Variscite
Little Green Monster Variscite Mine, Clay Canyon, Fairfield, Sunshine Mining District, Utah County, Utah, USA
42.41 carats
© Brian Kosnar - Mineral Classics
Variscite can be cut into cabochons, used for carvings and ornamental objects. It is sometimes confused with turquoise, but variscite usually has greener colour.
Variscite 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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Variscite Gemstones by Size
This table shows distribution of Variscite 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:18.47 cts
Heaviest:42.41 cts
Average:23.45 cts
Total photos:8
Do you have a larger Variscite? Why not upload a photo?
| General Information | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Other Names/Trade Names: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chemical Formula |
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| Physical Properties of Variscite | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mohs Hardness | 4 to 5, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010) More from other references | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Specific Gravity | 2.42 to 2.58, Gemstones of the world (2001) More from other references | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tenacity | Brittle, Gemstones of the world (2001) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cleavage Quality | Perfect, Gemstones of the world (2001) More from other references | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fracture | Conchoidal, Gemstones of the world (2001) More from other references | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Optical Properties of Variscite | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Refractive Index | 1.560 to 1.594, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010) More from other references | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Optical Character | Biaxial/-, Gemmological Tables (2004) More from other references | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Birefringence | 0.031, Gemmological Tables (2004) More from other references | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pleochroism | Missing, Gemstones of the world (2001) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Dispersion | Perceptible, Handbook of mineralogy (2001) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Colour | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Colour (General) | Green, yellow-green, green-blue, Gemmological Tables (2004) More from other references | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Colour (Chelsea Filter) | Pinkish to red, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Causes of Colour | Green, Cr3+ presumably in octahedral coordination, Pragmatic Spectroscopy For Gemologists (2011) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Transparency | Translucent,Opaque, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010) More from other references | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lustre | Waxy, Gems, Sixth Edition (2006) More from other references | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fluorescence & other light emissions | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fluorescence (General) | Strong; pale green, green, Gemstones of the world (2001) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fluorescence (Short Wave UV) | Inert to green, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fluorescence (Long-Wave UV) | Inert to whitish green, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Crystallography of Variscite | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Crystal System | Orthorhombic, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010) More from other references | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Habit | Massive, Gems, Sixth Edition (2006) More from other references | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Geological Environment | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Where found: | Variscite is typically deposited from phosphate-bearing waters in contact with aluminous rocks., Gems, Sixth Edition (2006) More from other references | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Further Information | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mineral information: | Variscite information at mindat.org | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Significant Gem Localities | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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