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Spring 2003, Volume 39, Issue 1

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The First Transparent Faceted Grandidierite, from Sri Lanka
Karl Schmetzer, Murray Burford, Lore Kiefert, and Heinz-Jürgen Bernhardt


grandidierite (large)

This 0.29 ct grandidierite is the first known transparent faceted sample of this material and the first gem-quality sample from Sri Lanka. Photo by Maha Tannous.
Gemological, chemical, and spectroscopic properties are presented for the first known transparent faceted grandidierite. This jew elry-quality 0.29 ct stone was fashioned from rough reportedly found in the Kolonne area of Sri Lanka. The greenish blue borosilicate has refractive indices of 1.583 to 1.622, which correlate to a low iron content of 1.71 wt.% FeO and readily separate it from the gem material closest in properties, lazulite.

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