Melanite
South Africa
2.45 carats
© gemselect.com
Melanite forms jet-black crystals with subadamantine to vitreous lustre. The material has been faceted
Melanite Gemstones by Colour
This table shows the variety of hues this gemstone can be found in. Click on a photo for more information.
|  |  |  |  |  |
Melanite Gemstones by Size
This table shows distribution of Melanite 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:0.34 cts
Heaviest:19.18 cts
Average:7.59 cts
Total photos:6
Do you have a larger Melanite? Why not upload a photo?
| General Information | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A variety or type of: | Andradite, which is a variety of Garnet Group | |||||||||||||||||
| Chemical Formula |
| |||||||||||||||||
| Melanite Simulants | ||||||||||||||||||
| Black glass. | ||||||||||||||||||
| Physical Properties of Melanite | ||||||||||||||||||
| Mohs Hardness | 6.5 to 7, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010) | |||||||||||||||||
| Specific Gravity | 3.70 to 4.10, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010) | |||||||||||||||||
| Cleavage Quality | None, Gemstones (2009) | |||||||||||||||||
| Fracture | Conchoidal, Gemstones (2009) | |||||||||||||||||
| Optical Properties of Melanite | ||||||||||||||||||
| Refractive Index | 1.855 to 1.895, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010) | |||||||||||||||||
| Optical Character | Isotropic, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010) | |||||||||||||||||
| Dispersion | 0.057, Gemstones (2009) | |||||||||||||||||
| Colour | ||||||||||||||||||
| Colour (General) | Jet-black, Gemstones (2009) | |||||||||||||||||
| Causes of Colour | Black, various charge transfer processes and dispersed ion absorption involving Fe and Ti., Pragmatic Spectroscopy For Gemologists (2011) | |||||||||||||||||
| Transparency | Translucent,Opaque, Gemstones (2009) | |||||||||||||||||
| Lustre | Subadamantine,Vitreous, Gemstones (2009) | |||||||||||||||||
| Crystallography of Melanite | ||||||||||||||||||
| Crystal System | Isometric, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010) | |||||||||||||||||
| Habit | Dodecahedral, trapezohedral, Gemstones (2009) | |||||||||||||||||
| Further Information | ||||||||||||||||||
| Mineral information: | Melanite information at mindat.org | |||||||||||||||||
| Significant Gem Localities | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||