nepheline
nepheline crystals from Vesuvio in Italy
pink nepheline crystals from Morocco
Detailed sheet
nepheline
Its name comes from the Greek “nephele” which means cloud because when placed in a strong acid it takes this cloudiness
CHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS
Na3KAl4[Si4O15]
potassium - sodium aluminium silicate mineral
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
Main color
pink
Other colors
white, grey, colourless, yellow, green
Color of streak
white
Luster
greasy, vitreous
Hardness
5.0 to 6.0
Density
1.53 to 1.55
Cleavage
indistinct
Fracture
conchoidal
OPTICAL PROPERTIES
Transparency
translucent, transparent
Refractive index
1.525 - 1.545
Double refraction
0.003
very weak, uniaxial (-)
visible double refraction
No
Pleochroism
absent
Number of colors
1
Fluorescence
none
CRYSTALS PROPERTIES
prismatic
crystals system
hexagonal
OTHER INFORMATIONS
APPROACHING GEMS
Exploited
sites
It is found in many deposits in Brazil, Paraguay, Russia, Australia, China, Mexico, United States (Whashington State), Canada.
use in jewelry
it is cut for collection
Other
Gems
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