Archive for the Species Category

  • Smoky Quartz

    Refractive Index : 1.553 – 1.544

    Optical Characteristic : DR, U+, AGG

    Specific Gravity : 2.651 (+0.04 – 0.01)

    Formula : SiO2

    Crystal System : Trigonal

    Variety/Species : smoky

    Species/Group : Quartz

    Birefringence : 0.009

    Dispersion : 0.013

    Hardness : 7

    Toughness : good

    Ultrasonic : Usually safe

    Steam : risky

    UV Long : Inert

    UV Short : Inert

    Pleochroism : 2 colors

    Strength : weak

    Pleochroism Colors : Dark stones, weak: [...]

  • Star Sapphire

    Refractive Index : 1.770 – 1.762 (+0.009 – 0.005)

    Optical Characteristic : DR U-, AGG

    Specific Gravity : 4.00 (+0.10 – 0.05)

    Formula : AI2O3

    Crystal System : Trigonal

    Variety/Species : Sapphire

    Species/Group : Corundum

    Birefringence : 0.008 to 0.010

    Dispersion : 0.018

    Hardness : 9

    Toughness : Good to excellent

    Ultrasonic : Usually safe

    Steam : usually safe

    UV Long : Inert to strong

    UV Short : Inert [...]

  • Tiger’s Eye

    Refractive Index : 1.553-1.554

    Optical Characteristic : DR, AGG

    Specific Gravity : 2.651 +.06 -.01

    Formula : SiO2

    Crystal System : Trigonal

    Variety/Species : Tiger’s Eye

    Species/Group : Quartz

    Birefringence : 0.009

    Dispersion : N/A

    Hardness : 7

    Toughness : Good

    Ultrasonic : Uaually safe

    Steam : Risky

    UV Long : Inert

    UV Short : Inert

    Pleochroism : None

    Strength : N/A

    Pleochroism Colors : None

    Heat : Avoid aburt temperature change

    Acids : [...]

  • Trapiche Emerald

    Refractive Index : 1.583-1.577 + 0.017 – 0.017

    Optical Characteristic : DR, U-

    Specific Gravity : 2.72 + 0.18 – 0.05

    Formula : Be3AI2Si6O18

    Crystal System : Hexagonal

    Variety/Species : Trapiche emerald

    Species/Group : Beryl

    Birefringence : 0.005 to 0.009

    Dispersion : 0.014

    Hardness : 7.5 to 8

    Toughness : Poor to good

    Ultrasonic : Never

    Steam : Never

    UV Long : Inert to strong

    UV Short : Inert [...]

  • 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 [...]

  • Turritella Agate

    Refractive Index : 1.54 – 1.53

    Optical Characteristic : AGG

    Specific Gravity : 2.60 + 0.30 – 0.05

    Formula : SiO2

    Crystal System : Trigonal

    Variety/Species : Chalcedony

    Species/Group : Cryptocrystaline Quartz

    Birefringence : 0.004

    Dispersion : None

    Hardness : 6.5 to 7

    Toughness : Good

    Ultrasonic : Uaually safe

    Steam : Usually safe

    UV Long : Inert to moderate

    UV Short : Inert to moderate

    Pleochroism : None

    Strength : [...]

  • Emerald

    Refractive Index : 1.583 – 1.577 (+0.017 – 0.017)

    Optical Characteristic : DR U-

    Specific Gravity : 2.72 (+0.18 – 0.05)

    Formula : Be3AI2Si6O18

    Crystal System : Hexagonal

    Variety/Species : Emerald

    Species/Group : Beryl

    Birefringence : 0.005 to .009

    Dispersion : 0.014

    Hardness : 7.5 to 8

    Toughness : Poor to good

    Ultrasonic : Never

    Steam : Never

    UV Long : Inert to strong

    UV Short : Inert to [...]

  • Vanadiumdravite

     

    Refractive Index : 1.786 – 1.729

    Optical Characteristic : DR, uniaxial negative

    Specific Gravity : 3.32

    Formula : NaMg3V6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)4

    Crystal System : Trigonal

    Variety/Species : Tourmaline

    Species/Group : Tourmaline Group

    Birefringence : 0.057

    Dispersion : 0.017

    Hardness : 7.5

    Toughness : Fair

    Ultrasonic : Risky

    Steam : Risky

    UV Long : Inert

    UV Short : Inert

    Pleochroism : 2 colors

    Strength : Moderate to strong

    Pleochroism Colors : No data

    Heat : May [...]

  • Variscite

     

    Refractive Index : 1.590 – 1.560 (+ 0.003 – 0.006)

    Optical Characteristic : DR, AGG

    Specific Gravity : 2.50 (- 0.10 + 0.10)

    Formula : AIPO4.2(H2O)

    Crystal System : Orthorhombic

    Variety/Species : All

    Species/Group : Variscite

    Birefringence : Not detectable

    Dispersion : N/A

    Hardness : 3.5 to 5

    Toughness : Poor

    Ultrasonic : Never

    Steam : Never

    UV Long : Inert to weak

    UV Short : Inert to weak

    Pleochroism : [...]

  • Viridine

     

    Refractive Index : 1.643 – 1.634 (+ 0.005 – 0.005)

    Optical Characteristic : DR, Biaxial negative, AGG

    Specific Gravity : 3.17 + 0.04 – 0.04

    Formula : AI2SiO5=AI[6]A[5]OSiO4

    Crystal System : Orthorhombic

    Variety/Species : Andalusite

    Species/Group : Andalusite

    Birefringence : 0.007 – 0.003

    Dispersion : 0.016

    Hardness : 7 to 7.5

    Toughness : Fair to good

    Ultrasonic : Uaually safe

    Steam : Risky

    UV Long : Inert

    UV Short [...]