Rob Lavinsky, iRocks.com – CC-BY-SA-3.0 [CC-BY-SA-3.0], via Wikimedia Commons
Meliphanite is an extremely rare gemstone, and perhaps fewer than 5-10 faceted stones have ever been cut.
Rob Lavinsky, iRocks.com – CC-BY-SA-3.0 [CC-BY-SA-3.0], via Wikimedia Commons
Meliphanite is an extremely rare gemstone, and perhaps fewer than 5-10 faceted stones have ever been cut.
Data | Value |
---|---|
Name | Meliphanite |
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. |
Formula | (Ca,Na)2Be(Si,Al)2(O,OH,F)7. |
Colors | Colorless, shades of yellow, reddish. |
Fracture | Uneven |
Hardness | 5-5.5 |
Cleavage | Perfect 1 direction |
Crystallography | Tetragonal. Crystals thin and tabular; also aggregates. |
Refractive Index | 1.593-1.612 |
Birefringence | 0.019 |
Luminescence | None. |
Luminescence Present | No |
Absorption Spectrum | Not diagnostic. |
Pleochroism | Distinct in shades of yellow and red. |
Optics | o = 1.612; e = 1.593. Uniaxial (-). |
Optic Sign | Uniaxial - |
Luster | Vitreous. |
Specific Gravity | 3.0-3.03 |
Transparency | Translucent to transparent. |
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.