Rob Lavinsky, iRocks.com – CC-BY-SA-3.0 [CC-BY-SA-3.0], via Wikimedia Commons
Meliphanite
Meliphanite is an extremely rare gemstone, and perhaps fewer than 5-10 faceted stones have ever been cut.
Meliphanite Information
| Data | Value |
|---|---|
| Name | Meliphanite |
| Colors | Colorless, shades of yellow, reddish. |
| Crystallography | Tetragonal. Crystals thin and tabular; also aggregates. |
| Refractive Index | 1.593-1.612 |
| Luster | Vitreous. |
| Hardness | 5-5.5 |
| Fracture | Uneven |
| Specific Gravity | 3.0-3.03 |
| Birefringence | 0.019 |
| Cleavage | Perfect 1 direction |
| Stone Sizes | Crystal clusters have been found up to several inches long. Clean, facetable material is very rare, however; the material is sometimes cut into small cabochons. |
| Luminescence | None. |
| Luminescence Present | No |
| Transparency | Translucent to transparent. |
| Absorption Spectrum | Not diagnostic. |
| Formula |
(Ca,Na)2Be(Si,Al)2(O,OH,F)7. |
| Pleochroism |
Distinct in shades of yellow and red. |
| Optics |
o = 1.612; e = 1.593. Uniaxial (-). |
| Optic Sign | Uniaxial - |
MELIPHANITE (= MELINOPHANE)
Optics: o = 1.612; e=1.593.
Uniaxial (-).
Occurrence: Nepheline syenites and skarns.
Julienhaab district, Greenland; Langesundsfford, Norway:
Gugiya, China.
Comments: Meliphanite is an extremely rare gemstone, and perhaps fewer than 5-10 faceted stones have ever been cut.
Name: From Greek words meaning appearing as honey, in allusion to the color.
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