What Moroccan minerals cost, species by species
Median fixed-price asking price on eBay for Moroccan specimens of each species, 28 October 2026. Asking prices are not sale prices, and medians hide a wide spread, but they show which species are cheap and which are not.
| Species | Listings | Median asking price |
|---|---|---|
| Anglesite | 32 | $336 |
| Erythrite | 233 | $85 |
| Trilobite | 149 | $82 |
| Barite | 75 | $68 |
| Amethyst | 124 | $52 |
| Fluorite | 190 | $45 |
| Skutterudite | 107 | $35 |
| Calcite | 207 | $34 |
| Orthoceras | 97 | $33 |
| Ammonite | 151 | $30 |
| Geode | 157 | $30 |
| Wulfenite | 85 | $26 |
| Azurite | 191 | $24 |
| Cerussite | 201 | $24 |
| Malachite | 155 | $23 |
| Aragonite | 146 | $20 |
| Galena | 216 | $15 |
| Desert rose | 115 | $8 |
Why the same mineral costs $20 or $12,500
Vanadinite shows the spread best. FossilEra listed small vanadinites from $19, and four Moroccan clusters from $275 to $595. At iRocks, 19 Moroccan vanadinites ranged from $300 to $12,500, with a median of $1,450: a 2.2 cm thumbnail at $500, a 7.2 cm small cabinet at $6,000 and a 13.8 cm cabinet at $12,500. Same species, same district; the difference is quality.
What actually sets the price
Collectors do not pay by weight. These are the factors, roughly in order of weight:
- Size of the best crystals, not of the rock. A few sharp 1 cm crystals beat a fist-sized matrix dusted with tiny ones.
- Condition of the front: chips, broken tips and repairs on the display side cut the price hardest.
- Colour and lustre: saturated, even colour and bright faces.
- Form: sharp, well-defined crystals in their typical shape.
- Contrast and composition: colourful crystals on a contrasting matrix, with a clear front and a stable base.
- Locality: a precise, confirmed mine adds value; 'Morocco' alone does not.
- Rarity of the species: anglesite and erythrite cost several times more than galena or cerussite of the same size.
- Natural versus treated: untreated, unrepaired pieces are worth more, and any treatment should be disclosed.
Size classes used by dealers
Each class is its own market. A top-quality thumbnail can be worth more than an average cabinet piece.
| Class | Approximate size | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| Micromount | A few millimetres | Viewed under a microscope |
| Thumbnail | Up to about 2.5 cm (1 in) | Compact collections, boxes |
| Miniature | About 2.5 to 5 cm (1 to 2 in) | Shelves, small cabinets |
| Small cabinet | About 5 to 8 cm (2 to 3 in) | Display cabinets |
| Cabinet and larger | Over about 8 cm | Main display pieces |
How to tell if a price is fair
Compare like with like: same species, same locality, same size class and similar condition. Use the price tables in each of our mineral guides as a reference, ask for photos of the back and a statement of any repair, and remember that a very low price on a large, perfect crystal is usually a warning, not a bargain.
Questions collectors ask
How much are crystals worth?
Most common Moroccan specimens list for $15 to $85 (median by species), but fine pieces of the same species reach hundreds or thousands. Quality, not weight, sets the price.
How are crystals priced?
By crystal size, condition, colour, lustre, form, contrast with the matrix, locality and rarity. Weight matters very little.
What is the most valuable Moroccan mineral?
Among the species we checked, fine anglesite had the highest median asking price ($336), and top Mibladen vanadinite reaches $12,500 at specialist dealers.
Are raw crystals worth anything?
Common rough material is worth little, but a well-formed, undamaged natural specimen of a sought-after species can be worth a great deal.