marcasite - Canadamarcasite - Canada

Marcasite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information


Marcasite has a long history of use as a decorative and jewelry material. However, this brassy colored, metallic stone is quite brittle and seldom seen in modern jewelry.

1 Minute Read

HomeGemstonesMarcasite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Marcasite has a long history of use as a decorative and jewelry material. However, this brassy colored, metallic stone is quite brittle and seldom seen in modern jewelry.

marcasite - Canada
“Marcasite,” Flambrough Quarry, Dundas, Hamilton, Wentworth County, Ontario, Canada. © Rob Lavinsky, www.iRocks.com. Used with permission.

Start an IGS Membership today

for full access to our price guide (updated monthly).

Marcasite Value

marcasite - Portugal
"Marcasite," Panasqueira, Portugal. © Rob Lavinsky, www.iRocks.com. Used with permission.

Comments

Despite marcasite's relatively low hardness and distinct cleavage, many cultures have worked this material into objects of beauty. The Ancient Greeks made jewelry from marcasite. The Incas of South America polished large slabs of it as decorative objects. Gem cutters in the Victorian Era faceted this material into stones with flat backs. This popular style was known as the flattened-rose cut. Jewelry makers set them in white metal settings, such as rhodium-plated silver.

Nevertheless, much of the material found in these antique jewelry pieces is actually pyrite, a dimorph or polymorph of marcasite. These minerals share the same chemistry but have different crystal habits. (Pyrites have greater stability than marcasites for jewelry wear). For a time, they even shared the same name. Miners called common crystallized pyrite gemstones marcasites until the 19th century.

marcasite jewelry
"Marcasite Brooch Made from Silver and Pyrite" by jo-marshall. Licensed under CC By 2.0.

Identifying Characteristics

Marcasites leave a greenish black streak. However, never conduct a destructive streak test on a finished stone.

You may find steel imitations of this material. However, steel may be magnetic while marcasite is not.

Sources

This mineral is abundant and found throughout the world. Notable sources of gem material include:

  • United States: Illinois; Kansas; Missouri; Oklahoma; Wisconsin.
  • United Kingdom, England: in chalk deposits along the coast and at Folkestone.
  • Austria; Bolivia; Czech Republic; France; Germany; Myanmar; Slovakia.
marcasite - France
"Marcasite," Cap Blanc Nez, France, by GorissenM. Licensed under CC By-SA 2.0.

Stone Sizes

Massive material exists. Gem cutters can fashion cabochons of any desired size.

Care

Since marcasite can react to moisture and release sulfuric acid, store specimens in low humidity, below 60%, and separate from other pieces. Avoid inhaling dust when cutting this material and wash your hands after handling.

Marcasites are quite brittle. A sharp blow can easily crack a stone and loosen it in its setting. Because of its fragility and reaction to moisture, jewelry use is not recommended.

marcasite - England
"Marcasite," Folkestone, England. © Rob Lavinsky, www.iRocks.com. Used with permission.

Joel E. Arem, Ph.D., FGA

Dr. Joel E. Arem has more than 60 years of experience in the world of gems and minerals. After obtaining his Ph.D. in Mineralogy from Harvard University, he has published numerous books that are still among the most widely used references and guidebooks on crystals, gems and minerals in the world.

Co-founder and President of numerous organizations, Dr. Arem has enjoyed a lifelong career in mineralogy and gemology. He has been a Smithsonian scientist and Curator, a consultant to many well-known companies and institutions, and a prolific author and speaker. Although his main activities have been as a gem cutter and dealer, his focus has always been education. joelarem.com

Related Articles

More Articles
Black Diamond Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Black Diamond Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Black is a color that can say a lot. Wearing black diamond jewelry communicates a sense of unique strength and...
Read More
Chameleon Diamond Value, Price, and Jewelry Information1.50-ct diamond</a> usually has a pleasing, gentle Fancy Gray-Yellowish Green color, but looks completely different if you leave it in your jewelry box for a few weeks." src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" decoding="async" data-nimg="responsive" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;bottom:0;right:0;box-sizing:border-box;padding:0;border:none;margin:auto;display:block;width:0;height:0;min-width:100%;max-width:100%;min-height:100%;max-height:100%;object-fit:cover;object-position:50% 50%"/>

Chameleon Diamond Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Professionals will tell you never to trust a trade name used to describe the appearance of a fancy colored diamond....
Read More
Gray Diamond Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Gray Diamond Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Diamonds with a pure gray hue are a rare treasure indeed. More often, gray is mixed with blue or violet...
Read More
Green Diamond Value, Price, and Jewelry Information1.40 Fancy Intense Yellowish Green gem</a> are rare treasures. " src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" decoding="async" data-nimg="responsive" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;bottom:0;right:0;box-sizing:border-box;padding:0;border:none;margin:auto;display:block;width:0;height:0;min-width:100%;max-width:100%;min-height:100%;max-height:100%;object-fit:cover;object-position:50% 50%"/>

Green Diamond Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Green diamonds are the oddballs of the fancy colored diamond varieties. Their rare color is usually the result of damage...
Read More

Latest Articles

More Articles
Classic Engagement Ring StonesPastel purple sapphire</a>, 1.08 cts, 5.8 mm, round cut, Sri Lanka. © <a href=https://www.gemsociety.org/article/marcasite-jewelry-and-gemstone-information/"https://www.thegemtrader.com/">The Gem Trader</a>. Used with permission." src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" decoding="async" data-nimg="responsive" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;bottom:0;right:0;box-sizing:border-box;padding:0;border:none;margin:auto;display:block;width:0;height:0;min-width:100%;max-width:100%;min-height:100%;max-height:100%;object-fit:cover;object-position:50% 50%"/>

Classic Engagement Ring Stones

Emerald, ruby, sapphire, and diamond are the most popular choices for classic engagement ring stones. Learn more about these traditional...
Read More
Broken Bangle — The Blunder-Besmirched History of Jade Nomenclature: Book Review

Broken Bangle — The Blunder-Besmirched History of Jade Nomenclature: Book Review

Is fei cui a better term for "pyroxene jade" than jadeite? Jeffery Bergman reviews Broken Bangle, a new book on...
Read More
Cuprite Value, Price, and Jewelry InformationJoel E. Arem</a>, PhD, FGA. Used with permission." src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" decoding="async" data-nimg="responsive" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;bottom:0;right:0;box-sizing:border-box;padding:0;border:none;margin:auto;display:block;width:0;height:0;min-width:100%;max-width:100%;min-height:100%;max-height:100%;object-fit:cover;object-position:50% 50%"/>

Cuprite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

One of the rarest of all facetable gems, cut cuprites can show magnificent deep red color. However, these beautiful stones...
Read More
Gemstone Radiation TreatmentPhoto courtesy of <a href=https://www.gemsociety.org/article/marcasite-jewelry-and-gemstone-information/"https://www.liveauctioneers.com/">liveauctioneers.com and <a href=https://www.gemsociety.org/article/marcasite-jewelry-and-gemstone-information/"https://www.liveauctioneers.com/auctioneer/1081/eros-auctions-inc/">Eros Auctions, Inc</a>." src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" decoding="async" data-nimg="responsive" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;bottom:0;right:0;box-sizing:border-box;padding:0;border:none;margin:auto;display:block;width:0;height:0;min-width:100%;max-width:100%;min-height:100%;max-height:100%;object-fit:cover;object-position:50% 50%"/>

Gemstone Radiation Treatment

Gemstone radiation is a common but little understood technique for altering colors. Learn how it works and what gems usually...
Read More

Never Stop Learning

When you join the IGS community, you get trusted diamond & gemstone information when you need it.

Become a Member

Get Gemology Insights

Get started with the International Gem Society’s free guide to gemstone identification. Join our weekly newsletter & get a free copy of the Gem ID Checklist!