Sapphirine

Sapphirine

By Tim Matthews, JD, FGA, GG, DGA,
CEO and President of JTV (retired)
Published: June 2014
Modified: September 2023
Sapphirine Polished Sapphirine Rough

Sapphirine was so named because of its resemblance in color to blue sapphire, even though the two minerals have completely different chemical, optical and physical properties. Sapphirine is very rare, with small gems only faceted for collectors. This gem is know for blue color, but occasionally forms in a red-orange variety.

General Information

Common Name
Sapphirine
Species
Sapphirine
Transparency
Transparent - Translucent
Dispersion
Strength: Moderate Fire Value: 0.019
Refractive Index
1.701-1.734
Birefringence
0.004-0.007
Optic Character
Biaxial
Optic Sign
Positive or Negative
Polariscope Reaction
Aggregate (AGG), Doubly Refractive (DR)
Fluorescence
SWUV: Inert
LWUV: Inert
Pleochroism
Trichroic, strong, varying shades of body color
Hardness
7.5
Streak
White
Specific Gravity
3.400-3.580
Toughness
Fair
Luster
Vitreous
Fracture
Conchoidal
Cleavage
None
Chemical Name
magnesium aluminum silicate
Chemical Formula
(Al,Mg)8(Al,Si)6O20
Crystal System
Monoclinic
Chemistry Classification
Silicate

Sapphirine Colors

  • Black Sapphirine
    Black
  • Blue Sapphirine
    Blue
  • Gray Sapphirine
    Gray
  • Green Sapphirine
    Green
  • Pink Sapphirine
    Pink
  • Red Sapphirine
    Red
  • White Sapphirine
    White
  • Yellow Sapphirine
    Yellow

Sapphirine Spectra

Sapphirine Spectra
SAPPHIRINE

Color due to iron This strongly pleochroic rare mineral is typically too dark to transmit sufficient light to observe the spectrum. It is in the polarized dark ray that the main feature is seen due to the high ferric iron content present as a strong line at 445nm. The weaker absorption at 550nm. is possibly due to ferrous iron. The yellow is absorbed followed by weak transmission then total absorption from about 620nm.

We acknowledge the significant scientific contributions of John S Harris, FGA to the study of gemstone spectra and with deep appreciation to him, acknowledges the use of his images and related notes about gemstones and their spectra in the educational materials on this website.

Countries of Origin

Canada; Unknown; Norway; Sri Lanka; United States of America; Italy; Madagascar; France; Greenland

Care

Normal care