Zoisite and Sunstone Optical Properties

Zoisite

Sunstone

Add ⊕

Optical Properties

Luster

Vitreous

Pleochroism

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

Weak or absentWalter Schumann

Dispersion

0.020.01

0.005 1

👆🏻

Transparency

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

Transparent, Translucent, Transparent to translucent

Refractive Index

1.685-1.7071.53-1.55

1 3.25

👆🏻

Optic Character

Crystal System

Orthorhombic

Triclinic

Birefringence

0.006-0.0180.007-0.010

0 0.296

👆🏻

Clarity

Transparent

Transparent to translucent

Zoisite and Sunstone Optic Character

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

Compare Brown Gemstones

Zoisite Vs Mottramite

Zoisite Vs Pyrrhotite

Zoisite Vs Vesuvianite

Zoisite and Sunstone Transparency

Similar to their colors, Zoisite and Sunstone 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, Zoisite is Transparent, Translucent and Opaque . May be translucent in thin backlit sections. while Zoisite is Transparent, Translucent and Opaque . May be translucent in thin backlit sections. in appearance.