faceted weloganitefaceted weloganite

Weloganite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information


Truly a collector’s gem, weloganite is very rare and seldom cut. This stone can show pale yellow colors.

1 Minute Read

HomeGemstonesWeloganite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Truly a collector’s gem, weloganite is very rare and seldom cut. This stone can show pale yellow colors.

faceted weloganite
Weloganite: Francon Quarry, Quebec, Canada (0.37). Photo © Joel E. Arem, PhD, FGA. Used with permission.

Start an IGS Membership today

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

Weloganite Value

weloganites - Montreal, Quebec
Weloganites, 2.5 x 2.5 x 2.3 cm, crystals up to 8 mm, Francon Quarry, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. © Rob Lavinsky, www.iRocks.com. Used with permission.

Does Weloganite Make a Good Jewelry Stone?

Discovered in 1966 in the Francon quarry in Montreal, Quebec, weloganite is a very rare strontium zirconium carbonate mineral. To date, the only known gem-quality material has come from this now closed site.

Although this transparent to translucent gemstone can show attractive, pale yellow colors, it has perfect cleavage and a hardness of just 3.5. Any stones worn as jewelry would be very susceptible to cracks and scratches. Protective settings and occasional wear would be advisable.

You're more likely to find any rare, faceted weloganites in mineral collections or museums than jewelry collections.

Identifying Characteristics

Weloganites are pyroelectric. When heated, they generate an electrical charge.

Some weloganites may also have triboluminescence. When rubbed or broken, they may show blue light.

Are There Synthetic Weloganites?

There are no known synthetic weloganites or enhancements for these gems.

Where is Weloganite Found?

Aside from the type locality, weloganites occur in theLafarge Montreal East quarry, also in Montreal, thePoudrette quarry in Mont Saint-Hilaire, Quebec, theDemix-Varennes quarry in Varennes and St-Amable, Quebec, and theEden Lake Complex in Manitoba.

Outside of Canada, the only known source of weloganites is thePilanesberg Alkaline Ring Complex in North West province, South Africa.

Stone Sizes

Gem cutters have faceted clean, yellowish stones, usually under ½ carat.

National Museums of Canada (Ottawa, Ontario): 4.27 (light greyish yellow); 0.52 (light yellow).

How to Care for Weloganites

Store weloganites separately from other harder stones to avoid contact scratches. Clean weloganites with a soft brush, mild detergent, and warm water. See our gemstone jewelry care guide for more recommendations.

weloganite crystals - Montreal
Weloganites, about 8-9 mm on edge at the top of the largest crystal, Francon Quarry, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Photo by Modris Baum. Public domain.

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


International Gem Society

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/weloganite-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/weloganite-jewelry-and-gemstone-information/"https://www.liveauctioneers.com/">liveauctioneers.com and <a href=https://www.gemsociety.org/article/weloganite-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!