Linarite
Tuscany, Italy
21.90 carats
© Giovanni Scapin 2015
Linarite forms elongated and characteristically tabular transparent to translucent bright to dark blue crystals, which may appear deep blue in transmitted light.
Suitable for faceting material is rare.
| General Information | ||||||||||
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| Chemical Formula |
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| Physical Properties of Linarite | ||||||||||
| Mohs Hardness | 2.5, Gems, Sixth Edition (2006) | |||||||||
| Specific Gravity | 5.35, Gems, Sixth Edition (2006) | |||||||||
| Tenacity | Brittle, Handbook of mineralogy (2001) | |||||||||
| Cleavage Quality | Perfect, Gems, Sixth Edition (2006) | |||||||||
| Fracture | Conchoidal, Handbook of mineralogy (2001) | |||||||||
| Optical Properties of Linarite | ||||||||||
| Refractive Index | 1.809 to 1.859, Gems, Sixth Edition (2006) RI for the alpha, beta and gamma rays is 1.809, 1.838 and 1.859 | |||||||||
| Optical Character | Biaxial/-, Gems, Sixth Edition (2006) | |||||||||
| Birefringence | 0.050, Gems, Sixth Edition (2006) | |||||||||
| Pleochroism | Pale blue - blue - prussian blue, Handbook of mineralogy (2001) | |||||||||
| Dispersion | Strong, Handbook of mineralogy (2001) | |||||||||
| Colour | ||||||||||
| Colour (General) | Bright to dark blue, Gems, Sixth Edition (2006) | |||||||||
| Transparency | Transparent,Translucent, Gems, Sixth Edition (2006) | |||||||||
| Lustre | Subadamantine,Vitreous, Handbook of mineralogy (2001) | |||||||||
| Crystallography of Linarite | ||||||||||
| Crystal System | Monoclinic, Gems, Sixth Edition (2006) | |||||||||
| Habit | Elongated and characteristically tabular, Gems, Sixth Edition (2006) More from other references | |||||||||
| Geological Environment | ||||||||||
| Where found: | Occurs as an uncommon secondary mineral in the oxidized zone of lead–copper deposits, Gems, Sixth Edition (2006) | |||||||||
| Further Information | ||||||||||
| Mineral information: | Linarite information at mindat.org | |||||||||
| Significant Gem Localities | ||||||||||
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