Clinochlore Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Grossular (Var.: Hessonite), Clinochlore. Locality: Bellecombe, Châtillon, Aosta Valley, Italy (Locality at mindat.org). Size: 7.4 x 3.8 x 2.6 cm. Beautifully gemmy and lustrous, cherry-red hessonite (grossular) garnets with complimentary, tabular, green clinochlore crystals form an outstanding and impressive specimen from a famous Italian locality - Bellecombe in the Aosta Valley. Super rich material from this classic locale. by Rob Lavinsky, iRocks.com – CC-BY-SA-3.0 [CC-BY-SA-3.0], via Wikimedia Commons

Clinochlore

Clinochlore Information

Data Value
Name Clinochlore
Varieties Kämmererite, Seraphinite
Colors Sheridanite: Blackish green, Bluish green, Olive green; Kämmerite: Red, Purple
Crystallography Monoclinic, pseudo hexagonal
Refractive Index 1.571-1.600
Luster Pearly, greasy, dull.
Polish Luster Vitreous.
Fracture Luster Vitreous, pearly.
Hardness 2 - 2.5
Wearability Poor
Fracture Uneven
Specific Gravity 2.55-2.75
Birefringence Sheridanite 0.005–0 .011, Kämmerite 0.003
Cleavage Perfect 1 direction
Stone Sizes faceted Kämmerite to 2 carats, Sheridanite cabs to large
Heat Sensitivity yes
Luminescence None.
Luminescence Present No
Enhancements none
Transparency Transparent to translucent.
UV Long none
UV Short none
Absorption Spectrum Not diagnostic.
Formula

(Mg,Fe++)5Al(Si3Al)O10(OH)8
Pleochroism

Sheridanite: Strong, pale green, colorless, pale yellowish green, pale brownish yellow; Kämmerite: Strong, violet, red
Optics

Biaxial (+/-)
Optic Sign Biaxial +, Biaxial -

Clinochlore is a family of minerals in the chlorite group. Varieties include Colerainite, Kämmerite, Pennine, Penninite, Prochlorite, Ripidolite, and Sheridanite. To date, only Kämmerite and Sheridanite are known to have been cut as gemstones.

Names

  • Clinochlore from the Greek klino – “oblique” and chloros – ” green.”
  • Ripidolite from the Greek rhipis – “fan” and lithos – “stone.”
  • Pennine from the Pennine Alps, Italy

Variety Names

  • Clinochlore – green
  • Colerainite
  • Kammererite – Red to purple
  • Pennine
  • Penninite
  • Prochlorite
  • Ripidolite
  • Sheridanite Dark green, rich in chromium
by International Gem Society