Dark green Jadeite

General

Category: Pyroxene group

Chemical formula: NaAlSi2O6 or Na(Al,Fe3+)Si2O6

Strunz classification: 09.DA.25


Identification

Color: Apple-green, emerald-green, bluish green, leek-green,
greenish white, white, may show green spots, rarely blue or violet; colorless in thin section. Often also banded.

Crystal habit: Commonly massive, or fibrous, granular; prismatic crystals rare

Crystal system: Monoclinic prismatic

Twinning: Single and lamellar twinning on [100] and [001]

Cleavage: Good on [110]

Fracture: Splintery

Mohs scale hardness: 6.5 - 7

Luster: Subvitreous, pearly on cleavages

Streak: White

Diaphaneity: Translucent

Specific gravity: 3.24 to 3.43

Polish luster: vitreous to greasy

Optical properties: Biaxial (+)

Refractive index: nα = 1.654 - 1.673
nβ = 1.659 - 1.679
nγ = 1.667 - 1.693

Birefringence: δ = 0.013 - 0.020


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