Rob Lavinsky, iRocks.com – CC-BY-SA-3.0 [CC-BY-SA-3.0], via Wikimedia Commons
An overview on Wilkeite Jewelry and Gemstones. Covers details and essential information on the physical properties and characteristics of Wilkeite gems.
Rob Lavinsky, iRocks.com – CC-BY-SA-3.0 [CC-BY-SA-3.0], via Wikimedia Commons
An overview on Wilkeite Jewelry and Gemstones. Covers details and essential information on the physical properties and characteristics of Wilkeite gems.
Data | Value |
---|---|
Name | Wilkeite |
Is a Variety of | Apatite |
Crystallography | Hexagonal. Crystals rounded; granular; massive. |
Refractive Index | 1.636-1.650 |
Colors | Pale pinkish, yellowish, rose red. |
Hardness | 5 |
Birefringence | 0.010 |
Cleavage | Imperfect |
Stone Sizes | Cuttable crystal fragments have been encountered, but I know of no faceted gems. |
Luminescence | None reported. |
Luminescence Present | No |
Absorption Spectrum | Not diagnostic. |
Formula | Ca5(SiO4PO4SO4)3(O,OH,F). |
Optics | o = 1.640-1.650; e = 1.636-1.646. Uniaxial (-). |
Optic Sign | Uniaxial - |
Luster | Vitreous to resinous. |
Specific Gravity | 3.12-3.23 |
Transparency | Transparent to translucent. |
Apatite Group.
Occurrence: In metamorphosed marbles.
Kyshtym, Urals, USSR; Laacher See, Germany.
Crestmore, California in marble.
Comments: Wilkeite is a rare silicate—sulfate apatite that has not been encountered as faceted gems; however. I have seen cuttable crystals that would yield stones in the 1-5 carat range. These would be extremely rare stones.
Name: After R. M. Wilke, mineral collector and dealer in Palo Alto, California.