By Chisom Ibemere
Hiddenite is a pale to emerald green variety of spodumene which is primarily composed of lithium, aluminum, and silicate. It originated in 1879 in Hiddenite, North Carolina, United States. It’s name was given after , a mineralogist, iWilliam Earl Hidden who discovered the gemstone.
Hiddenite is a rare stone which occurs basically in North Carolina, particularly in the town of Hiddenite. It has also been found to exist in other locations around the world such as Brazil, Myanmar, and Afghanistan.
Hiddenite is used as a gemstone in jewelry. It is prominent for its vibrant green color, which can range from pale green to a more intense emerald-green. Hiddenite may be faceted and set into rings, pendants, and earrings.
Hiddenite has a hardness of 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale which is durable enough for jewelry. It has a vitreous to pearly luster and has minute quantity of chromium which results in it’s greenish colour. It has the ability to exhibit many colours, hence a pleochroic gemstone.
Hiddenite is considered a relatively rare and valuable gemstone. Its value is based on numerous factors like its color, clarity, size, and the quality of the cut. Vivid and intense green hiddenite gems with good clarity are highly prized and can fetch a higher price in the market. The global value of hiddenite can vary depending on market demand and availability.