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 Post subject: Chrome Sphene
PostPosted: Fri May 22, 2009 9:32 pm 
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Someone mentioned in the stone of the day a chrome sphene and it was in a trapezoid cut. I have a very apple green sphene and it's in the same cut. Not that cut has anything to do with this, but I thought I'd mention it. I placed the chelsea filter on it, and saw red. I didn't know sphene contained chrome, and if they do, does that make them "special?"


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PostPosted: Sat May 23, 2009 12:01 am 
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hi tudortwo,

i think chrome sphene is the rarest and most valuable. one thing i didn't know until reading GO's "The Gemology Project" on sphene is that red or pink sphene is called "greenovite." i wasn't aware that sphene could be pink. also, here's a chrome sphene @ the gemtrader which mr. brad has some information under the photograph of the stone.

http://thegemtrader.com/Feb%2009%20CSphene%20Page.htm

can you post any pics of your sphene?


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PostPosted: Sat May 23, 2009 10:42 am 
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I'll try to get some pictures. It's not what I would call a "chrome green" though. It's an apple green, and it actually turns more green in certain lighting. It is definitely green though, no primary brown body color. It's Pakistani and around 6 carats.


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PostPosted: Sat May 23, 2009 11:07 am 
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Here's my sphene. Dispersion is not showing up in the photo, and green is pretty hard to photograph. It is a very similar color to a Russian demantoid I own. It's not the deep chrome green though.

Image


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PostPosted: Sat May 23, 2009 2:04 pm 
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The best Chrome Sphene is a top Tsavorite Green. In all the searching over the net I've done, I think I've seen two that color. VERY rare! I know they used to find them in Baja (Spelling) California, but I don't think it's producing much anymore.

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PostPosted: Sun May 24, 2009 7:40 pm 
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that's a very NICE sphene ya got there, tudortwo!! it's a beautiful color and i love the cut!! :D


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PostPosted: Sun May 24, 2009 9:48 pm 
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gingerkid wrote:
that's a very NICE sphene ya got there, tudortwo!! it's a beautiful color and i love the cut!! :D


Thanks Gingerkid. :D


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PostPosted: Sun May 24, 2009 10:54 pm 
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I just checked my sphene with the Chelsea and it appeared pinkish too.
Image
I don't think it has anything to do with chromium content.
I see no chromium absorption with a spectroscope with either reflected or transmitted light.

That's one of the many reasons one must proceed cautiously when using a CF.


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PostPosted: Sun May 24, 2009 10:55 pm 
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Barbra Voltaire wrote:
I just checked my sphene with the Chelsea and it appeared pinkish too.
Image
I don't think it has anything to do with chromium content.
I see no chromium absorption with a spectroscope with either reflected or transmitted light.

That's one of the many reasons one must proceed cautiously when using a CF.


Thanks Barbara,
Beautiful sphene by the way. I appreciate your expertise.


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PostPosted: Sun May 24, 2009 10:58 pm 
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Thanks for the compliment. It is a beautiful stone (Thanks Jason Brim :D ) but they are hard to photograph.


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PostPosted: Sun May 24, 2009 11:01 pm 
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I have one very similar to that color in an oval. It's also very dispersive. Too bad they're too soft to wear. These stones do not photograph well, but I'm very impressed with your photo.

BTW, Jason gets some amazing finds, doesn't he? I have a mint green grossular fom him that I'm in love with (thanks Jason!!).


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PostPosted: Sun May 24, 2009 11:13 pm 
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Thank you for the compliments guys! :D You made my day. It's been raining and dreary here for 3 days and rain is predicted through Saturday. I'm feeling rather down because of the weather. I need sunshine. I'm spending too much time daydreaming of Florida and So Cal. THANKS!

J-

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PostPosted: Sun May 24, 2009 11:15 pm 
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Oh, fwiw, I have another sphene in the same color range as Barbras and Tudortwo's that remains neon green in the Chelsea filter. Wonder what it is that makes some appear pink and red if not necessarily chromium.

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PostPosted: Sun May 24, 2009 11:26 pm 
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:?:


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PostPosted: Sun May 24, 2009 11:32 pm 
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hi Jason know what you mean all I can think about right now is how Tucson is gonna look like in Feb 2010.

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