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 Enstatite |
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Consumer Information What color is it?: Generally a brown to brownish green. As shown in the 8.48ct gemstone above, the stone is a rather dark color in most cases. Although the above image does not exactly do justice to this stone. YourGemologist will try again to photograph this stone at a later date. What is the story behind this gemstone?: Rarely seen in jewelry stores this unusual gemstone is more for collectors than consumers. However, it does have a rather pleasing earth-tone brown color that is gaining popularity within the jewelry industry. So you may be seeing more of this gemstone as time passes. Can I wear it everyday?: With a hardness of 5.5 it is rather soft. So it will be best to wear in a pendant or earrings rather than a ring. Is it expensive?: Not at this time. About the same as a nice quality amethyst...if you can find one. Is it a birthstone?: No. What do I need to know
before going shopping?: This
will be a gemstone that you will most likely find at gem and
mineral shows, and perhaps at some of those artsy-fartsy designer
shows. Best bet is to visit your local professional jeweler and
have them search around for some enstatites to show you in the
store. Then you can choose the stone you want...along with the
setting you like...right there in the store. This will keep you
from having to rely on some guy selling mineral specimens and
AK-47's from a booth in a mineral and gun show, and allow you
to choose the setting you like, rather than the
one that the cosmic forces directed someone to make (unless,
of course, you really like to wear the cosmic force directed
designs.) And please don't anyone write me about the cosmic force
directed designs in jewelry. I just returned from the Tucson
Gem Shows and I have been fully indoctrinated in the cosmic forces
of gemstones by some dread-locked "children of the sky"
who came from the corner of Haight and Ashbury streets in San
Francisco. Source: India and Sri Lanka are the finest sources. Chemical: Mg2(Si2O6) a magnesium silicate and a member of the pyroxene group with peridot Formation: Most commonly in basic igneous rocks. Crystal System: Orthorhombic Unusual Properties: None. Gemological Information RI: 1.663 - 1.673 Birefringence: .010 Optic Character: B+ Specific Gravity: 3.27 + - Hardness: 5 1/2 Transparency: Transparent Special Identifying Properties and Tests: Spectroscope helps with a strong absorption at 500 Synthetics: None known Imitations: Many possible. May be confused with kornerupine. |
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