Sapphirine
Sri Lanka
1.26 carats
© Rarestone.com
Sapphirine forms irregular tabular transparent to translucent light to dark blue crystals. An orange-red variety has been reported from Tanzania.
Sapphirine has a strong pleochroism: shades of blue, pale reddish or yellowish green.
Very small stones are faceted for collectors.
Sapphirine Gemstones by Colour
This table shows the variety of hues this gemstone can be found in. Click on a photo for more information.
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Sapphirine Gemstones by Size
This table shows distribution of Sapphirine gemstone sizes that are listed on this site. This can give a good indication as to the general availability of this gemstone in different sizes.
Contributed photos
Lightest:0.22 cts
Heaviest:1.88 cts
Average:0.70 cts
Total photos:13
Do you have a larger Sapphirine? Why not upload a photo?
| General Information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Chemical Formula |
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| Physical Properties of Sapphirine | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mohs Hardness | 7.5, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010) More from other references | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Specific Gravity | 3.40 to 3.58, Gemstones of the world (2001) More from other references | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cleavage Quality | None, Gemstones (2009) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fracture | Conchoidal, Gemstones (2009) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Optical Properties of Sapphirine | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Refractive Index | 1.701 to 1.724, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010) More from other references | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Optical Character | Biaxial/-, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010) More from other references | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Birefringence | 0.005 to 0.007, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010) More from other references | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pleochroism | Gray to bluish gray: strong trichroism (according to body color): greenish blue/gray - blue - dark blue. Purplish-pink variety: yellow - pinkish - purplish pink., Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010) More from other references | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Dispersion | 0.019, Gemstones (2009) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Colour | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Colour (General) | Dark blue, colourless, greenish, pink, violet., Gemstones of the world (2001) More from other references | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Transparency | Transparent,Translucent, Gems, Sixth Edition (2006) More from other references | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lustre | Vitreous, Gemstones (2009) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fluorescence & other light emissions | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fluorescence (General) | Inert, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Crystallography of Sapphirine | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Crystal System | Monoclinic, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010) More from other references | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Habit | Indistinct tabular, Gems, Sixth Edition (2006) More from other references | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Geological Environment | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Where found: | Sapphirine occurs in high-temperature rocks or xenoliths with abundant aluminium and magnesium and low silicon., Gems, Sixth Edition (2006) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Further Information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mineral information: | Sapphirine information at mindat.org | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Significant Gem Localities | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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