Charoite and Proustite Optical Properties
Luster
Pearly, Fibrous, Chatoyant
Adamantine
Pleochroism
NilArthur Thomas
Moderate; cochineal-red to blood-red
Dispersion
Not Available
Not Available
Transparency
Translucent
OpaqueUlrich Henn and Claudio C. Milisenda, Gemmological Tables (2004) Rarely transparentMore from other references
Refractive Index
1.545-1.560
2.792-3.087
Optic Character
Not Available
Not Available
Crystal System
Triclinic
Trigonal
Birefringence
0.009
0.295-0.296
Clarity
Translucent
OpaqueUlrich Henn and Claudio C. Milisenda
Charoite and Proustite Optic Character
Charoite and Proustite optical properties play a significant role while distinguishing these gemstones from each other. These properties are influenced by the Charoite and Proustite Physical Properties like crystallographic symmetry, pleochroism,etc. in the crystal. Some of the optical properties are refractive index, luster, optic character, pleochroism etc. Prominent among these is Charoite and Proustite optic character. You might have noticed your gemologist rotating the gemstone while testing it. Rotating a gemstone along its optic axis helps in determining its optic character.
Charoite and Proustite Transparency
Similar to their colors, Charoite and Proustite transparency can also be used as criteria for their primary identification. Although transparency cannot be the only criteria for gemstone identification, it can efficiently used in gemstone grading. Talking about their transparency, Charoite is Translucent while Charoite is Translucent in appearance.