leucite
leucite crystal from Vesuvio in Italy
leucite of Italy round cut
Detailed sheet
leucite
Its name coming from the Greek “Leucos” shows its white color. Rarely used as a gem stone, it is found mainly in volcanic lava in small white crystals isolated and well faceted.
CHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS
KAl[Si2O6]
potassium aluminium silicate
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
Main color
white
Other colors
colourless, yellow
very pale colors
Color of streak
white
Luster
vitreous
Hardness
5.5 to 6.0
Density
2.40 to 2.40
Cleavage
indistinct
Fracture
conchoidal, uneven
OPTICAL PROPERTIES
Transparency
translucent, transparent
Refractive index
1.503 - 1.510
Double refraction
0.001
very weak, may have a polarization anomaly
visible double refraction
No
Dispersion
0,010(0.008)
Pleochroism
absent
Number of colors
1
Fluorescence
none
CRYSTALS PROPERTIES
short truncated prisms
crystals system
tetragonal
OTHER INFORMATIONS
APPROACHING GEMS
Exploited
sites
It is found crystallized in all recent lava, a bit everywhere where there is volcanic activity.
use in jewelry
uniquely a collection stone faceted in small size
Other
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