List of Gemstones | Rare Minerals | Gem stones | Gems » Pyroxene Group http://www.all-gemstones.com www.all-gemstones.com    Thu, 06 May 2010 12:29:47 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 en hourly 1 Star Diopside http://www.all-gemstones.com/star-diopside http://www.all-gemstones.com/star-diopside#comments Thu, 06 May 2010 12:18:29 +0000 admin http://www.all-gemstones.com/?p=1329 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 3 colors Strength : weak to strong
Pleochroism Colors : None Heat : fusible Acids : Avoid hydrofluoric acid Light : stable Polish Luster : vitreous to resinous Fracture : conchoidal, to uneven Fracture Luster : Vitreous to resinous Clarity Type : N/A Tones : N/A Saturations : N/A Cause of Color : Green – chromuum; green/brown- iron Enhancements : none Cleavage : perfect 1 direction. Color Range : Dark: Green, black Greenish, Blackish Transparency : Semitransparent to opaque Phenomena : Adularescence, 4 ray star, 6 ray star most often 4 ray
Separations : Star Diopside from-
Black star sapphire: 4 rays (possibly), RI, SG Identifying Characteristics and information
Star usually has 4 rays instead of 6.

May show only 2 colors of pleochoroism. Spectral Data
5050 line is common. Trade Names and Misnomers
Indian Star Sapphire(M)
Star Diopside
Star of India(M) ]]> http://www.all-gemstones.com/star-diopside/feed 0 Star Enstatite http://www.all-gemstones.com/star-enstatite http://www.all-gemstones.com/star-enstatite#comments Thu, 06 May 2010 12:15:15 +0000 admin http://www.all-gemstones.com/?p=1332 Refractive Index : 1.673 – 1.663 (+0.010 – 0.010) Optical Characteristic : DR, B+ Specific Gravity : 3.25 (+0.15 – 0.02) Formula : MgSiO3 Crystal System : Orthorhombic Variety/Species : Enstatite Species/Group : Pyroxene group Birefringence : 0.008 to 0.011 Dispersion : none Hardness : 5 to 6 Toughness : poor Ultrasonic : risky Steam : Never UV Long : Inert UV Short : Inert Pleochroism : 2 or 3 colors Strength : weak to strong

Pleochroism Colors : Press the Heat : sensitive Acids : Avoid hydrofluoric acid Light : stable Polish Luster : vitreous Fracture : Uneven Fracture Luster : Vitreous to pearly Clarity Type : N/A Tones : N/A Saturations : N/A Cause of Color : Iron Enhancements : none Cleavage : good in 1 directipn. Color Range : Dark, reddish brown, brownish green, yellowish green Colorless, (rarely). Brownish, greenish Transparency : Semitransparent to opaque Phenomena : Adularescence, 4 ray or 6 ray
Separations : Star Enstatite from-
Star Diopside : birefringence, spectrum, color (possibly) Identifying Characteristics and information
No identifying characteristics.
Use a combination of properties.
Enstatite is part of a mineral series with hypersthene (which has higher properties).
May show pnly 2 colors of plechroism. Spectral Data
Strong line at 5060. Often lines at 5475 and 4880. May have lines at 5090, 5025, 4830, 4590, 4490. Trade Names and Misnomers
Star Enstatite ]]> http://www.all-gemstones.com/star-enstatite/feed 0 Spodumene http://www.all-gemstones.com/spodumene http://www.all-gemstones.com/spodumene#comments Thu, 28 Jan 2010 06:59:54 +0000 admin http://www.all-gemstones.com/?p=1321 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 : Heat : sensitive Acids : Avoid hydrofluoric acid Light : stable Polish Luster : vitreous Fracture : Uneven to splintery Fracture Luster : Vitreous Clarity Type : l Tones : 2-4 Saturations : 1-4 Cause of Color : chromium Enhancements : lrradiation Cleavage : perfect 1 direction. Color Range : Pink, bluish purple, green, yellow, colorless, blue (very rare), pinkish, purplish, greenish, yellowish colored varieties light in tone. See also: Kunzite , Hiddenite, Triphane Transparency : Transparent Phenomena : chatoyancy, cat’s eye, Tenebrescence
Separations : Spodumene from-
Tourmaline : RI, birefringence, optic character, SG, fluorescence

Peridot : RI, SG, birefringence, Spectrum, cleavage

Beryl : RI, SG, optic character, cleavage

Komerupine : optic sign, SG, spectrum, fluorescence

Phenakite: optic character, SG, cleavage, fluorescence (possibly)

Euclase: birefringence, SG, cleavage, fluorescence, color (possibly) Identifying Characteristics and information
Liquid inclusions. Spectral Data
See varieties (Kunzite, Hiddenite, Triphane). Trade Names and Misnomers
Cat’s Eye Spodumene
Hiddenite (S)
Kunzite(S)
Pinite
Spodumene
Triphane (S) ]]> http://www.all-gemstones.com/spodumene/feed 0 Triphane http://www.all-gemstones.com/triphane http://www.all-gemstones.com/triphane#comments Sat, 26 Dec 2009 04:59:59 +0000 admin http://www.all-gemstones.com/?p=1424 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 moderate Pleochroism : 2 or 3 colors Strength : weak to moderate

Pleochroism Colors : Weak to moderate: Light yellow/ very light yellow. Heat : Sensitive Acids : Avoid hydrofluoric acid Light : some may fade Polish Luster : vitreous Fracture : Uneven to splintery Fracture Luster : Vitreous Clarity Type : I Tones : N/A Saturations : N/A Cause of Color : Iron Enhancements : Irradiation Cleavage : perfect in 1 direction. Color Range : Yellow Yellowish Transparency : Transparent Phenomena : None
Separations : Triphane from-
Phenakite : Optic character, SG, Cleavage, fluorescene(possibly)

Euclase : Birefringence, SG, cleavage, fluorescence, color(possibly)

Beryl : RI, SG, optic character, cleavage Identifying Characteristics and information
May have loquid inclusions.

May show only 2 colors of pleochrosim. Spectral Data
Lines at 4330 and 4380. Trade Names and Misnomers
Triphane ]]> http://www.all-gemstones.com/triphane/feed 0 Yuan Jade http://www.all-gemstones.com/yuan-jade http://www.all-gemstones.com/yuan-jade#comments Fri, 25 Dec 2009 04:40:27 +0000 admin http://www.all-gemstones.com/?p=1530 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 : None Heat : Fusible Acids : Slightly attacked by acids Light : Stable Polish Luster : Vitreous to greasy Fracture : Granular to splintery Fracture Luster : Dull Clarity Type : N/A Tones : N/A Saturations : N/A Cause of Color : Green-chromium and/or iron Enhancements : None Cleavage : None Color Range : Yellowish green, dark green, green, greenish Transparency : Semitranslucent to Opaque Phenomena : None
Separations : Yuan Jade from-
Nephrite : RI, SG, spectrum

Idocrase : RI, spectrum

Hydrogrossular Garnet : RI, SG, spectrum

Serpentine : RI, SG, spectrum

Chalcedony : RI, SG, fracture (possibly), spectrum

Maw-sit-sit: Appearance, RI Identifying Characteristics and information
Semitranslucent to opaque dark green jadeite Spectral Data
Strong line at 4375, weak bands at 4500, 4330 Trade Names and Misnomers
Yuvan Jade ]]> http://www.all-gemstones.com/yuan-jade/feed 0