Sillimanite and Titanite Optical Properties

Sillimanite

Titanite

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1 Optical Properties

1.1 Luster

Vitreous, Subadamantine, Silky

Subadamantine, Resinous

1.2 Pleochroism

Colourless to pale brown to yellow

Strong: X = nearly colorless; Y = yellow to green; Z = red to yellow-orange

1.3 Dispersion

NANA

0.007 1

1.4 Transparency

Transparent, Translucent

Not Available

1.5 Refractive Index

1.653-1.6851.885-1.990

1 3.25

1.6 Optic Character

Not Available

1.7 Crystal System

Orthorhombic

monoclinic

1.8 Birefringence

0.020-0.0220.105-0.135

0 0.296

1.9 Clarity

Transparent

Not Available

Sillimanite and Titanite Optic Character

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

Similar to their colors, Sillimanite and Titanite 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.