Gemstone Specifications

Species Composition Crystal System Varieties & Colors Hardness Specific Gravity Mean R.I. & D.R.
AmberHydrocarbonAmorphousBaltic-yellow, Sicilian-Reddish yellow, Rumanian-Brown, Burmes-Yellow to brown2.51.081.54
AndalusiteAl2O3SiO2RhombicGreen, greenish brown withredish tints7.53.151.64
ApatiteCa4(CaF(PO4)3HexagonalYellow, blue, green53.211.638
AxiniteCa,Al,MgTriclinicClove brown, violet73.281.685
BenitoiteBaOTiO2 3SiO2HexagonalSaphire blue to colourless6.53.671.78
Beryl3BeO.Al2O36SiO2HexagonalEmerald-green7.52.711.575
Aquamarine-Pale blue to bluish-green7.52.691.575
Golden beryl (Heliodor) -Yellow7.52.681.57
Pink beryl (Morganite) -Rose-pink, also colourless7.52.81.59
BlendeZnSCubicBrown, yellow, orange, black.Transparent to opaque green3.54.092.37
BrazilianiteNaAl3(OH)4(PO4)2Greenish-yellow, Transparent or translucent5.52.991.612
ChrysoberylBeO.Al2O3RhombicAlexandrite-Green in day-light, red in artificial light8.53.711.75
Cat's-eye (Cymophane) - Greenish or brownish yellow translucent and chatoyant8.53.711.75
Also yellow, greenish yellow, colourless and brown
CorundumAl2O3HexagonalRuby-Red93.991.765
TrigonalSaphire-Blue.Also colourless, yellow, pink, green and violet93.991.765
Star ruby, star saphire-Translucent, showing asterism
CassiteriteSnO2TetragonalColourless to very dark brown6.56.8 to 7.002.045
DanburiteCaO.B2O3 2SiO2RhombicPale yellow, colourless731.633
DatoliteCalcium borosilicate MonoclinicColourless or very pale green, also as cloudy nodules in various colours52.991.648
DiamondCCubicColourless, shades of yellow and brown, Rarely blue, red, green103.522.418
DiopsideCaO.MgO 2SiO2MonoclinicPale green to dark green.Sometime chatoyant53.91.69
EnstatiteMgO.SiO2RhombicGreen, sometime chatoyant5.53.271.67
EpidoteSilicate of Ca & Al MonoclinicDark brownish green6.53.451.75
EuclaseBe(AlOH)SiO4MonoclinicPale green or blue.Sometimes yellow, colourless7.53.11.665
Feldspar GroupK2O.Al2O3 6SiO2MonoclinicYellow orthoclase62.561.525
OrthoclaseMoonston-Colourless with white or bluish sheen62.571.53
Microcline" "TriclinicAmazonite-Bluish green, translucent to opaque62.561.53
Oligoclase-Pale yellow62.641.545
PlagioclasesNa & Ca Aluminosilicate,TriclinicLabradorite-Grey with play of colour62.71.565
Sunston-Spangled reddish62.641.54
FibroliteAl2O3.SiO2RhombicPale blue7.53.251.665
FluorsparCaF2CubicPurple, blue, green, yellow, pink, colourless.Blue John or Derbyshire spar-M-banded43.181.434
Garnet groupCubic
Almandine3FeO.Al2O3.3SiO2 CubicPurplish red7.53.9-4.21.76-1.81
Pyrope3MgO.Al2O3.3SiO2 CubicDeep blood red7.253.7-3.91.73-1.76
Grossular3CaO.Al2O3.3SiO2 CubicHessonite-Orange-brown, also green, pink etc.massive grossular7.25-73.65-3.491.74-1.73
Andradite3CaO.Fe2O3.3SiO2 CubicDemantoid-Green/ Topazolite-Yellow6.53.851.89
Spessartite3MnO.Al2O3.3SiO2 CubicOrange or yellow. Flame red74.161.8
HaematiteFe2O3HexagonalGun-metal black in crystals or when polished65.1very high
HambergiteBeryllium borateOrthorhombicColourless transparent7.52.351.587
Idocrase(Vesuvianite)Ca & Fe silicate, TetragonalBrown, yellow, green; transparent6.53.381.7
Californite--Green massive; translucent5.53.31.7
IoliteMg,Fe,Silicate&Al. RhombicBlue72.591.535
JadeiteNa2O.Al2O3.4SiO2 MonoclinicGreen, white, brown, mauve; translucent73.31.66
KornerupineMg,Al silicateRhombicGreen, brownish green, yellow; transparent6.53.321.675
KyaniteAl2O3.SiO2TriclinicBlue; sometimes green or colourless4 to 73.691.72
Lapis LazuliComplex silicate,containing sulphur Blue; opaqueblue;opaque5.52.81.5
Fe,Mg,Al phosphate,MonoclinicBlue; translucent to opaque5.53.11.62
MalachiteCu2(OH)2CO3MonoclinicGreen, mottled; opaque43.81.78
NephriteCa,Mg,Fe silicate, MonoclinicGreen, white;translucent to opaque6.52.961.62
OpalSiO2+nH2OAmorphousFire opal-orange.Seldom shows play of colours621.45
White opal-Play of colour on pale, translucent background62.11.45
Black opal-Play of colour on dark background62.11.45
Water opal-Play of colour within almost colourless stone621.45
PearlCaCO3 with conchyolin and waterolin and waterOriental-White or creamy3.52.71NA
Australian-Silvery white3.52.74NA
Venezuelan-Translucent white3.52.7NA
Black-Bronze or gunmetal colours3.52.65NA
Blue-Lead grey, due to dark nucleus3.52.6NA
Freshwater-Dull.iridescent3.52.7NA
Conch-Pink;no pearly lustre3.52.85NA
Clam- Black; no pearly lustre3.52.65NA
Peridot (Olivine) 2(Mg,Fe)O.SiO2RhombicGreen, Brownish or yellowish green6.53.341.67
Phenakite2BeO.SiO2HexagonalCommonly colourless7.52.961.662
PrehniteCa,Al SilicateRhombicPale green or greenish yellow; translucent62.871.63
PyritesFeS2CubicBrassy yellow metallic lustre; Opaque64.9NA
QuartzSiO2HexagonalRock-crystal- Colourless72.651.548
Amethyst-Purple
Citrine-Yellow
Cairngorm-Brown
Morion-Smoky quartz
Rose quartz-Pink, Cloudy
Aventurine-Green, spangled, also brown
TrigonalQuartz Cat's-eye-Pale brown chatoyant72.651.548
Tiger's-eye or crocidolite-Golden brown chatoyant
Rutilated quartz-Colourless with included rutile
Chalcedony(Cryptocrystaline quartzChalcedony-Unbanded grey72.61.53
GroupCornelian-Red
Chrysoprase-Apple green
Agate-Concentric bands of various colours
Onyx-Streight bands
Sardonyx-Red and white bands
RhodochrositeMnCO3Hexagonal(Trigonal) Rose red to pink; translucent43.61.71
RhodoniteMnO.SiO2TriclinicRose red; translucent63.61.72
ScapoliteGroup of complexTetragonalPale yellow ;transparent62.71.57
silicates etc.Pink chatoyant.
Violet chatoyant62.631.545
ScheeliteCaWO4TetragonalColourless, yellow, orange55.9 to6.11.93
SinhaliteMg(AlFe)BO4RhombicPale yellow to dark brown or greenish brown, Transparent6.53.481.685
SmithsonniteZnCO3Hexagonal(Trigonal)Yellow or apple green;translucent54.351.73
Sphene (Titanite) CaO.TiO2.Sio2MonoclinicYellow, green , brown5.53.531.96
SpinelMgO.Al2O3CubicRed, pink, pale greyish blue, dark greenish blue, shades of reddish purple83.61.717
Ceylonite or Pleonaste, Black, opaque83.81.78
Gahnospinel-Shades of blue containing varying proportions of zinc8to 4.06to1.754
SpodumeneLi2O.Al2O3.4SiO2MonoclinicKunzite-Lilac73.181.67
Hiddenite-Green , also yellow
Topaz-Fluo-or hydroxy silicate ofRhombicColourless, Blue83.561.62
aluminiumYellow, pink, orange, brown3.53
TourmalineComplex boro-silicate of Al, Mg,Fe,(Trigonal) Achroite--Colourless73.051.63
alkalis etc.HexagonalRubelite--Red, deep pink
Indicolite--Deep inky blue.Also green, pink, yellow, brown, black & particoloured
TurquoiseHydrous phosphate of aluminium andDark to pale sky blue, pale greenish blue; Translucent to opaque62.61.61
copperto 2.8
ZirconZrO2.SiO2TetragonalColourless, blue, orange, red, yellow, golden brown7.54.691.95
Green and shades of green6.54 to 4.51.79 upward
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