Tortoiseshell and Zoisite Optical Properties

Tortoiseshell

Zoisite

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1 Optical Properties

1.1 Luster

Not Available

Vitreous

1.2 Pleochroism

Not Available

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

1.3 Dispersion

NA0.02

0.007 1

1.4 Transparency

Gemmological Tables (2004)

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

1.5 Refractive Index

1.540-1.5601.685-1.707

1 3.25

1.6 Optic Character

Not Available

1.7 Crystal System

Not Available

Orthorhombic

1.8 Birefringence

Not Available0.006-0.018

0 0.296

1.9 Clarity

OpaqueUlrich Henn and Claudio C. Milisenda

Transparent

Tortoiseshell and Zoisite Optic Character

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

Similar to their colors, Tortoiseshell 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, Tortoiseshell is Gemmological Tables (2004) while Tortoiseshell is Gemmological Tables (2004) in appearance.