Californite
Californite is a translucent, compact cryptocrystalline green variety of
Vesuvianite. It is usually mottled and found in masses. Californite is used as a jewelry-industrial stone.
Colour vary from apple to lime green. Occasionally the material has vivid green chromium inclusions that stand out against lighter background.
Californite is also known as "California jade" or "American jade".
| General Information |
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| A variety or type of: | Vesuvianite |
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| Other Names/Trade Names: | |
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| Chemical Formula | Ulrich Henn and Claudio C. Milisenda, Gemmological Tables (2004) |
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| Photos of natural/un-cut material from mindat.org |
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| Physical Properties of Californite |
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| Mohs Hardness | 6.5Herve Nicolas Lazzarelli, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010) |
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| Specific Gravity | 3.32 to 3.47Michael O’Donoghue, Gems, Sixth Edition (2006) |
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| Tenacity | BrittleAnthony et al, Handbook of mineralogy (2001) |
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| Cleavage Quality | PerfectUlrich Henn and Claudio C. Milisenda, Gemmological Tables (2004) |
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| Optical Properties of Californite |
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| Refractive Index | 1.700 to 1.725Herve Nicolas Lazzarelli, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010) |
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| Optical Character | UniaxialMichael O’Donoghue, Gems, Sixth Edition (2006) |
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| Birefringence | 0.001 to 0.012Ulrich Henn and Claudio C. Milisenda, Gemmological Tables (2004) |
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| Pleochroism | Weak; present colour lighter and darkerWalter Schumann, Gemstones of the world (2001) |
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| Colour |
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| Colour (General) | GreenWalter Schumann, Gemstones of the world (2001) |
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| Transparency | TranslucentWalter Schumann, Gemstones of the world (2001) |
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| Lustre | Vitreous,ResinousAnthony et al, Handbook of mineralogy (2001) |
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| Fluorescence & other light emissions |
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| Fluorescence (General) | NoneWalter Schumann, Gemstones of the world (2001) |
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| Crystallography of Californite |
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| Crystal System | TetragonalHerve Nicolas Lazzarelli, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010) |
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| Habit | PrismaticMichael O’Donoghue, Gems, Sixth Edition (2006) |
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| Further Information |
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| Mineral information: | Californite information at mindat.org |
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| Significant Gem Localities |
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| USA | | |
| Melhase, John (1935c), Some garnet localities of California: Mineralogist: 3(11): 23; Murdoch, Joseph & Robert W. Webb (1966), Minerals of California, Centennial Volume (1866-1966): California Division Mines & Geology Bulletin 189: 196. | |
| Gems & Minerals (1963): July: 20-22; USGS (2005), Mineral Resources Data System (MRDS): U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia, loc. file ID #10286810. |
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