Tourmaline Vs Afghanite
Origin
Brazil, Madagascar, Zambia, Sri Lanka, Burma, Russia, USA, Afghanistan
Afghanistan, Italy
Color
Green, Blue, Yellow, Red, Brown, White, Colorless, pink
Blue, Colorless
Element of Planets
Water
-
Specific Gravity
2.85-3.35
2.55-2.65
Fracture
Uneven, Conchoidal
Conchoidal
Cleavage
Indistinct
Perfect {10 1 0}
Mohs Hardness
7-7.5
5.5-6
Chemical Composition
Tourmaline is a series of several different minerals with unique chemical formulas. See The chemical formula of Tourmaline for details.
(Na,Ca,K) 8(Si,Al) 12O 24(SO 4,Cl,CO 3) 3(H 2O)Arthur Thomas , Gemstones (2009)
Pleochroism
typically moderate to strong
-
Transparency
Transparent, Translucent, Transparent to opaque
Transparent
Refractive Index
1.614-1.666
1.523
Crystal System
Trigonal
Trigonal
Birefringence
0.014-0.040
0.006
Clarity
Transparent
Transparent
Neurological
Aids in mental clarity and focus
Enhances mental clarity and focus
Cardiovascular
-
Supports heart health
Digestive
Supports digestive health
-
Psychology
Protection
Harmony
Healing
Emotional healing
Emotional healing
Qualities Associated
Protection
Communication
Tourmaline Vs Afghanite Fracture
Fracture is an important parameter when you compare Tourmaline and Afghanite Physical Properties. It is necessary to understand the significance of these properties, before you compare Tourmaline Vs Afghanite fracture. Whenever a gemstone chip breaks, it leaves a characteristic line along its breakage. Such lines are known as fracture and are used to identify the gemstones in their initial stages of production when they are in the form of rough minerals. Fracture is usually described with the terms “fibrous” and “splintery” to denote a fracture that usually leaves elongated and sharp edges. Fracture observed in Tourmaline is Uneven and Conchoidal. Afghanite fracture is Conchoidal.
Tourmaline Vs Afghanite Luster
A primary knowledge about Tourmaline vs Afghanite luster is useful in apparent identifications of these gemstones. Luster is the measure of light that gets reflected when incident on a finished cut gemstone. There are two major types of lusters: Silky and Adamantine. Since luster varies between two crystals of even the same gemstone, luster is limited to basic identification criteria. Tourmaline exhibits Vitreous luster. Afghanite, on other hand, exhibits Vitreous luster.