What Crystal Group is chrysoberyl?
Alexandrite, a strongly pleochroic (trichroic) gem, will exhibit emerald green, red and orange-yellow colors depending on viewing direction in partially polarised light….
Chrysoberyl | |
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Strunz classification | 4.BA.05 |
Crystal system | Orthorhombic |
Crystal class | Dipyramidal (mmm) H-M symbol: (2/m 2/m 2/m) |
Space group | Pbnm |
Is chrysoberyl a quartz?
Chrysoberyl is an uncommon mineral, and the color-changing variety Alexandrite is quite rare and highly valued. The nature of Alexandrite is very unique. For example, Quartz that exhibits cat’s eye is known as Cat’s Eye Quartz (or Quartz Cat’s Eye), whereas Chrysoberyl Cat’s Eye is known simply as Cat’s Eye.
Why is chrysoberyl called alexandrite?
The change in color is thought to occur only in specimens where chromium substitutes for aluminum in the mineral’s atomic structure. The chrysoberyl in which this phenomenon was first observed was named “alexandrite” after Tsar Alexander II of Russia.
What kind of stone is cat’s eye?
quartz
Crocidolite cat’s-eye (African cat’s-eye), more commonly known as tigereye (or tiger’s-eye), is quartz that contains oriented fibres of crocidolite that have been replaced by silica. Corundum cat’s-eye is an imperfect star sapphire or ruby in which the star is reduced to a luminous zone.
What is chrysoberyl cat’s eye?
Cats eye chrysoberyl is a highly sought-after gem variety of the Chrysoberyl mineral family. It exhibits a strong cats eye effect with sheer detail, making the term Cat’s eye interchangeable for Chrysoberyl gemstone This gemstone can surpass other cats eye stones in terms of color and clarity as well.
What Colour is chrysoberyl stone?
Today, chrysoberyl is an affordable, yet often-overlooked gemstone. In its classic form, chrysoberyl ranges from honey-gold to green in color, and translucent to transparent in clarity. It is sometimes compared to citrine or yellow sapphire, though chrysoberyl is far more affordable.
Are chrysoberyl treated?
Chrysoberyl varieties do not respond well to heat treatment and are not routinely treated. When surface reaching fractures are present a fracture filling treatment can be performed to enhance the gem’s appearance. This treatment can be detected using a microscope.
Is Cat’s Eye crystal rare?
Cat’s Eye Chrysoberyl is both a popular and extremely valuable gemstone that is genuinely rare, being found only in a few deposits in the world. The chrysoberyl, with its hues ranging from honey-colored to mint green, is a popular gemstone, and one which is esteemed by gemstone lovers the world over.
Can Cat Eye crystal go in water?
Also, you can soften the water by adding a clear quartz crystal to the water bottle….WHICH GEMSTONES SHOULD NOT BE PUT IN WATER.
1 | Talc (the softest mineral on earth) |
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4-5 | Fluorite, Ammolite, Larimar, Charoite, Rhodocrosite |
5-6 | Cats Eye, Lapis Lazuli, Hematite, Obsidian, Opal, Rhodonite, Sodalite, Turquoise, Apatite, Apophyllite, Chrome/Star Diopside, Haemetite |
Is chrysoberyl a precious stone?
Chrysoberyl is one of the most distinguished gemstone families, featuring two of the most important varieties in the gems world — alexandrite and chrysoberyl cat’s eye. But even the ordinary yellow-green chrysoberyl is a fine gemstone, with excellent hardness and brilliance.
How are chrysoberyl cat’s eye gemstones cut?
Chrysoberyl cat’s eye is always cut en cabochon in order to maximize the desirable chatoyancy. They are most often finished in oval, round or pear shapes, as these shapes tend to preserve the most rough carat weight. Calibrated gemstones are available, but will typically command higher premiums.
Where can I find green cat’s eye gemstone?
This green cat’s-eye chrysoberyl was produced in Sri Lanka and is about 5.6 x 4 millimeters in size. Chrysoberyl is the gemstone that produces the most distinct ” cat’s-eye ,” or chatoyance.
What’s the formula for the gemstone chrysoberyl?
The mineral or gemstone chrysoberyl is an aluminate of beryllium with the formula BeAl2O4. The name chrysoberyl comes from the Greek words chrysos and beryllos. Meaning “a gold-white spar”. Despite the similarity of their names, chrysoberyl and beryl are two completely different gemstones. Although they both contain beryllium.
Where can you find chrysoberyl in a rock?
Thus, chrysoberyl usually forms in pegmatites and in metamorphic rocks associated with pegmatites. These include mica schists and dolomitic marbles. Chrysoberyl is also found along with other gem minerals in placer deposits. It is a hard, weathering-resistant mineral with a high specific gravity.