
Diaspore Value, Price, and Jewelry Information
Diaspore is hard enough to make a durable jewelry stone, but the typical light brownish color is not easy to sell. Despite the large Turkish material, this is a very rare gemstone indeed.
DIASPOREDimorph of Boehmite.
Optics: a = 1.702; β = 1.722; γ = 1.750.
Biaxial (+). 2V = 85°.
Occurrence: In metamorphosed limestones, chloritic schists, and altered igneous rocks. Also in bauxite deposits.
Mamaris, Yagatan, Mugla Province, Turkey: gemmy, pale brown crystals of very large size.
Chester, Massachusetts: with corundum in emery deposit; some fragments cuttable.
Chester County Pennsylvania: fine transparent crystals up to 2 inches long and ¼ inch thick, colorless to brown; some cuttable. Hungary: good crystals.
Postmasburg district, South Africa: manganiferous variety.
Cornwall, England; Greenland; Norway; Sweden; France; Switzerland; Germany; Greece; USSR; Japan; China
Comments: Diaspore is hard enough to make a durable jewelry stone, but the typical light brownish color is not easy to sell. Despite the large Turkish material, this is a very rare gemstone indeed.
Name: From the Greek diaspeirein, meaning to scatter, because it falls apart in the hot flame of a blowpipe.
Related Articles
An Introduction to Turkey’s Gemstones
Black Diamond Value, Price, and Jewelry Information
Chameleon Diamond Value, Price, and Jewelry Information
Gray Diamond Value, Price, and Jewelry Information
Latest Articles
800 Years of Mogok: A Celebration in Tenuous Times
What is the Average Gemstone Faceting Yield?
Pyroxmangite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information
How to Identify Emerald Simulants and Synthetics
Never Stop Learning
When you join the IGS community, you get trusted diamond & gemstone information when you need it.