Quartz and Sillimanite Optical Properties

Quartz

Sillimanite

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Optical Properties

Luster

Vitreous

Vitreous, Subadamantine, Silky

Pleochroism

None

Colourless to pale brown to yellow

Dispersion

0.010.02

0.005 1

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Transparency

Transparent, Translucent, Transparent to translucent

Transparent, Translucent

Refractive Index

1.544-1.5531.653-1.685

1 3.25

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Optic Character

Crystal System

Trigonal

Orthorhombic

Birefringence

0.0090.020-0.022

0 0.296

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Clarity

Opaque

Transparent

Quartz and Sillimanite Optic Character

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

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Quartz and Sillimanite Transparency

Similar to their colors, Quartz and Sillimanite 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, Quartz is Transparent, Translucent and Transparent to translucent while Quartz is Transparent, Translucent and Transparent to translucent in appearance.