Microlite
Mozambique
0.60 carats
© Rarestone.com
Microlite forms opaque to translucent pale yellow to brown, reddish or green crystals. Crystals up to 2 cms have been found. The material is often slightly radioactive because of the presence of rare earth elements in its composition.
Facet rough is seldom available. Attractive gems have been cut from orange-red material. A transparent garnet-red specimen found in 1885 was faceted into a stone resembling red zircon (Arem, Color Encyclopedia of Gemstones, second edition, 1987).
In mineralogy, microlite is the name given to a group of related minerals, themselves part of the larger pyrochlore supergroup.
Microlite 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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Microlite Gemstones by Size
This table shows distribution of Microlite 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:0.45 cts
Heaviest:0.66 cts
Average:0.55 cts
Total photos:6
Do you have a larger Microlite? Why not upload a photo?
| General Information | |||||||||||||||||||||
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| Other Names/Trade Names: | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Chemical Formula |
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| Photos of natural/un-cut material from mindat.org | |||||||||||||||||||||
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| Physical Properties of Microlite | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Mohs Hardness | 5 to 5.5, Gems, Sixth Edition (2006) More from other references | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Specific Gravity | 5.5, Gems, Sixth Edition (2006) Normally about 5.5More from other references | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Cleavage Quality | Indistinct, Gemstones (2009) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Fracture | Sub-Conchoidal, Gemstones (2009) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Optical Properties of Microlite | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Refractive Index | 1.993 to 2.02, Gems, Sixth Edition (2006) More from other references | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Optical Character | Isotropic, Gemstones (2009) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Dispersion | Nil, Gemstones (2009) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Colour | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Colour (General) | Pale yellow to brown, reddish or green, Gems, Sixth Edition (2006) More from other references | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Transparency | Translucent,Opaque, Gems, Sixth Edition (2006) More from other references | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Lustre | Vitreous,Resinous, Gemstones (2009) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Crystallography of Microlite | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Crystal System | Isometric, Gems, Sixth Edition (2006) More from other references | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Habit | Octahedral, Gems, Sixth Edition (2006) More from other references | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Geological Environment | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Where found: | Microlite occurs as a primary mineral in lithium-bearing granite pegmatites., Gems, Sixth Edition (2006) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Further Information | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Mineral information: | Microlite information at mindat.org | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Significant Gem Localities | |||||||||||||||||||||
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