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Sapphire and Sunstone Optical Properties


Sunstone and Sapphire Optical Properties


Optical Properties

Luster
Vitreous, Adamantine, Vitreous, Adamantine   
Vitreous   

Pleochroism
Strong   
Weak or absentWalter Schumann   

Dispersion
0.02   
21
None   

Transparency
Transparent, Translucent, Transparent to opaque   
Transparent, Translucent, Transparent to translucent   

Refractive Index
1.762-1.788   
1.53-1.55   

Optic Character
Not Available   
Not Available   

Crystal System
Trigonal   
Triclinic   

Birefringence
0.008-0.009   
0.007-0.010   

Clarity
Transparent   
Transparent to translucent   

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Sapphire and Sunstone Optic Character

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

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

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