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Alexandrite

Big Photo

Brazil
0.77 carats
© Palagems

Alexandrite was named after Czar Alexander II. It displays a color change (alexandrite effect) dependent upon the nature of ambient lighting. It is green in daylight, and light red in artificial incandescent light.

Alexandrite Gemstones by Colour

This table shows the variety of hues this gemstone can be found in. Click on a photo for more information.
 

Alexandrite Gemstones by Size

This table shows distribution of Alexandrite gemstone sizes that are listed on this site. This can give a good indication as to the general availability of this gemstone in different sizes.
Contributed photos
Lightest:0.77 cts
Heaviest:2.00 cts
Average:1.25 cts
Total photos:3
Do you have a larger Alexandrite? Why not upload a photo?
0.77ct to 0.89ct0.89ct to 1.02ct1.02ct to 1.14ct1.14ct to 1.26ct1.26ct to 1.39ct1.39ct to 1.51ct1.51ct to 1.63ct1.63ct to 1.75ct1.75ct to 1.88ct1.88ct to 2.00ct
General Information
A variety or type of:Chrysoberyl
Synthetic Alexandrite
Synthetic alexandrite: Colour change - daylight: green to blue-green; incandescent light: red to violet-red. Transparent; Hardness 8.5; RI 1.740 - 1.756; Birefringence 0.007 - 0.010; Biaxial/+; SG 3.70 - 3.72; Pleochroism: red/orange-yellow/green; Inclusions: Flux method: flux and crucible (platinum) residues; Pulling method: slightly curved growth lines, black bubble-like inclusions; Hydrothermal method: swirl-like growth inhomogeneties, dark bubble-like residues, flat liquid inclusions; Fluorescence: SW and LW red - Gemmological Tables, Ulrich Henn and Claudio C. Milisenda, 2004, p 25
Physical Properties of Alexandrite
Mohs Hardness8.5
Herve Nicolas Lazzarelli, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010)
Specific Gravity3.69 to 3.81
Herve Nicolas Lazzarelli, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010)
Optical Properties of Alexandrite
Refractive Index1.739 to 1.770+
Herve Nicolas Lazzarelli, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010)
Optical CharacterBiaxial/+,-
Herve Nicolas Lazzarelli, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010)
Birefringence0.007 to 0.013
Herve Nicolas Lazzarelli, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010)
PleochroismRed stones - strong trichroism: dark red - orange - dark green; Green stones - strong: dark green - orange - dark red
Herve Nicolas Lazzarelli, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010)
Colour
Colour (Daylight)Green to blue-green
Ulrich Henn and Claudio C. Milisenda, Gemmological Tables (2004)
More from other references
Colour (Incandescent Light)Red to violet-red
Ulrich Henn and Claudio C. Milisenda, Gemmological Tables (2004)
More from other references
Colour (Chelsea Filter)Red
Herve Nicolas Lazzarelli, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010)
Causes of ColourColor-change, Cr3+ in octahedral coordination
W. William Hanneman, Pragmatic Spectroscopy For Gemologists (2011)
TransparencyTransparent,Translucent
Walter Schumann, Gemstones of the world (2001)
Fluorescence & other light emissions
Fluorescence (General)Weak red, synthetic: common stronger reactions
Herve Nicolas Lazzarelli, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010)
Crystallography of Alexandrite
Crystal SystemOrthorhombic
Herve Nicolas Lazzarelli, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010)
Inclusions in Alexandrite
Mica platelets, apatite, rutile, healing cracks, multi-phase inclusions, hollow tubes - Gemmological Tables, Ulrich Henn and Claudio C. Milisenda, 2004, p 25
Further Information
Mineral information:Alexandrite information at mindat.org
Significant Gem Localities
Australia
 
  • Western Australia
    • Cue Shire
      • Poona
Groat, L.A., Giuliani, G., Marshall, D.D., and Turner, D. (2008): Ore Geology Reviews 34, 87-112.
    • Dowerin Shire
MinMag 66(6):985-1002
Brazil
 
  • Bahia
    • Curaçá river valley
      • Jaguarari
    • Pindobaçu
Pinto and Pedrosa-Soares (2001)
  • Goiás
    • Minaçu
Petersen et al. (2002)
  • Minas Gerais
    • Ferros
    • Ipatinga
      • Antônio Dias
        • Hematita
; Emeralds of the World English extraLapis Vol. 2 2002 pp46-51
Cassedanne and Roditi (1993)
Czech Republic
 
  • Liberec Region
    • Jablonec nad Nisou District
      • Kořenov
        • Jizerka
geological prospecting, 2008 - 2009, Czech geological Organization
India
 
  • Chhattisgarh
    • Raipur District
Michelou (2006)
Madagascar
 
  • Ihorombe
    • Ihosy
      • Ilakaka
Giuliani, G., Fallick, A., Rakotondrazafy, M., Ohnenstetter, D., Andriamamonjy, A., Ralantoarison, T., Rakotosamizanany, S., Razanatseheno, M., Offant, Y., Garnier, V., Dunaigre, C., Schwarz, D., Mercier, A., Ratrimo, V., and Ralison, B. (2007): Mineralium Deposita 42, 251-270.
Myanmar
 
  • Mandalay Region
    • Pyin-Oo-Lwin District
      • Mogok Township
        • Kyatpyin Central
Themelis, Ted, 2008, Gems and Mines of Mogok.
        • Kyatpyin North
Themelis, Ted, 2008, Gems and Mines of Mogok.
        • Mogok Valley
Themelis, Ted, 2008, Gems and Mines of Mogok.
Russia
 
  • Sverdlovsk Oblast
    • Malyshevo
Hochleitner (2005)
Hochleitner (2005)
Sri Lanka
 
  • Sabaragamuwa Province
    • Ratnapura District
Gemexplorer.org
Econ Geol (1981) 76:733-738
  • Western Province
    • Kalutara District
Tanzania
 
  • Arusha Region
    • Lake Manyara
Emeralds of the World English extraLapis Vol. 2 2002 pp24-35
  • Manyara Region
http://www.ganoksin.com/borisat/nenam/tanzania-mines.htm
  • Ruvuma Region
    • Tunduru District
Milisenda et al. (1997)
USA
 
  • New Mexico
    • Rio Arriba County
      • Petaca Mining District
Northrop, Minerals of New Mexico, 3rd rev. Ed., 1996
Zimbabwe
 
  • Masvingo
    • Masvingo District
J. E. Shigley et al. (2010), Gem Localities of the 2000s, Gems and Gemology, Fall 2010, pp. 188–216
    • Mwenezi District
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