montebrasite.
ABOUT 10%
Lithium makes up roughly a tenth of amblygonite, which a flame test can reveal.
What it is
Amblygonite is a lithium aluminum phosphate, usually white or creamy but occasionally a clear pale yellow, which is the color that gets cut as a gem. Faceted stones are a collector's item; it is rarely seen as beads.
Where it comes from
Amblygonite was first described from Saxony, Germany; the main historic commercial sources were California (Pala) and France (Montebras), and gem-quality material today comes mainly from Brazil and the United States.
In history
German mineralogist August Breithaupt first identified amblygonite in Saxony in 1817. It was later found at Montebras in France and at Hebron, Maine, and its lithium content made it a lithium ore, mined chiefly in California and France.
What's said about it
It has little lore of its own. No older gem writing or well-known crystal guide that we checked gives it a traditional meaning.
If you like the idea, the usual way in is through its relatives: kunzite and lepidolite share its lithium, and citrine and lemon jasper share its soft yellow.
How people wear or keep it: In a protected pendant, on a shelf as a specimen, or in a small cloth pouch.
In crystal practice
Day to day, the same tradition suggests keeping it close: in a protected pendant, on a shelf as a specimen, in a small cloth pouch. People reach for it when they want calm, and many set an intention when they put it on. Most practitioners cleanse a new stone first (running water only if the stone can take it, otherwise smoke or moonlight) and set it aside now and then to rest.
These are beliefs people have held and still hold about the stone, reported as such. Nothing here is a promise or a medical claim. We sell stones as jewelry, not for these effects.
Associations
The chakra and star sign this stone is usually matched with. These are popular traditions, not facts about the stone.
ZodiacTaurus
ElementEarth
Also calledmontebrasite (the hydroxyl-rich end of the same series)
Care
- Soft and brittle with perfect cleavage: a knock can split it, so it suits protected settings such as pendants and earrings better than bracelets.
- Wipe with a soft cloth and a little mild soapy water; rinse and dry. Skip ultrasonic cleaners.
- Store wrapped on its own so harder stones do not scratch it.
- Keep it away from heat and hard impacts.
How to tell what you have
- Amblygonite is a lithium phosphate that is white, creamy, or pale yellow. Color alone does not identify it, because it is easily mistaken for feldspars such as albite.
- Density, cleavage, and a lithium flame test settle it, and these are lab or collector tests, not booth tests.
- It is soft and breaks easily, so it is not a stone for hard daily wear.
Questions people ask at our table
What is amblygonite?
It is a lithium aluminum phosphate mineral. It forms in granite pegmatites and is most often white or cream, with a rare clear pale yellow form that is cut as a gem.
Is amblygonite good for everyday jewelry?
Not really. It is soft for a gem and splits easily along its cleavage, so jewelers recommend protected pieces such as pendants and earrings, and gentle wear.
Where does it come from?
The gem material comes mainly from Brazil and the United States, with smaller sources in Australia, France, Germany, Namibia, Norway and Spain.
How is it different from citrine?
Citrine is a quartz and much harder. Amblygonite is a softer phosphate that can look similar when pale yellow. We do not carry amblygonite, but we do carry citrine.
Not in our pieces right now
Stones we do carry that are close to it are listed under related stones.
Stay in the loop
Sign up to hear about new product drops, upcoming events, and the latest from Peritik. No spam, just the good stuff.