Sunstone and Zoisite Optical Properties

Sunstone

Zoisite

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Optical Properties

Luster

Vitreous

Pleochroism

Weak or absentWalter Schumann

X = pale pink to red-violet; Y = nearly colorless to bright pink or deep blue; Z = pale yellow to yellow-green

Dispersion

0.010.02

0.005 1

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Transparency

Transparent, Translucent, Transparent to translucent

Transparent, Translucent, Opaque . May be translucent in thin backlit sections.

Refractive Index

1.53-1.551.685-1.707

1 3.25

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Optic Character

Crystal System

Triclinic

Orthorhombic

Birefringence

0.007-0.0100.006-0.018

0 0.296

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Clarity

Transparent to translucent

Transparent

Sunstone and Zoisite Optic Character

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

Similar to their colors, Sunstone and Zoisite 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.