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Colors:
By definition,chrysoberyl must be in the hues of red and green
to be called alexandrite.
Clarity:
Type
II
Optic Character : DR,
Biaxial Positive
Cause
of Color: Chromium
& Vanadium
Fluorescence: Inert
to Moderate Red (LW)
Fracture
: Concoidal
Luster
: Vitreous
to Greasy
Cleavage : None
Durability:
Excellent!
Characteristics
for Identification:
Fingerprint
Inclusions, Silk (rutile), Color Change
Localities:
Australia, United States, Russia (Ural Mountains),India,
Sri Lanka (Ceylon), Zimbabwe (Rhodesia), Brazil, Madagascar,
Tanzania, Zimbabwe.
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In
2000, India began mining quite exceptional examples
of alexandrite. Geologically, there appears to be
a possible association of the pegmatite responsible
for the alexandrite in the Ural Mountains and the
material being mined in the area of Andrha Pradesh
in India, due to tectonic movement. |
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Alexandrite
is a phenomenal variety of the mineral chrysoberyl.
Because of a trace amounts of chromium and vanadium, alexandrite
appears different colors depending on whether it is viewed
in natural or incandescent light. In daylight, the stone
appears to be green; in artificial light it appears to be
raspberry red. It was originally discovered in the Ural
Mountains in 1830 on the birthday of Czar Alexander of Russia.
Another extraordinary coincidence was that the national
colors of Russia were red and green. Today, alexandrite
is found in India, Brazil and to a lesser extent in Africa.
Alexandrite has long been associated with great luck and
prosperity.
| Chrysoberyl
Family
Alexandrite
Catseye Alexandrite
Chrysoberyl
Catseye Chrysoberyl
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Alexandrite
is often confused with:
Color ChangeSapphire
Andalusite
Color Change Garnet
Lab Alexandrite
Lab color change Sapphire
Natural and Lab Spinel
Glass
Plastic
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