Spinel and Garnet Optical Properties

Spinel

Garnet

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Optical Properties

Luster

Vitreous

Vitreous, Adamantine

Pleochroism

Absent

None

Dispersion

0.020.02

0.005 1

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Transparency

Transparent, Translucent, Transparent to translucent

Transparent, Transparent to translucent

Refractive Index

1.731.730-1.895

1 3.25

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Optic Character

Crystal System

Isometric

Trigonal

Birefringence

-9999-9999

0 0.296

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Clarity

TransparentUlrich Henn and Claudio C. Milisenda

Transparent

Spinel and Garnet Optic Character

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

Similar to their colors, Spinel and Garnet 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, Spinel is Transparent, Translucent and Transparent to translucent while Spinel is Transparent, Translucent and Transparent to translucent in appearance.