Taaffeite (Magnesiotaaffeite)
Niriella (Niri-Ella), Gem gravels, Ratnapura, Ratnapura District, Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka
2.43 carats
© Mineral Classics
Taaffeite Gemstones by Colour
This table shows the variety of hues this gemstone can be found in. Click on a photo for more information.
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Taaffeite Gemstones by Size
This table shows distribution of Taaffeite 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:1.08 cts
Heaviest:8.50 cts
Average:2.94 cts
Total photos:10
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| General Information | ||||||||||
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| Varieties/Types: | ||||||||||
| Chemical Formula |
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| Physical Properties of Taaffeite | ||||||||||
| Mohs Hardness | 8, Gemmological Tables (2004) | |||||||||
| Specific Gravity | 3.59 to 3.72, Gemmological Tables (2004) | |||||||||
| Optical Properties of Taaffeite | ||||||||||
| Refractive Index | 1.716 to 1.730, Gemmological Tables (2004) | |||||||||
| Optical Character | Uniaxial/-, Gemmological Tables (2004) | |||||||||
| Birefringence | 0.004, Gemmological Tables (2004) | |||||||||
| Colour | ||||||||||
| Colour (General) | Pink, violet, purple, colourless, Gemmological Tables (2004) Colour change: blue/red | |||||||||
| Causes of Colour | Red to violet, Cr3+ in octahedral coordination, Pragmatic Spectroscopy For Gemologists (2011) | |||||||||
| Transparency | Transparent, Gemmological Tables (2004) | |||||||||
| Crystallography of Taaffeite | ||||||||||
| Crystal System | Hexagonal, Gemmological Tables (2004) | |||||||||
| Inclusions in Taaffeite | ||||||||||
| Healing cracks, crystal inclusions - Gemmological Tables, Ulrich Henn and Claudio C. Milisenda, 2004, p 22 | ||||||||||
| Further Information | ||||||||||
| Mineral information: | Taaffeite information at mindat.org | |||||||||