Sapphire and Malachite Optical Properties

Sapphire

Malachite

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Optical Properties

Luster

Vitreous, Adamantine

Adamantine, Vitreous, Silky

Pleochroism

Strong

Dispersion

0.020.04

0.005 1

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Transparency

Transparent, Translucent, Transparent to opaque

Opaque

Refractive Index

1.762-1.7881.655-1.909

1 3.25

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Optic Character

Crystal System

Trigonal

monoclinic

Birefringence

0.008-0.0090.254

0 0.296

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Clarity

Transparent

Sapphire and Malachite Optic Character

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

Similar to their colors, Sapphire and Malachite 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, Sapphire is Transparent, Translucent and Transparent to opaque while Sapphire is Transparent, Translucent and Transparent to opaque in appearance.