Sunstone and Opal Optical Properties

Sunstone

Opal

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Optical Properties

Luster

Vitreous

Vitreous, Pearly

Pleochroism

Weak or absentWalter Schumann

None

Dispersion

0.010.01

0.005 1

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Transparency

Transparent, Translucent, Transparent to translucent

Refractive Index

1.53-1.551.37-1.52

1 3.25

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Optic Character

Crystal System

Triclinic

Trigonal

Birefringence

0.007-0.010-9999

0 0.296

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Clarity

Transparent to translucent

Transparent

Sunstone and Opal Optic Character

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

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