Sinhalite 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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Sinhalite Gemstones by Size
This table shows distribution of Sinhalite 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:2.19 cts
Heaviest:16.39 cts
Average:5.33 cts
Total photos:13
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| General Information | ||||||||||||||||||
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| Chemical Formula |
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| Physical Properties of Sinhalite | ||||||||||||||||||
| Mohs Hardness | 6 to 7, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010) More from other references | |||||||||||||||||
| Specific Gravity | 3.46 to 3.50, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010) More from other references | |||||||||||||||||
| Cleavage Quality | Distinct, Gemstones (2009) | |||||||||||||||||
| Fracture | Conchoidal, Gemstones (2009) | |||||||||||||||||
| Optical Properties of Sinhalite | ||||||||||||||||||
| Refractive Index | 1.666 to 1.710, Gemmological Tables (2004) More from other references | |||||||||||||||||
| Optical Character | Biaxial/-, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010) More from other references | |||||||||||||||||
| Birefringence | 0.037 to 0.042, Gemmological Tables (2004) More from other references | |||||||||||||||||
| Pleochroism | Trichroism: green - light brown - dark brown, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010) More from other references | |||||||||||||||||
| Dispersion | 0.017, Gemstones (2009) | |||||||||||||||||
| Colour | ||||||||||||||||||
| Colour (General) | Colourless, yellow-brown, green-brown, brown, Gemmological Tables (2004) More from other references | |||||||||||||||||
| Causes of Colour | Brown, O2-→Fe3+ charge transfer and Fe2+ in octahedral coordination, Pragmatic Spectroscopy For Gemologists (2011) | |||||||||||||||||
| Transparency | Transparent, Gemmological Tables (2004) More from other references | |||||||||||||||||
| Lustre | Vitreous, Gemstones (2009) | |||||||||||||||||
| Crystallography of Sinhalite | ||||||||||||||||||
| Crystal System | Orthorhombic, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010) More from other references | |||||||||||||||||
| Habit | Waterworn, Gemstones (2009) | |||||||||||||||||
| Geological Environment | ||||||||||||||||||
| Where found: | Sinhalite occurs in boron-rich skarns at the contact of limestones with granite or gneiss; most gem sinhalite is found as alluvial pebbles., Gems, Sixth Edition (2006) | |||||||||||||||||
| Inclusions in Sinhalite | ||||||||||||||||||
| Sillimanite needles - Blue Chart Gem Identification, Herve Nicolas Lazzarelli, 2010, p 4 Needle-like to fibrous crystals - Gemmological Tables, Ulrich Henn and Claudio C. Milisenda, 2004, p 19 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Further Information | ||||||||||||||||||
| Mineral information: | Sinhalite information at mindat.org | |||||||||||||||||
| Significant Gem Localities | ||||||||||||||||||
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