On this page
UnderstandWhat it is, what people ask, how far this page goes
Natural inorganic gem materials · Rock / mineral aggregate · Natural identity; treatment status unknown
Balin Stone
A basic name for a Chinese carving stone, "Balin stone", listed in GB/T 16552-2017 Table A.2; this regional material name does not indicate a single mineral or origin. This page compares how the major standards and institutions name it, what must be disclosed when selling it, whether it can be worn every day, how it is treated and identified, and which source each conclusion comes from.
Price, rarity and origin are outside the scope of this wiki.
What this page can answer
This page covers
- How Balin Stone forms and what gives its colourFormation setting, process and timescale, each finding graded and sourced
- How to identify Balin StoneHow far lab testing can go
- Treatments and enhancements of Balin Stone3 registered treatments: status, stability, how common they are and identification leads
- Caring for and wearing Balin StoneDurability indicators and wearing advice
- Hardness, density and refractive index of Balin StoneEach value with its source and check date
- Balin Stone in English, Chinese and Japanese; national standard namesNames in four languages, the GB/T standard name and the suggested listing name; and: Has any of GIA, FTC, CIBJO or Gem-A put a name for it on record here?
- Name origin and history of Balin StoneWhere the name comes from
- Listing and disclosing Balin StoneThe listing name to use; what must be disclosed before sale
- Standard clauses that define Balin StoneWhich clause defines it, each cross-checked
What we cannot conclude
- Whether one particular bead is natural, treated or synthetic — only a laboratory report can settle that.
- Geographic origin, unless an origin report accompanies the item.
- Price, rarity or investment value: this wiki covers naming and disclosure only.
Material research: formation, causes and history
What authoritative sources say about how this material forms, what causes its colour and optical effects, where its name comes from and how people have used it. Each statement carries an evidence grade and its sources; it describes the material in general, not any specific piece.
How it forms
Balin stone is among the Chinese carving and seal stones: a rock — a mineral aggregate — whose makeup changes with variety, rather than one species. Typically it contains the kaolinite-group minerals dickite and kaolinite, Al2Si2O5(OH)4, and pyrophyllite, Al2Si4O10(OH)2, may also be present along with others. Its origin involves both hydrothermal alteration and metamorphic settings: dickite and kaolinite usually arise from hydrothermal alteration (or weathering) of aluminosilicate minerals, or occur as authigenic sedimentary minerals, whereas pyrophyllite is found in bedded deposits within schistose metamorphic rocks as well as along hydrothermal veins. Composition changing with variety, each sample must be identified individually.
Scope: Applies to the composition and genetic overview of the Chinese carving stone "Balin stone" as a rock aggregate (as reflected by sources on kaolinite-group minerals and pyrophyllite); composition varies by variety.
Sources RRUFF Kaolinite · RRUFF Dickite · RRUFF Pyrophyllite
Where it forms
A hydrothermal-alteration/weathering setting: dickite/kaolinite form by alteration of aluminosilicate minerals, also authigenic-sedimentary.
Sources RRUFF Kaolinite · RRUFF Dickite · RRUFF Pyrophyllite
Hydrothermal veins and bedded schistose-metamorphic deposits: pyrophyllite's occurrence.
Sources RRUFF Kaolinite · RRUFF Dickite · RRUFF Pyrophyllite
How it forms, step by step
Aluminosilicate-bearing host rocks or sediments are emplaced.
Sources RRUFF Kaolinite · RRUFF Dickite · RRUFF Pyrophyllite
Aluminosilicate minerals are altered hydrothermally (or by weathering) into dickite/kaolinite clays.
Sources RRUFF Kaolinite · RRUFF Dickite · RRUFF Pyrophyllite
Pyrophyllite and related phases form in hydrothermal veins or in bedded schistose-metamorphic deposits.
Sources RRUFF Kaolinite · RRUFF Dickite · RRUFF Pyrophyllite
Clay minerals and others combine into a carving-stone aggregate whose composition varies by variety.
Sources RRUFF Kaolinite · RRUFF Dickite · RRUFF Pyrophyllite
Link to appearance
Colour and pattern vary with minor minerals and impurities; NOTE: appearance alone cannot establish variety, origin or composition and requires identification.
Sources RRUFF Kaolinite · RRUFF Pyrophyllite
Timescale
The sources give no absolute age for the formation of the relevant minerals.
Sources RRUFF Kaolinite · RRUFF Dickite · RRUFF Pyrophyllite
Related base materials
- Kaolinite-group minerals (dickite/kaolinite): Common clay mineral component
- Pyrophyllite: One of the possible main mineral components
Supporting findings
Dickite/kaolinite commonly form by hydrothermal alteration (or weathering) of aluminosilicate minerals, and also as authigenic sedimentary minerals.
Evidence grade BScope: Applies to kaolinite-group formation; a matrix source.
Sources RRUFF Kaolinite · RRUFF Dickite
Both hydrothermal veins and bedded deposits hosted in schistose metamorphic rocks are settings in which pyrophyllite is found.
Evidence grade BScope: Describes pyrophyllite's occurrence; not all Balin varieties.
Sources RRUFF Pyrophyllite
Recorded localities
Authoritative sources name a single or principal locality.
Asia
- Bairin Right Banner, Chifeng, Inner Mongolia, ChinaMindat: named for Bairin Right Banner; Balin Stone Mine listed. Mindat treats Balin Stone as a synonym of chicken-blood stone; locality only
Sources Mindat: Chicken-Blood Stone · Mindat: Balin Stone
These are localities recorded by authoritative sources, not an origin finding for any individual piece. The CIBJO Gemstone Book (2022, §4.2.3) says a place of origin names where a gem was mined or harvested, is a matter of opinion, does not imply a level of quality, and that cutting, processing or exporting centres must not be used to imply origin. See how far testing can go on this page, the origin determination guide and the overview of recorded localities.
Where the name comes from
The name balin stone is not given an etymology by the cited sources; the etymologies belong to its parent minerals: kaolinite is from a corruption of the Chinese Kauling, 'high ridge', for a Chinese occurrence; dickite honours the Scottish metallurgical chemist Allan Brugh Dick (1833–1926), who first described the species; pyrophyllite is from the Greek for fire and leaf, in allusion to its exfoliating into fan shapes when heated. These etymologies belong to those parent minerals, not to the trade name.
Evidence grade BScope: The etymology explains the origin of a name only; it does not attest composition, locality, naturalness or treatment, and here belongs to the parent mineral rather than to the trade name itself.
Sources RRUFF Kaolinite · RRUFF Dickite · RRUFF Pyrophyllite
Other research findings
Balin stone is a rock (mineral aggregate) whose composition varies by variety, commonly kaolinite-group minerals and possibly pyrophyllite; it is not a single mineral species.
Evidence grade CScope: Defines identity and compositional variability; the cited authoritative sources do not define Balin stone as a species.
Sources RRUFF Kaolinite · RRUFF Pyrophyllite
Limits of this research
- Research status: No authoritative source specific to this material was found; findings come from the parent material or are marked as gaps
- "Balin stone" is a Chinese carving-stone name with no mineralogical definition in the cited sources, so it is treated as a rock aggregate and flagged as lacking an authoritative definition.
- Composition varies by variety and no single-species claim is made; no specific deposit source was available.
Methodology
- Origin determination and its limits
- Quality grading and value factors
- How gemmology became a technical discipline
Evidence grades
- A
- Standards bodies, government geological surveys, peer-reviewed research and museum records
- B
- Institutional educational material
- C
- Specialist databases or cautious readings
A statement is never graded above its strongest source.
This section is LumaLark's own factual restatement of public authoritative sources, credited item by item; it contains no verbatim excerpts, images or third-party logos.
DecideListing name, disclosure, care and treatments
- Suggested listing name
- Balin Stone (state the tested composition)
GB/T 16552—2017 Table A.2 “Balin Stone” · CIBJO Gemmological Laboratories Book 2024 7.1.4
Construction or treatment status
Natural identity; treatment status unknown
Treatments recorded for this material: Filled / Fracture-filled, Dyed, Coated
Related:Disclosure and cautions
This page cannot answer
Natural? · Origin · Price
A lab report settles these; this wiki covers naming and disclosure.
Related:What this page can answer
Answer at a glance
"Balin Stone" is a market name rather than a mineral species name; before using it, verify: Laboratory identification required before the name is used.
Evidence
- GB/T · Table A.2, row 巴林石 (Balin Stone)
What this means for you
Before buying, check the recommended listing name "Balin Stone (state the tested composition)" and any disclosed treatments on this page, and ask the seller for a grading report if in doubt.
Known uncertainty
- This entry's exact material identity is not fully settled.
- See “Disclosure and cautions” above
- Last reviewed
- 2026-09-01
Trade-name ruling
- Laboratory identification required before the name is used.
- Suggested listing name
- Balin Stone (state the tested composition)
Care and wear
No institutional care guidance is registered for this material yet; below are its durability indicators and general guidance.
Durability and wearing
Numbers in curly braces, such as {111}, are crystallographic face symbols (Miller indices): each marks a set of crystal faces or cleavage planes. They are reproduced as written in the cited source.
Daily wear
Its main component (kaolinite) is only Mohs 2–2.5 with perfect {001} cleavage and flexible-but-inelastic tenacity; it is very soft, easily scratched and cleaves into sheets, and is a carving/seal material rather than daily-wear.
Care
Wipe with a dry soft cloth and, if needed, a barely damp cloth dried at once; avoid rubbing, soaking and bending, and never scrape with hard objects or use ultrasonic cleaning (basis: source records perfect cleavage and Mohs 2–2.5).
General guidance: LumaLark's general guidance inferred from the material's properties (hardness, toughness, cleavage); not text from the cited source, and not a guarantee for any specific piece.
Scope: This field describes the general physical properties of balin stone as a material; it makes no durability or safety promise for any specific finished product. Durability of treated (e.g. filled, dyed, coated) or assembled/composite pieces must be assessed separately for the individual item.
Treatments and identification leads
One row per treatment, with three standards side by side: how often it occurs and how stable it is (CIBJO), its category in GB/T 16552—2017 Table B.1 (this site's paraphrase) and how the JJA/AGL 2025 table lists it. Each CIBJO value links to its entry under “Testing and market”, where the wording and source are given in full.
This table scrolls sideways on narrow screens.
| Treatment | Market frequency (CIBJO) | Stability (CIBJO) | GB/T 16552 category | JJA/AGL listing | Identification leads |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| dyeingStatus: colour treated | — | — | Treatment | — | See identification leads |
| fillingStatus: treated | — | — | Graded — see §5.4.1, Table 1 | — | See identification leads |
| coatingStatus: treated | — | — | Treatment | — | See identification leads |
Where each treatment acts (schematics): Dyed · Filled / Fracture-filled · Coated
“—” means the cited source gives no value for that item, not “none”. Source: GB/T 16553—2017; GB/T 16552—2017 Table B.1
Whether a treatment has to show in the name differs between the two rule sets (this site’s paraphrase):
- GB/T 16552—2017: a method classed as treatment has to be stated in the name itself — the method put before the name, or added in brackets after it; a method classed as optimization does not need to appear in the name, though one marked “Optimization (annotation required)” still has to be noted in the quality documents. Source: §5.4.2.1 a), b); §5.4.2.2 a)
- CIBJO Gemstone Book 2022: no longer splits treatments into ones that need specific disclosure and ones that need only general disclosure: every treatment is to be disclosed, and the seller tells the buyer which treatment was used and what special care it calls for. Source: §4.2.5 Note 2, §4.2.5.1, pp.14–15
What this table covers
What this page can give
- Registered treatments, their stability and how often they occur (see the table above)
- Identification leads for each treatment, for use when sending a stone for testing
VerifyNames, standards, technical facts, clauses and sources
Names
Standard and listing namesThe Chinese formal name of Balin Stone is given in GB/T 16552—2017 Table A.2; the suggested listing name is Balin Stone (state the tested composition). Names in four languagesThe Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese and Japanese names are written with the same characters, and the English name is Balin Stone; the mineralogical name corresponds to a Chinese carving stone whose composition varies with the minerals it contains. Institution usageFor authority wording, the FTC and CIBJO texts on file have no wording for this name (checked), and GIA and Gem-A are unchecked; bodies without a recorded wording show the entry's own English name, which does not represent their position. Japanese namesAs for the GSJ (Japan) formal name, the entry carries its own Japanese name, but GSJ's wording for Balin Stone is not yet verified by this site.
- GSJ (Japan) formal name
- 巴林石 (not yet checked for this body — the entry's own Japanese name is shown)
- Chinese formal name
- 巴林石 (GB/T 16552—2017 Table A.2)
- Mineralogical name
- Chinese carving stone; mineral composition varies
Four-language names
- 简体中文
- 巴林石
- 繁體中文
- 巴林石
- English
- Balin Stone
- 日本語
- 巴林石
See also: Misleading and prohibited trade names · Supplementary name index
Classification
- Origin
- Natural materials
- Material domain
- Natural inorganic gem materials
- Browsing family
- Rocks and polymineral aggregates
- Identity tier
- Rock / mineral aggregate
- Mineral chemical class
- Mixed / composition-dependent
- Construction or treatment status
- Natural identity; treatment status unknown
Treatments listed by standards
Balin Stone is listed in GB/T 16552—2017 Annex B, Table B.1 with: filling, which improves or changes durability and appearance, its category graded; dyeing, which improves or changes colour, category treatment; and coating, which improves or changes lustre, colour and other aspects of appearance, category treatment. The explanation of Table B.1 and the definitions of each grade are on the Gem treatments page.
GB/T 16552-2017, Annex B, Table B.1
Table B.1, row “Balin Stone” (p.17):
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| Method | Effect | Category |
|---|---|---|
| Filling | Improves or changes durability and appearance | Graded — see §5.4.1, Table 1 |
| Dyeing | Improves or changes colour | Treatment |
| Coating | Improves or changes lustre, colour and other aspects of appearance | Treatment |
What Table B.1 is, and how the “see 5.4.1” grades are defined: see the GB/T 16552: optimization vs treatment page.
What it is and how it's identified
Registered material facts
Each row carries its own source and check date and can be cited on its own; “—” means the cited source gives no value, not “none”.
Definition
Balin Stone — composition (chemistry): set by which minerals are present and in what proportions
GB/T 16553—2017
- Does this standard apply
- applies to this entry
Source & check 2026-09-21
- Source
- GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.2.33 (locator checked 2026-09-21)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-21
Structure
Balin Stone — structure (overall): a crystalline aggregate, frequently compact and massive.
GB/T 16553—2017
- Does this standard apply
- applies to this entry
Source & check 2026-09-21
- Source
- GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.2.33 (locator checked 2026-09-21)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-21
Durability
Balin Stone — Mohs hardness: 2–4
GB/T 16553—2017
Reference points on this site: Talc 1–3, Fluorite 4, Apatite 5–5.5, Orthoclase 6–6.5, Topaz 8, Diamond 10 (Source: GB/T 16553—2017); Gypsum 1.5–2, Calcite 3, Quartz 7 (Source: Handbook of Mineralogy); Corundum 9 (Source: GIA Gem Encyclopedia (care guide))
- Does this standard apply
- applies to this entry
- General note
- hardness only, not durability
Source & check 2026-09-21
- Source
- GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.2.33 (locator checked 2026-09-21)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-21
Balin Stone — cleavage: generally not seen on an aggregate
GB/T 16553—2017
- Does this standard apply
- applies to this entry
Source & check 2026-09-21
- Source
- GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.2.33 (locator checked 2026-09-21)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-21
Physical properties
Balin Stone — density: 2.4–2.7 g/cm³
GB/T 16553—2017
- Does this standard apply
- applies to this entry
Source & check 2026-09-21
- Source
- GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.2.33 (locator checked 2026-09-21)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-21
Optical
Balin Stone — optic character: anisotropic aggregate
GB/T 16553—2017
- Does this standard apply
- applies to this entry
Source & check 2026-09-21
- Source
- GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.2.33 (locator checked 2026-09-21)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-21
Balin Stone — refractive index: 1.56
GB/T 16553—2017
- Does this standard apply
- applies to this entry
- Qualification
The clause we cite gives this as a value commonly read by the spot (distant-vision) method. It is a common value, not an absolute limit.
Source & check 2026-09-21
- Source
- GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.2.33 (locator checked 2026-09-21)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-21
Balin Stone — birefringence: not measurable on an aggregate
GB/T 16553—2017
- Does this standard apply
- applies to this entry
Source & check 2026-09-21
- Source
- GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.2.33 (locator checked 2026-09-21)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-21
Balin Stone — pleochroism: not measurable on an aggregate
GB/T 16553—2017
- Treatment state
- untreated
- Does this standard apply
- applies to this entry
Source & check 2026-09-21
- Source
- GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.2.33 (locator checked 2026-09-21)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-21
Balin Stone — fluorescence (overall): generally none
GB/T 16553—2017
- Treatment state
- untreated
- Does this standard apply
- applies to this entry
Source & check 2026-09-21
- Source
- GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.2.33 (locator checked 2026-09-21)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-21
Balin Stone — spectrum (UV-visible): non-characteristic
GB/T 16553—2017
- Does this standard apply
- applies to this entry
Source & check 2026-09-21
- Source
- GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.2.33 (locator checked 2026-09-21)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-21
Balin Stone — spectrum (infrared): In the fingerprint part of the mid-IR, the vibrations of Si-O and similar groups in the clay minerals produce characteristic absorption bands; OH vibration does the same in the functional group region.
GB/T 16553—2017
- Does this standard apply
- applies to this entry
Source & check 2026-09-22
- Source
- GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.2.33 (locator checked 2026-09-22)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-22
Balin Stone — magnification: structure ranging from cryptocrystalline to finely granular, compact massive structure.
GB/T 16553—2017
- Treatment state
- untreated
- Does this standard apply
- applies to this entry
Source & check 2026-09-21
- Source
- GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.2.33 (locator checked 2026-09-21)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-21
Balin Stone — body colour: yellow, white, red, brown, etc.
GB/T 16553—2017
- Treatment state
- untreated
- Does this standard apply
- applies to this entry
- Qualification
In chapter 5 of GB/T 16553—2017, the colour entries of Shoushan Stone, Amber, Rhodochrosite and other variety clauses also name yellow or a yellowish colour.
- General note
- colour alone is not identity
Source & check 2026-09-26
- Source
- GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.2.33 (locator checked 2026-09-26)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-26
Quality factors
Balin Stone — quality factor (lustre): greasy or waxy
GB/T 16553—2017
- Treatment state
- untreated
- Does this standard apply
- applies to this entry
Source & check 2026-09-21
- Source
- GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.2.33 (locator checked 2026-09-21)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-21
Each row's “Source & check” expands to the full source; the date beside it is the fact check date.
This material (RI / SG midpoints): 1.56 / 2.55; Closest values: 1Changhua Stone 1.56 / 2.6, 2Bamboo Coral 1.57 / 2.65, 3Charoite 1.554 / 2.66, 4Alashan Yu 1.54 / 2.62, 5Amethyst 1.548 / 2.67
Show the full chart (330 registered materials)
Outside the full chart's range, drawn as triangles at the edge (RI / SG midpoints): Hematite 3.045/5.12, Synthetic Rutile 2.76/4.26, Rutile 2.753/4.23, Synthetic Moissanite 2.67/3.22
Testing and market
How far testing can go
Balin Stone that has undergone dyeing can be identified by the following features: Under magnification the colour is unevenly distributed and mostly concentrated in fissures, between grains or in surface hollows; the dye may respond to long- and short-wave UV with an unusual fluorescence; compositional analysis (XRF and similar) detects foreign elements of the dye such as Pb.
GB/T 16553—2017
- Treatment state
- colour treated
- Does this standard apply
- can be followed as a reference only
- Treatment
- dyeing
Source & check 2026-09-21
- Source
- GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.2.33 (dyeing) (locator checked 2026-09-21)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-21
Balin Stone that has undergone filling can be identified by the following features: Under magnification the surface luster of the filled part differs from the host jade and gas bubbles show in the filled area; under long- and short-wave UV the filled part mostly fluoresces differently from the host jade; infrared spectra show characteristic absorption bands of the filler; luminescence imaging (UV fluorescence viewer and similar) shows how the filler is distributed.
GB/T 16553—2017
- Treatment state
- treated
- Does this standard apply
- can be followed as a reference only
- Treatment
- filling
Source & check 2026-09-21
- Source
- GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.2.33 (filling) (locator checked 2026-09-21)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-21
Balin Stone that has undergone coating can be identified by the following features: Under magnification the surface luster is abnormal and the film can be seen peeling off in places; refractive index readings may be abnormal; infrared and Raman spectra show characteristic peaks of the film.
GB/T 16553—2017
- Treatment state
- treated
- Does this standard apply
- can be followed as a reference only
- Treatment
- coating
Source & check 2026-09-21
- Source
- GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.2.33 (coating) (locator checked 2026-09-21)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-21
Each row's “Source & check” expands to the full source; the date beside it is the fact check date.
Clause-level definitions
Balin Stone has a clause-level definition registered in Annex A of GB/T 16552—2017, under the entry name Balin Stone, defined as a Chinese carving stone whose mineral composition can vary. Cross-check result: listed directly in GB/T; not found under a standalone heading of the same name in CIBJO. Accordingly, the clause-level naming basis for Balin Stone is GB/T 16552—2017 Annex A; on the CIBJO side there is no corresponding record with Balin Stone as a standalone heading.
This table scrolls sideways on narrow screens.
| Term | Clause | Definition | Cross-check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Balin Stone | GB/T 16552-2017 Annex A | Chinese carving stone; mineral composition varies | Listed directly by GB/T; CIBJO carries no standalone entry under the same name. |
Evidence and sources
Authority basis and clause sources
Sources
- CIBJO – The World Jewellery Confederation. Gemmological Laboratories Book (Blue Book), Gemmological Commission 2024-1.
- CIBJO – The World Jewellery Confederation. The Gemstone Book (Blue Book), 2022.
- SAMR / SAC (China). GB/T 16552—2017 Gems — Nomenclature.
- RRUFF Project, in partnership with the IMA – International Mineralogical Association. IMA Mineral List.
- Geological Survey of Japan, AIST (Japan). Museum mineral specimens, browse by classification.
Further reading
Related entries and topic cluster
Parent entry and related pages on this site. Rows marked “Planned” are suggested new content and have no link yet.
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| Page | Content | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Browsing family | Rocks and polymineral aggregates | Live |
| Treatments recorded for this material | Filled / Fracture-filled, Dyed, Coated | Live |
| Related articles | To be added (placeholder) | Planned |
Who maintains this page
The material facts in the Balin Stone entry are maintained by the LumaLark wiki and matched one by one to the standard clauses or institutional sources they cite: every fact carries its source (with a clause or page locator) and a check date, so it can be traced back to the original; clause-level definitions also carry a cross-check result. The entry exists so that buyers and sellers can check naming, disclosure and material facts item by item.