Archive for the Monoclinic Category

  • Star Diopside

    Refractive Index : 1.701 – 1.675 (+0.029 – 0.010)

    Optical Characteristic : DR, B+,  AGG

    Specific Gravity : 3.29 (+0.11 – 0.07)

    Formula : CaMgSi2O6

    Crystal System : Monoclinic

    Variety/Species : Diopside

    Species/Group : Pyroxene group

    Birefringence : 0.024 to 0.030

    Dispersion : N/A

    Hardness : 5.5 to 6

    Toughness : poor

    Ultrasonic : risky

    Steam : Never

    UV Long : weak

    UV Short : Inert

    Pleochroism : 2 or [...]

  • Spodumene

    Refractive Index : 1.676 – 1.662 (+0.005 – 0.005)

    Optical Characteristic : DR, B+

    Specific Gravity : 3.18 (+0.03 – 0.03)

    Formula : LiAISi2O6

    Crystal System : Monoclinic

    Variety/Species : spodumene

    Species/Group : Pyroxene group

    Birefringence : 0.014

    Dispersion : 0.017

    Hardness : 6.5 to 7

    Toughness : poor

    Ultrasonic : Never

    Steam : Never

    UV Long : Inert

    UV Short : Inert

    Pleochroism : 2 colors

    Strength : moderate

    Pleochroism Colors [...]

  • Sphene

    Refractive Index : 2.034 – 1.900 (+0.020 – 0.020)

    Optical Characteristic : DR, B+

    Specific Gravity : 3.52 (+0.02 – 0.02)

    Formula : CaTiSiO5

    Crystal System : Monoclinic

    Variety/Species : All

    Species/Group : sphene

    Birefringence : 0.100 to 0.135

    Dispersion : 0.051

    Hardness : 5 to 5.5

    Toughness : Fair to poor

    Ultrasonic : risky

    Steam : Never

    UV Long : Inert

    UV Short : Inert

    Pleochroism : 3 colors

    Strength [...]

  • Spurrite

    Refractive Index : 1.679 – 1.640

    Optical Characteristic : DR, B-

    Specific Gravity : 3.00

    Formula : Ca5(SiO4)2(CO3)

    Crystal System : Monoclinic

    Variety/Species : All

    Species/Group : spurrite

    Birefringence : 0.039

    Dispersion :

    Hardness : 5

    Toughness : poor

    Ultrasonic : Never

    Steam : Never

    UV Long : Inert

    UV Short : Inert

    Pleochroism : None

    Strength : N/A

    Pleochroism Colors : None

    Heat : sensitive

    Acids : sensitive

    Light : stable

    Polish Luster : [...]

  • Staurolite

    Refractive Index : 1.746 – 1.736 (+0.015 – 0.015)

    Optical Characteristic : DR, B+, AGG

    Specific Gravity : 3.71 (+0.08 -0.06)

    Formula : (Fe++,Mg)2AI9(Si,AI)4O20(O,OH)4

    Crystal System : Monoclinic

    Variety/Species : All

    Species/Group : staurolite

    Birefringence : 0.009 to 0.015

    Dispersion : 0.021

    Hardness : 7 to 7.5

    Toughness : fair

    Ultrasonic : risky

    Steam : risky

    UV Long : Inert

    UV Short : Inert

    Pleochroism : 3 colors

    Strength : moderate

    Pleochroism [...]

  • Talc

    Refractive Index : 1.590 – 1.540 (+0.010 – 0.002)

    Optical Characteristic : AGG

    Specific Gravity : 2.75 (+0.05 – 0.55)

    Formula : Mg3Si4O10(OH)2.

    Crystal System : Monoclinic

    Variety/Species : Talc

    Species/Group : Steatite

    Birefringence : 0.050

    Dispersion : N/A

    Hardness : 1 to 2.5

    Toughness : good

    Ultrasonic : risky

    Steam : risky

    UV Long : Inert to weak

    UV Short : Inert to weak

    Pleochroism : None

    Strength : N/A

    Pleochroism [...]

  • Tremolite

    Refractive Index : 1.643-1.560

    Optical Characteristic : DR, B-

    Specific Gravity : 3.20-2.90

    Formula : Ca2Mg5Si8O22(OH)2 +Fe

    Crystal System : Monoclinic

    Variety/Species : Tremolite

    Species/Group : Amphibole group

    Birefringence : 0.017 – 0.028

    Dispersion : N/A

    Hardness : 5 to 6

    Toughness : Good to poor

    Ultrasonic : Never

    Steam : Never

    UV Long : Inert

    UV Short : Inert

    Pleochroism : 2 colors

    Strength : N/A

    Pleochroism Colors :
    Green gems: [...]

  • Triphane

    Refractive Index : 1.676 – 1.660 + 0.005 – 0.005

    Optical Characteristic : DR B+

    Specific Gravity : 3.18 + 0.03 – 0.03

    Formula : LiAISi2O6

    Crystal System : Monoclinic

    Variety/Species : Spodumene

    Species/Group : Pyroxene group

    Birefringence : 0.014 to0.016

    Dispersion : 0.017

    Hardness : 6.5 to 7

    Toughness : Poor

    Ultrasonic : Never

    Steam : Never

    UV Long : Inert to moderate

    UV Short : Inert to [...]

  • Yuan Jade

    Refractive Index : 1.688 – 1.640

    Optical Characteristic : DR, AGG

    Specific Gravity : 3.34 +0.06 – 0.09

    Formula : NaAISi2O6

    Crystal System : Monoclinic

    Variety/Species : Jadeite Jade

    Species/Group : Pyroxene Group

    Birefringence : N/A

    Dispersion : N/A

    Hardness : 6.5 to 7

    Toughness : Exceptional

    Ultrasonic : Normally Safe

    Steam : Normally safe

    UV Long : Inert

    UV Short : Inert

    Pleochroism : None

    Strength : N/A

    Pleochroism Colors : [...]

  • Malachite

    Refractive Index : 1.909 – 1.655

    Optical Characteristic : AGG

    Specific Gravity : 3.95 (+0.15 – 0.70)

    Formula : CuCO3(OH)2

    Crystal System : Monoclinic

    Variety/Species : All

    Species/Group : Malachite

    Birefringence : 0.254

    Dispersion : N/A

    Hardness : 3.5 to 4

    Toughness : poor

    Ultrasonic : Never

    Steam : Never

    UV Long : Inert

    UV Short : Inert

    Pleochroism : None

    Strength : N/A

    Pleochroism Colors : None

    Heat : sensitive

    Acids : Attacked [...]