Gem & Mineral Value Index
A cited, quarterly-reviewed reference for what rocks, crystals, and minerals are actually worth.
Prices reviewed July 2026 · reviewed quarterly.
Gem and mineral values span an enormous range: common rocks and tumbled crystals sell for a few dollars, good specimens for tens to a few hundred, and rare gem-grade material for hundreds to thousands of dollars per carat — with the rarest gems above $10,000/ct. The single biggest driver is species and quality, not size alone: a large, clean, richly colored stone can outsell a small piece of a rarer one. The table below gives honest retail ranges for 35common stones, the main factor that sets each one's price, and the sources behind the numbers.
The value index
Typical retail ranges for everyday specimens through fine/high-grade material. Tap any stone for the full value guide, price factors, and a real-or-fake check.
| Stone | Category | Typical | Fine / high-grade | Top value driver |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agate | Chalcedony (quartz) | $1 – $15 | $40 – $300+ | Banding & pattern |
| Amethyst | Quartz variety | $2 – $15 | $5 – $50/ct | Color saturation |
| Apatite | Phosphate | $5 – $40/ct | $5 – $60 | Color |
| Aquamarine | Beryl | $5 – $30/ct | $20 – $400 | Color depth |
| Aventurine | Quartz variety | $1 – $12 | $30 – $120+ | Aventurescence |
| Black Tourmaline | Tourmaline (silicate) | $2 – $25 | $40 – $200+ | Crystal form |
| Carnelian | Chalcedony (quartz) | $1 – $15 | $50 – $500+ | Color |
| Celestite | Sulfate (strontium) | $5 – $30 | $50 – $300+ | Color |
| Citrine | Quartz variety | $3 – $30 | $50 – $500+ | Natural vs heat-treated |
| Clear Quartz | Quartz | $1 – $15 | $20 – $500+ | Clarity |
| Fluorite | Halide (calcium fluoride) | $2 – $20 | $100 – $500+ | Color |
| Garnet | Silicate group | $2 – $30 | $1,000 – $7,000+/ct | Species & color |
| Hematite | Oxide (iron) | $2 – $20 | $50 – $200+ | Luster |
| Jade | Pyroxene / amphibole | $10 – $120 | $5,000 – millions | Treatment (Type A/B/C) |
| Jasper | Chalcedony (quartz) | $1 – $12 | $30 – $200+ | Pattern |
| Kyanite | Silicate (aluminosilicate) | $3 – $30 | $50 – $300+/ct | Color |
| Labradorite | Feldspar | $3 – $30 | $50 – $300+ | Flash intensity |
| Lapis Lazuli | Rock (lazurite-rich) | $3 – $30 | $100 – $1,000+ | Blue depth & evenness |
| Malachite | Copper carbonate | $3 – $30 | $50 – $400+ | Banding |
| Moldavite | Tektite (impact glass) | $2 – $10 | $50 – $300+ | Authenticity |
| Moonstone | Feldspar | $5 – $40 | $500 – $2,000+ | Sheen color & strength |
| Obsidian | Volcanic glass | $2 – $20 | $30 – $200+ | Variety |
| Opal | Hydrated silica | $1 – $20 | $200 – $10,000+/ct | Body tone |
| Peridot | Silicate (olivine) | $2 – $20 | $100 – $500+/ct | Color |
| Pyrite | Iron sulfide | $2 – $25 | $25 – $200 | Crystal form |
| Rhodonite | Silicate (manganese) | $2 – $20 | $50 – $300+ | Color |
| Rose Quartz | Quartz variety | $1 – $20 | $3 – $20/ct | Color |
| Selenite | Sulfate (gypsum) | $2 – $25 | $30 – $200+ | Clarity / luster |
| Smoky Quartz | Quartz variety | $2 – $20 | $50 – $300+ | Crystal form |
| Sodalite | Feldspathoid (silicate) | $1 – $15 | $40 – $200+ | Blue color |
| Spinel | Oxide (magnesium aluminium) | $20 – $100/ct | $500 – $3,000+/ct | Color |
| Sunstone | Feldspar | $3 – $30 | $100 – $1,000+/ct | Schiller / shimmer |
| Tiger's Eye | Quartz (chatoyant) | $1 – $15 | $30 – $150+ | Chatoyancy |
| Topaz | Silicate (aluminium fluorosilicate) | $5 – $20/ct | $200 – $2,000+/ct | Color |
| Turquoise | Phosphate mineral | $2 – $30 | $50 – $500+ | Natural vs treated |
“Typical” = common tumbled/rough or entry specimens; “Fine / high-grade” = the top of each stone's range (often gem-grade, per carat). Educational retail estimates, not appraisals.
The high-value tier (rare gems)
Above the everyday catalog sit the rare gem materials — the aspirational high end, priced per carat for fine gem-grade stones. See the full breakdown on most valuable rocks & crystals.
| Gem | Why it's valuable | High-end value |
|---|---|---|
| Painite | For years listed as the world's rarest gem mineral — only a handful of facetable crystals are known. | ~$50,000–$60,000/ct |
| Red beryl (bixbite) | A red variety of beryl found in gem quality almost only in Utah; far rarer than emerald. | ~$10,000+/ct |
| Musgravite | An extremely rare taaffeite-family gem; very few clean faceted stones exist. | ~$35,000/ct |
| Alexandrite | Chrysoberyl that changes color from green in daylight to red under incandescent light; fine stones are scarce. | $10,000–$70,000/ct |
| Paraíba tourmaline | Copper-bearing tourmaline with an electric neon blue-green; a single Brazilian locality launched the craze. | $10,000–$50,000/ct |
| Jadeite (imperial jade) | Top translucent emerald-green jadeite is among the most valuable of all — the finest has sold for millions. | up to millions at auction |
| Burmese ruby | Untreated 'pigeon-blood' red ruby is one of the most valuable colored stones by carat. | $10,000–$100,000+/ct |
| Colombian emerald | Fine, richly saturated emerald with good clarity commands top prices among green gems. | $5,000–$100,000+/ct |
| Black opal | The rarest opal, with vivid play-of-color on a dark body tone, mostly from Lightning Ridge, Australia. | up to ~$10,000/ct |
| Benitoite | A brilliant blue gem found in gem quality only in California, where it's the state gemstone. | $3,000–$6,500/ct |
Not sure which stone you have?
Value starts with the right name. Upload a photo for an instant ID and an estimated value.
Methodology & sources
Every range here is an educational estimate for a typical retail specimen — a starting point, not an appraisal of your specific stone. Ranges are built from four kinds of source:
- Gemological grading (GIA). The Gemological Institute of America defines the value factors — color, clarity, cut, and carat — that set per-carat gem prices, and documents which treatments lower value.
- Supply & scarcity (USGS). U.S. Geological Survey Mineral Commodity Summaries track production and supply, which underpin how scarce — and therefore how valuable — a material is.
- Realized auction prices. Published results from major houses (Sotheby's, Christie's, Heritage) anchor the rare high end — the prices exceptional gem-grade stones actually fetch.
- Retail & trade asking prices. Current dealer, rock-shop, and marketplace listings set the typical ranges for common specimens that most people actually own.
Ranges are indicators for typical specimens, not certified appraisals. Individual value depends on the exact stone's quality, size, origin, and treatment. Last reviewed July 2026.
FAQ
- What are gems and minerals worth?
- It spans an enormous range. Common rocks and crystals (quartz, agate, tumbled stones) sell for a few dollars, mid-tier specimens for tens to a few hundred, and rare gem-grade material for hundreds to thousands of dollars per carat — the rarest gems exceed $10,000/ct. Within any one species, quality (color, clarity, size, cut, origin, and whether it's treated) matters far more than the species name alone.
- How are the values in this index calculated?
- Each range is an educational estimate for a typical retail specimen, built from the value factors the GIA uses to grade gems (color, clarity, cut, carat), USGS mineral-supply data that informs scarcity, realized prices at major auction houses for the high end, and current retail/trade asking prices. They are ranges, not single prices, because real value depends on the individual stone's quality.
- How often is the Gem & Mineral Value Index updated?
- We review the ranges roughly quarterly and stamp the page with the last review date (currently July 2026). Gem and mineral prices move slowly for common material and more with demand at the rare high end, so a quarterly review keeps the reference current without chasing noise.
- Are these figures appraisals?
- No. They are educational value indicators for typical specimens, not certified appraisals of your specific stone. For insurance, sale, or estate purposes, get a formal appraisal from a qualified gemologist — and always identify the stone correctly first, since a misidentification is the most common reason people over- or under-value what they have.
Keep exploring value
Dig into the most valuable stones, check if yours is real or fake, or see how and where to sell it.