Iridescent Healed Fissures in Epidote
Iridescent healed fissures observed in a 4.18 ct faceted epidote. Photomicrograph by Tinh Xuan Nguyen; field of view 2.5 mm.
The author recently examined a 4.18 ct yellowish brown cushion-cut epidote. Under fiber-optic illumination, the stone revealed iridescent healed fissures (see above). Healed fissures are not uncommon in various gemstones. They are believed to result from a secondary fluid that facilitated the healing process of previously surface-reaching fractures. In the case of this epidote, the healed fissures resulted in a striking feature revealed when illuminated under the microscope.
