THE BRAZILIAN CONNECTION - Gemstones & Gemstone Jewelry
The Refractive Indices of Common Gemstones
All
materials refract light (alter its angle). The amount by which
light is refracted is an important feature of every gemstone. The
measure of a material's refractivity is known as its refractive
index or R.I. Without going too deeply into physics,
light travels at different
speeds through different media. When light passes from one medium to
another, its path is altered (bent) and it is said to be diffracted.
| Actinolite |
1.614
- 1.642 |
| Albite
Feldspar |
1.525
- 1.536 |
| Almandite
Garnet |
1.790
- 1.790 |
| Amber |
1.540
- 1.540 |
| Andalusite |
1.634
- 1.643 |
| Andradite
Garnet (Demantoid) |
1.875
- 1.875 |
| Apatite |
1.642
- 1.646 |
| Benitoite |
1.757
- 1.804 |
| Beryl |
1.577
- 1.583 |
| Brazillanite |
1.602
- 1.621 |
| Calcite |
1.486
- 1.658 |
| Chalcedony |
1.535
- 1.539 |
| Chrysoberyl
(Alexandrite) |
1.746
- 1.755 |
| Coral |
1.486
- 1.658 |
| Corundum
(Sapphire only) |
1.762
- 1.770 |
| Cubic
Zirconium Oxide |
2.177
- 2.177 |
| Danburite |
1.630
- 1.636 |
| Diamond |
2.417
- 2.417 |
| Diopside |
1.675
- 1.701 |
| Dioptase |
1.655
- 1.708 |
| Emerald |
1.580
- 1.580 |
| Fluorite |
1.434
- 1.434 |
| G.G.G |
2.030
- 2.030 |
| Glass |
1.440
- 1.900 |
| Hematite |
2.940
- 3.220 |
| Idocrase |
1.713
- 1.718 |
| Iolite
(Cordierite) |
1.542
- 1.551 |
| Ivory |
1.540
- 1.540 |
| Jadeite |
1.660
- 1.680 |
| Jet |
1.660
- 1.660 |
| Kornerupine |
1.667
- 1.680 |
| Kyanite |
1.716
- 1.731 |
| Labradorite
Feldspar |
1.559
- 1.568 |
| Lapis-Lazull
(Lazurite) |
1.500
- 1.500 |
| Malachite |
1.660
- 1.910 |
| Microcline
Feldspar |
1.522
- 1.530 |
|
Moldavite |
1.500
- 1.500 |
| Nephrite |
1.606
- 1.632 |
| Obsidian |
1.500
- 1.500 |
|
|
Oligoclase Feldspar
|
1.539
- 1.547
|
| Opal
|
1.450
- 1.450 |
| Orthoclase
Feldspar (Moonstone)
|
1.518
- 1.526 |
| Peridot
|
1.654
- 1.690 |
| Plastic
|
1.460
- 1.700 |
| Pyrope
Garnet
|
1.746
- 1.746 |
| Quartz
|
1.544
- 1.553 |
| Rhodochrosite
|
1.597
- 1.817 |
| Rhodolite
Garnet
|
1.760
- 1.760 |
| Rhodonite
|
1.730
- 1.740 |
| Sapphire
|
1.670
- 1.770 |
| Scapolite
|
1.550
- 1.572 |
| Serpentine
|
1.560
- 1.570 |
| Shell
|
1.530
- 1.686 |
| Sinhalite
|
1.668
- 1.707 |
| Sodalite
|
1.483
- 1.483 |
| Spessartite
Garnet
|
1.810
- 1.810 |
| Sphene
|
1.900
- 2.034 |
| Spinel
|
1.718
- 1.718 |
| Spodumene
(Kunzite)
|
1.660
- 1.676 |
| Strontium
Titanate
|
2.409
- 2.409 |
| Synthetic
Corundum
|
1.762
- 1.770 |
| Synthetic
Emerald (Flux)
|
1.561
- 1.564 |
| Synthetic
Emerald (Hydro)
|
1.568
- 1.573 |
| Synthetic
Moissanite
|
2.650
- 2.650 |
| Synthetic
Rutile
|
2.616
- 2.903 |
| Synthetic
Spinel
|
1.730
- 1.730 |
| TL
Grossularite Garnet
|
1.720
- 1.720 |
| Topaz
(Blue, White)
|
1.619
- 1.627 |
| Tourmaline
|
1.624
- 1.644 |
| TP
Grossularite Garnet (Hessonite)
|
1.740
- 1.740 |
| Turquoise
|
1.610
- 1.650 |
| Verdite
|
1.580
- 1.580 |
| Y.A.G.
|
1.833
- 1.833 |
| Zircon
(High)
|
1.925
- 1.984 |
| Zircon
(Low)
|
1.810
- 1.815 |
| Zircon
(Medium)
|
1.875
- 1.905 |
| Zoisite
(Tanzanite)
|
1.691
- 1.704 |
|
|
|
|
Note: The Reflective Index may vary on the surface polishing quality.
For questions or more information, e-mail us at dleonsnyder@gmail.com
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