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Sunstone and Zoisite Optical Properties


Zoisite and Sunstone Optical Properties


Optical Properties

Luster
Vitreous  
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
0.01  
99+
0.02  
99+

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

Refractive Index
1.53-1.55  
1.685-1.707  

Optic Character
-  
-  

Crystal System
Triclinic  
Orthorhombic  

Birefringence
0.007-0.010  
0.006-0.018  

Clarity
Transparent to translucent  
Transparent  

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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.

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