Barite Values and Pricing

Barite crystals are affordable in sizes ranging from 5 to 25 carats and the cost per carat is between $20.00 to $100.00 per carat. Most of the faceted stones will be colorless or have a faint yellow tint or light blue tint. More than likely you won’t see faceted stones on a regular basis but you will see crystal clusters.

Specimens and crystals will be the most common form you see and touch but faceted Barite can be done by a local lapidary artist.

The main sources of high-quality Barite come from Colorado, South Dakota, and Brazil.

 

 

 

How to determine value and cost

When determining the value of the gemstone you will be using GIA guidelines which means color, clarity, carat weight, and cut.  You’ll want to look at each one of these individually and then circle back when finished to evaluate the stone as a whole.

Color is going to be the most important factor when determining the value of gemstones.  Clarity and carat weight are tied for the second most important factor.

Before you go any further you need to ensure you have identified Barite correctly.

 

Color – The more intense the color the more valuable the stone is.  When dealing with warm colors, think of red and orange, you’ll want to determine if there are brown undertones.  If you can’t see brown undertones then the color should be very vibrant.  The more vibrant and saturated the color the more expensive the gemstone.  If the gemstone has a unique “neon-like glow” then it will demand the highest price per carat.

With Barite you’ll be judging colorless stones or stones with a light tint of blue or yellow. In a perfect world, you want to see a nice, bright stone.

 

Clarity – Buyers, and collectors prefer stones with no internal inclusions visible to the eye. Barite can be found with visible inclusions all the way to flawless.  To determine the clarity ranking you’ll need at a minimum a 10x loop and a higher-powered microscope to confirm internally flawless and flawless designations.

If you can visibly see the inclusion while holding the gemstone then the highest designation would be SI1 and if the inclusion detracts from the overall beauty of the stone then the clarity designation would be I1 – I3.

Clarity designations – FL, IF, VVS1, VVS2, VS1, VS2, SI1, SI2, I1, I2, I3

 

 

Carat – Barite can be found in sizes ranging from below 1 to 10 carats.  Generally speaking, Barite won’t be readily available in a faceted form which means larger faceted stones could demand a premium due to rarity. When valuing specimens, the price will be determined by the piece and not by the weight.

 

Cut – It is sad to say but cut has the least impact on value and cost unless it affects the stone in an extreme way.  For example, when you look at the stone you would be able to see through it which means light is not being reflected back to the eye.  This is called a window in the stone and it would have to be quite large to impact the price.  The other extreme would occur when you look at a stone and see a rough circle or oval shape inside the stone.  This occurs when the stone is very shallow and it’s reflecting the rough girdle inside the stone.  Note: the girdle is the edge/side of the stone where the pavilion and crown meet.

 

 

 

Barite Valuations and Pricing

Colorless Barite, Faceted = $20.00 – $38.00 price per carat

• Only sourced from gem dealers dealing in rare gemstones
• Barite is not rare but difficult to source faceted material

 

Yellow Barite, Faceted = $20.00 – $150.00 price per carat

• Only sourced from gem dealers dealing in rare gemstones
• Barite is not rare but difficult to source faceted material

 

Barite Specimens = $5.00 – $125.00

• Range in size
• Sold by the gram or by the piece
• Rockhounds like these specimens because they’re really cool to look at and affordable

 

How valuable is Barite?

Barite has never brought a higher dollar per carat because the demand for a soft stone without a vivid color just isn’t there. Collectors and gemstone enthusiasts will buy and cut Barite but the mass appeal for this stone will always be limited.

 

Values of Barite will not increase over time

Each year I do research on market prices for Barite and prices for small to mid-sized stones will be dependent on what the buyer is willing to pay. This is not a seller’s market but a buyer’s market. If I was looking to add Barite to my collection then I would try to source crystal clusters with larger crystals mixed in with smaller crystals.

If you’re not sure how to value a gemstone then you should consider a gemstone appraisal. Individuals acquiring gemstones through inheritance, estate sales, and auctions typically have the gemstone appraised to determine the value and to ensure the gem is what they think it is.