Joined: Sat Jul 07, 2007 10:04 pm Posts: 476 Location: United States
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?"
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.
Joined: Sat Jul 07, 2007 10:04 pm Posts: 476 Location: United States
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.
Joined: Sat Jul 07, 2007 10:04 pm Posts: 476 Location: United States
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.
Joined: Fri May 02, 2008 11:10 am Posts: 2698 Location: Rock and Roll Heaven
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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Joined: Sun Oct 16, 2005 12:22 pm Posts: 21602 Location: San Francisco
I just checked my sphene with the Chelsea and it appeared pinkish too.
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.
Joined: Sat Jul 07, 2007 10:04 pm Posts: 476 Location: United States
Barbra Voltaire wrote:
I just checked my sphene with the Chelsea and it appeared pinkish too.
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.
Joined: Sat Jul 07, 2007 10:04 pm Posts: 476 Location: United States
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!!).
Joined: Tue Aug 01, 2006 3:24 am Posts: 4997 Location: McDonough GA
Thank you for the compliments guys! 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!
Joined: Tue Aug 01, 2006 3:24 am Posts: 4997 Location: McDonough GA
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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