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Gemstone Crystal System Density Hardness Refractive index Treatments
Andalusite orthorhombic 3.2 7.5 1.64 and 1.55 none

 

 

 

 

andalusite

Color:
Combination of two to three colors, depending upon the direction it's viewed: Brown to yellowish green, Greenish, Orangey Brown

Clarity: Type II
Optic Character:
DR Biaxial negative
Cause of Color: Charge transfers involving titanium and iron/oxygen ion pairs
Fluorescence: Inert
Fracture : Uneven to concoidal

Luster : Vitreous
Cleavage :
Distinct; one direction
Durability: Fair to good

Characteristics for Identification:
Strong pleochroism, accicular rutile inclusions

Source:
Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Sri Lanka, Canada, China, Russia, USA

Other Varieties : Viridine (green) and
Chiastolite (translucent to opaque with a cross-like pattern)

Andalusite
Al2SiO5

Andalusite is a little known and much underappreciated gem. It is highly pleochroic, meaning, it appears to be different colors depending upon which direction the stone is viewed. The most common colors are a bronzed red coupled with a golden green.
Although it is often refereed to as "poor man's alexandrite" because of the tone of it's pleochroic colors, it actually does NOT have the ability to change colors, like alexandrite does.

It is said to stimulate the memory and recollection. Not only recent memory, but it is actually attributed with the ability to make one able to remember their past lives.

Andalusite is named after Andalusia, the province of Spain where it was first discovered.

Andalusite can be confused with:
Tourmaline
Topaz
Apatite
Chrysoberyl

The Gemology Project: Andalusite

andalusite