XONOTLIE: Laghi di Posina, Vicenza, Italy (gems ~2 carats each)
An overview on Xonotlite Jewelry and Gemstones. Covers details and essential information on the physical properties and characteristics of Xonotlite gems.
Xonotlite Value
The International Gem Society (IGS) has a list of businesses offering gemstone appraisal services.
Xonotlite Information
| Data | Value |
| Name | Xonotlite |
| Crystallography | Monoclinic: crystals acicular; usually massive, fibrous or compact. |
| Colors | Chalky white to colorless, pink, light to medium gray. |
| Luster | Greasy; pearly; dull vitreous. |
| Hardness | 6. |
| Density | 2.71. |
| Birefringence | 0.0lO. |
| Cleavage | Good in one direction; tough. |
| Stone Sizes | Translucent faceted stones (not truly transparent) up to several carats in size have been cut from Italian material. The material is strong, takes a good polish, and is extremely rare as both a species and as cut specimens. |
| Luminescence | None reported. |
| Spectral | None. |
| Formula | Ca6Si6O17(OH)2. |
| Pleochroism | None. |
Optics: a=1.583; β=1.583; γ=1.593.
Biaxial (+).
Occurrence: Typically as veinlets in serpentine or in contact zones. Small fragments may be translucent to transparent.
California; Michigan; Virginia; Puerto Rico.
Tetela de Xonotla, Mexico.
Laghi di Posina, Vicenza, Italy.
Name: After the Mexican locality.
