EILAT STONE

eilat stone

Eilat stone is often mistaken for turquoise

Species: Eilat Stone
Mohs Hardness: 5 to 6 out of 10
Color: Semitranslucent to opaque, blue to green with mottled appearance. Usually a combination of chrysocolla and malachite, but can also contain turquoise, copper and other minerals.
RI: Depending on where you test:
Chrysocolla: 1.50
Turquoise: 1.61
Malachite: Blinking from around 1.66 to OTL
Birefringence: Malachite areas may have birefringence of 0.250
SR/DR/AGG: AGG
Spectrum: Not diagnostic
Fluorescence: Inert
SG: Typically 2.80 to 3.20 (Varies when copper minerals are present)

eilat stone facts

Close-up shot of an Isareli-made, sterling silver brooch set with Eilat stone

Eilat stone set in a silver brooch

Eilat stone is made up of a combination of several different gems.

Usually Eilat stone contains chrysocolla and turquoise or chrysocolla and malachite, but can also contain azurite, dioptase, and other copper minerals.

Eilat stone is also known as "King Solomon's Stone".

Eilat stone is the official National Stone of Israel.

All photos courtesy of Scott Papper, GIA GG, AJP, CMA (NAJA)