Scapolite

History
Scapolite is a relative newcomer to the gem world. Discovered in 1913 in the Mogok area of Myanmar, it could be found in white, pink or violet.

Features
With a hardness of 6, scapolite is softer than quartz, but can still be useful in jewellery if treated gently. Scapolite frequently is flawless or nearly flawless, though these stones are not large. Now found in a wide range of colors from white (or colorless) to yellow, green and blue, scapolite can occasionally produce a cat's eye effect.

Treatments
No known treatments are used on scapolite at this time.

Principal Deposits
Scapolite may be found in Myanmar, Mozambique, Madagascar, Tanzania, Brazil and Canada.

Rarity 
Somewhat rare, scapolite gemstones of good color and good clarity are difficult to find, as the rough material is susceptible to heat damage, and many good pieces of rough can be damaged if improperly handled.