Sunstone and Hessonite Garnet Optical Properties

Sunstone

Hessonite Garnet

Add ⊕

1 Optical Properties

1.1 Luster

Vitreous

Not Available

1.2 Pleochroism

Weak or absentWalter Schumann

Not Available

1.3 Dispersion

NoneNA

0.007 1

1.4 Transparency

Transparent, Translucent, Transparent to translucent

Not Available

1.5 Refractive Index

1.53-1.551.72-1.75

1 3.25

1.6 Optic Character

Not Available

1.7 Crystal System

Triclinic

Isometric

1.8 Birefringence

0.007-0.010Not Available

0 0.296

1.9 Clarity

Transparent to translucent

Color grading system

Sunstone and Hessonite Garnet Optic Character

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

Compare Gems for Leo » More

Sunstone Vs Pietersite

Sunstone Vs Heliodor

Sunstone Vs Crystal Quartz

» More

More Compare Gems for Leo

Sunstone and Hessonite Garnet Transparency

Similar to their colors, Sunstone and Hessonite 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, Sunstone is Translucent, Transparent and Transparent to translucent while Sunstone is Translucent, Transparent and Transparent to translucent in appearance.