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Sillimanite and Axinite Optical Properties


Axinite and Sillimanite Optical Properties


Optical Properties

Luster
Vitreous, Subadamantine, Silky   
Vitreous   

Pleochroism
Colourless to pale brown to yellow   
Strong   

Dispersion
Not Available   
0.02   
21

Transparency
Transparent, Translucent   
Gemmological Tables (2004) More from other references   

Refractive Index
1.653-1.685   
1.656-1.704   

Optic Character
Not Available   
Biaxial/+   

Crystal System
Orthorhombic   
Triclinic   

Birefringence
0.020-0.022   
0.009-0.012   

Clarity
Transparent   
TransparentUlrich Henn and Claudio C. Milisenda   

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Sillimanite and Axinite Optic Character

Sillimanite and Axinite optical properties play a significant role while distinguishing these gemstones from each other. These properties are influenced by the Sillimanite and Axinite 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 Sillimanite and Axinite 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. Axinite has Biaxial/+ character.

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Sillimanite and Axinite Transparency

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

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