Afghanite
Kokcha Valley, Badakhshan, Afghanistan
0.28 carats
© Jaroslav Hyrsl
Afghanite forms sapphire-blue crystals. It can produce attractive gemstones but gem rough is almost unobtainable and good crystals are rare.
Afghanite Gemstones by Colour
This table shows the variety of hues this gemstone can be found in. Click on a photo for more information.
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Afghanite Gemstones by Size
This table shows distribution of Afghanite 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:0.10 cts
Heaviest:0.30 cts
Average:0.19 cts
Total photos:9
Do you have a larger Afghanite? Why not upload a photo?
| General Information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chemical Formula |
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Physical Properties of Afghanite | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mohs Hardness | 5.5 to 6, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010) More from other references | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Specific Gravity | 2.55 to 2.65, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010) More from other references | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cleavage Quality | Perfect, Gemstones (2009) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fracture | Conchoidal, Gemstones (2009) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Optical Properties of Afghanite | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Refractive Index | 1.522 to 1.533, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010) More from other references | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Optical Character | Uniaxial/+, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010) More from other references | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Birefringence | 0.006, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010) More from other references | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Colour | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Colour (General) | Colourless, blue, Gemstones (2009) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Transparency | Transparent,Translucent, Gemstones (2009) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lustre | Vitreous, Gemstones (2009) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fluorescence & other light emissions | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fluorescence (Short Wave UV) | Inert, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fluorescence (Long-Wave UV) | Bright orange, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Crystallography of Afghanite | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Crystal System | Hexagonal, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010) More from other references | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Habit | Barrel, massive, Gemstones (2009) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Inclusions in Afghanite | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| May be speckled with dark blue inclusions of lazurite - Blue Chart Gem Identification, Herve Nicolas Lazzarelli, 2010, p 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Further Information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mineral information: | Afghanite information at mindat.org | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||