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Nephrite
Nephrite

Serpentine
Serpentine



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Nephrite
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Serpentine

Nephrite and Serpentine Optical Properties

Optical Properties

Luster

Vitreous, Greasy
Vitreous, Greasy, Silky

Pleochroism

None
-

Dispersion

0.010.01
0.005 1
👆🏻

Transparency

Translucent
Translucent

Refractive Index

1.600-1.6271.560-1.571
1 3.25
👆🏻

Optic Character

-
-

Crystal System

monoclinic
monoclinic

Birefringence

0.0270.008-0.014
0 0.296
👆🏻

Clarity

Translucent
Translucent

Nephrite and Serpentine Optic Character

Nephrite and Serpentine optical properties play a significant role while distinguishing these gemstones from each other. These properties are influenced by the Nephrite and Serpentine 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 Nephrite and Serpentine 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.

Nephrite and Serpentine Transparency

Similar to their colors, Nephrite and Serpentine 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, Nephrite is Translucent while Nephrite is Translucent in appearance.