Gemstone Glossary

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Mellite

Mellite is known as the “honey stone”. It is a rare mineral that is favored by both collector’s and gem-lovers alike. Its name (and nick name) are directly due to its appearance which has often been compared to the color of natural honey.

Mellite was discovered in 1793 in the town of Arten, Thuringe, in Allemagne of France. The name Mellite was derived from the ancient Latin word for “honey” which is “mellitus”.


White specimens of Mellite are occasionally discovered, but it is usually found in a honey to waxy yellow color, hence its name. Sometimes brown to reddish shades are unearthed. Specimens of Mellite have also been discovered in brown, brownish-white, colorless, yellow, or golden brown.

Mellite has a Refractive Index of 1.51 to 1.53 and a Hardness of 2.00 to 2.50 on the Moh’s Scale of Hardness. The chemical composition of Mellite is: Al2[C6(COO)6]•16(H2O). Mellite is a mellitate of alumina.

The mineral Mellite has been found in several locations including: France (in the region of the Seine); in Germany (Thüringen, Arten); in Hungary (Csordakut, Tatabanya, Sordakuit Banya); and in Russia (Malevka, Malowka, Tula).

Mellite was featured in the award winning display of minerals from Russia and the Republics of the former USSR at the exposition of the main show in Tuscon, in February 2001.

One of the most interesting aspects of Mellite is its history. It is found in deposits of brown coal, and its formation is partly the result of vegetable decomposition, a highly unusual situation amongst gemstones!