10/29/2018 Gemstone Refractive Index: The Definitive Guide at AJS Gems

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Gemstone Refractive Index: The Definitive Guide

This illustrated chart shows refractive index values for 155 natural gemstone
varieties. It is the most complete and accurate refractive index scale for gemstones
available online, and includes many rare varieties.

Click on a gem link to see examples or find more information.

In gemology, refractive
Refractive Double index is one of the chief
Gem Variety
Index Refraction means of identifying a
gemstone. It is measured
Hematite 2.940-3.220 0.287 using an instrument known
as a refractometer.

Cinnabar 2.905-3.256 0.351 The refractive index (often

abbreviated RI) is an
optical property that refers
Cuprite 2.849 none to the ratio of the speed of
light in a vacuum to the
speed of light through a
Diamond 2.417-2.419 none transparent medium. Light
is bent as it moves from
air to another material, an
Sphalerite 2.368-2.371 none effect familiar from
observing how a stick
partially immersed in water
Cassiterite 1.997-2.098 0.096-0.098 appears to be bent.

Gems with a higher

Scheelite 1.918-1.937 0.010-0.018 refractive index tend to
show more brilliance, since
light is bent at a higher
Demantoid
1.88-1.94 none angle when it passes into
Garnet
the material. More light is
then reflected back out the
Uvarovite
1.865 none crown to the eye, rather
Garnet
than passing straight
Sphene through the gem.
1.843-2.110 0.100-0.192
(Titanite)
Most gemstones have 2
refractive indices, since
Zircon 1.810-2.024 0.002-0.059 light is split into 2 beams
travelling at different
speeds when it enters the
Cerussite 1.804-2.079 0.274 gem. This phenomenon is
known as birefringence
Spessartite or double refraction, and it
1.790-1.820 none is expressed as a value
Garnet
that indicates the
difference between the two
Painite 1.787-1.816 0.029 RI's for the gem material.

Some gemstones are

Almandine
1.770-1.820 none singly refractive and have
Garnet
only 1 RI. Singly refractive
gems include diamond,
Ruby 1.762-1.778 0.008 spinel and all the garnets,
as well as other cubic
crystals like cuprite,
Star Ruby 1.762-1.778 0.008 fluorite and sphalerite.
Amorphous gems -- those
with no crystal structure --
Sapphire 1.762-1.778 0.008 are also singly refractive.

Star See also:

1.762-1.778 0.008
Sapphire
Gemstone Hardness Chart
Mali Garnet 1.760-1.780 none
Gemstone Density Chart

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10/29/2018 Gemstone Refractive Index: The Definitive Guide at AJS Gems

Benitoite 1.757-1.804 0.047

Alexandrite 1.746-1.763 0.007-0.011

Alexandrite
1.746-1.763 0.007-0.011
Cat's Eye

Chrysoberyl 1.746-1.763 0.007-0.011

Chrysoberyl
1.746-1.763 0.007-0.011
Cat's Eye

Vanadium
1.746-1.763 0.007-0.011
Chrysoberyl

Rhodolite
1.742-1.785 none
Garnet

Color-Change
1.742-1.780 none
Garnet

Malaia Garnet 1.742-1.780 none

Grossular
1.734-1.759 none
Garnet

Tsavorite
1.734-1.759 none
Garnet

Leuco Garnet 1.734-1.759 none

Hessonite
1.730-1.757 none
Garnet

Epidote 1.729-1.768 0.015-0.049

Bastnasite 1.720-1.820 0.100

Azurite 1.720-1.848 0.108-0.110

Pyrope
1.720-1.756 none
Garnet

Taaffeite 1.719-1.730 0.004-0.009

Rhodonite 1.716-1.752 0.010-0.014

Spinel 1.712-1.782 none

Kyanite 1.710-1.734 0.015-0.033

Diaspore 1.702-1.750 0.048

Serendibite 1.701-1.743 0.005

Idocrase
1.700-1.723 0.002-0.012
(Vesuvianite)

Tanzanite 1.691-1.700 0.009

Zoisite 1.691-1.700 0.009

Dumortierite 1.678-1.689 0.015-0.037

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10/29/2018 Gemstone Refractive Index: The Definitive Guide at AJS Gems

Sinhalite 1.665-1.712 0.036-0.042

Chrome
1.664-1.730 0.024-0.031
Diopside

Diopside 1.664-1.730 0.024-0.031

Kornerupine 1.660-1.699 0.012-0.017

Hiddenite 1.660-1.681 0.014-0.016

Kunzite 1.660-1.681 0.014-0.016

Spodumene 1.660-1.681 0.014-0.016

Axinite 1.656-1.704 0.010-0.012

Malachite 1.666-1.909 0.254

Sillimanite 1.655-1.684 0.014-0.021

Jadeite Jade 1.652-1.688 0.020

Peridot 1.650-1.703 0.036-0.038

Enstatite 1.650-1.680 0.009-0.012

Euclase 1.650-1.677 0.019-0.025

Phenakite 1.650-1.670 0.016

Dioptase 1.644-1.709 0.051-0.053

Jet 1.640-1.680 none

Jeremejevite 1.637-1.653 0.007-0.013

Barite 1.636-1.648 0.012

Danburite 1.630-1.636 0.006-0.008

Clinohumite 1.629-1.674 0.028-0.041

Apatite 1.628-1.649 0.002-0.006

Cat's Eye
1.628-1.649 0.002-0.006
Apatite

Andalusite 1.627-1.649 0.007-0.013

Smithsonite 1.621-1.849 0.228

Datolite 1.621-1.675 0.040-0.060

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10/29/2018 Gemstone Refractive Index: The Definitive Guide at AJS Gems
Celestine 1.619-1.635 0.010-0.012

Chrome
1.614-1.666 0.014-0.032
Tourmaline

Paraiba
1.614-1.666 0.014-0.032
Tourmaline

Rubellite
1.614-1.666 0.014-0.032
Tourmaline

Tourmaline 1.614-1.666 0.014-0.032

Actinolite 1.614-1.653 0.020-0.025

Hemimorphite 1.614-1.638 0.022

Prehnite 1.611-1.669 0.021-0.039

Gaspeite 1.610-1.810 0.22

Turquoise 1.610-1.650 0.040

Topaz 1.609-1.643 0.009-0.016

Imperial
1.609-1.643 0.009-0.016
Topaz

Sugilite 1.607-1.611 0.001-0.004

Brazilianite 1.602-1.623 0.019-0.021

Pezzotaite 1.601-1.620 0.008-0.011

Rhodochrosite 1.600-1.820 0.208-0.220

Nephrite Jade 1.600-1.627 0.027

Larimar 1.595-1.645 0.038

Eudialyte 1.591-1.633 0.003-0.010

Grandidierite 1,590-1.623 0.033

Howlite 1.586-1.605 0.019

Amblygonite 1.578-1.646 0.024-0.030

Emerald 1.565-1.602 0.005

Aquamarine 1.565-1.602 0.005

Morganite 1.562-1.605 0.004-0.010

Goshenite
1.562-1.605 0.004-0.010
Beryl

Golden Beryl 1.562-1.605 0.004-0.010

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10/29/2018 Gemstone Refractive Index: The Definitive Guide at AJS Gems
Red Beryl 1.562-1.605 0.004-0.010
(Bixbite)

Labradorite 1.559-1.570 0.008-0.010

Hambergite 1.553-1.628 0.072

Charoite 1.550-1.561 0.004-0.009

Amethyst 1.544-1.553 0.009

Aventurine 1.544-1.553 0.009

Ametrine 1.544-1.553 0.009

Citrine 1.544-1.553 0.009

Gem Silica 1.544-1.553 0.009

Rock Crystal 1.544-1.553 0.009

Rose
1.544-1.553 0.009
Quartz

Smoky
1.544-1.553 0.009
Quartz

Andesine 1.543-1.551 0.009

Iolite 1.542-1.578 0.008-0.012

Scapolite 1.540-1.579 0.009-0.037

Jasper 1.54 none

Amber 1.539-1.545 none

Oligoclase 1.538-1.550 0.007-0.013

Aragonite 1.530-1.685 0.155

Williamsite 1.530-1.575 0.001-0.002

Agate 1.530-1.540 0.004-0.009

Bloodstone 1.530-1.540 0.004-0.009

Chalcedony 1.530-1.540 0.004-0.009

Chrome
1.530-1.540 0.004-0.009
Chalcedony

Carnelian 1.530-1.540 0.004-0.009

Chrysopase 1.530-1.540 0.004-0.009

Onyx 1.530-1.540 0.004-0.009

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10/29/2018 Gemstone Refractive Index: The Definitive Guide at AJS Gems
Lepidolite 1.525-1.587 0.013

Sunstone 1.525-1.548 0.010

Amazonite 1.522-1.530 0.008

Pearl 1.52-1.69 0.158

Ammolite
1.52-1.68 0.155
(Korite)

Orthoclase 1.518-1.530 0.008

Moonstone 1.518-1.528 0.008

Carletonite 1.517-1.521 0.004

Poudretteite 1.511-1.532 0.021

Petalite 1.502-1.518 0.012-0.017

Lapis Lazuli 1.50 none

Hauyne 1.498-1.510 none

Ulexite 1.491-1.520 0.029

Calcite 1.486-1.658 0.172

Cobaltoalcite 1.486-1.658 0.172

Coral 1.486-1.658 0.160-0.172

Moldavite 1.48-1.54 none

Hackmanite 1.48 none

Sodalite 1.48 none

Chrysocolla 1.46-1.57 0.023-0.040

Obsidian 1.45-1.55 none

Fluorite 1.434 none

Mexican
1.37-1.52 none
Fire Opal

Opal 1.37-1.52 none

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