Post subject: Re: cat's eye : enstatite vs kornerupine vs diopside
Posted: Mon Jul 15, 2013 12:39 pm
Site Admin
Joined: Sun Oct 16, 2005 12:22 pm Posts: 21602 Location: San Francisco
To start, this is a very difficult separation. The SGs and RIs overlap. If the bottom of the cab is flat and polished, one can often get a good RI reading. One can also often determine birefringence with a spot reading if the polarized plate is left on the refractometer.
OK..what's the color of the stone? Is the gem opaque or can you backlight it and get any light peaking through? Any observations with magnification?
Post subject: Re: cat's eye : enstatite vs kornerupine vs diopside
Posted: Mon Jan 12, 2015 3:42 am
Gemology Online Veteran
Joined: Tue May 28, 2013 9:44 pm Posts: 711 Location: Las Vegas
Pic's would be nice! Good hint might be that Kornerupine is normally found as very small stones. average rough gem weight is 0.25ct up to 3.50ct. larger stones are extremely rare. I have only seen one large Kornerupine in my life and it was 8ct's. just one!
_________________ Life is to short to worry about what others think of you.
Post subject: Re: cat's eye : enstatite vs kornerupine vs diopside
Posted: Fri Jun 12, 2015 4:49 pm
Gold Member
Joined: Wed Jan 23, 2013 5:29 pm Posts: 1047 Location: Paris
Maybe we could start with the color of the stones ? Diopside is often of a typical green. Enstatite would be rather more brownish. Of course color can only suggest, not determine.
Cascaillou how can you find out birefringence with cabochons ? Most of the time you have to be content with a RI zone.
Of course, enstatite and diopside are in solid solution. So realistically the stones could also be in-between forms like augite or pigeonite depending on how precise you're being. But of course I would not reccomend it, given the somewhat unexciting nature of those names.
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 5 guests
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot post attachments in this forum