Stone identification needed

[Adamjlester]

Rabbit foot brooch Edwardian era. Orange to light brown good clarity confirmed not to be citrine by the inclusions? Also has a small subconchoidal chip on the corner of the face

[Stephen Challener]

What tests have you performed? I assume microscopic examination to spot whatever inclusions led you to think not citrine (any chance we could get more details on that?)
It would be hard to tell from a picture alone.

[Barbra Voltaire, FGG]

I'll second that...impossible to ID from your pictures.
Conchoidal fracture is typical of quartz and glass.
More info, please.

[Adamjlester]

Could anyone tell me what this stone is? It has been confirmed not to be citrine by the inclusions ? It's set in a rabbit foot brooch From the Victorian edwardian era darkish yellow orange with slight brown tint

[Adamjlester]

Sorry I'm pretty new to this i have taken it to 3 jeweller's who have confirmed it was not citrine by the inclusions but they didn't want to say what is was for definite one said possible clinohumite ?

[Barbra Voltaire, FGG]

There is no foot attached, as I can make out.
Much more likely the foot was a grouse, not a rabbit.
Are there any hallmarks on the piece?

I would go for Scottish sterling, turn of the last century, set with a Cairngorm* or a Cairngorm* like stone. Worn as a kilt pin.


The Cairngorms are a mountain range in Scotland and are the most extensive area of high mountain terrain in Britain. The area has given its name to gem quality smoky quartz. In Victorian times, hunting for crystals was both a popular pastime and a ‘cottage industry’. The supply was essentially tapped out by the late 1800s and citrine from Brazil was used as a substitute.
Clinohumite is a possibility, albeit a very remote possibility.

PS Would you please take a soft cloth and wipe the front of the stone clean.

[1bwana1]

What kind of inclusions eliminate it from being Citrine?

Three jewelers have enough knowledge to say that by inclusion evidence it is not Citrine. That is a sophisticated determination to make, and and implies some advanced knowledge on the part of these jewelers. I cannot imagine taking that approach to identifying this stone. I find it curious that 3 jewelers with that kind of knowledge don't have a Refractometer available to do a simple test like checking the RI of the stone.

I think that any of the Gemologists on this site would be able to tell you definitively whether this stone was a Citrine in less than two minutes. If not Citrine, they could likely tell you exactly what it is in another five to ten minutes at most. If a Raman is available then the whole process would likely take well under a minute.

There is a big difference between a Jeweler and a Gemologist. Make sure you are asking the right person, with the right background, if you want a credible answer.

Where are you located?

[Barbra Voltaire, FGG]

A polariscope would be a handy tool as well.
Bullseye or not.

[dchallener]

Given the number of different inclusions that quartz is known to have, the statement that it isn't quartz because of the inclusions - and then not identifying the inclusions or anything else sounds weird to me.

[Stephen Challener]

Yeah, unless they saw bubbles.

[1bwana1]

If they saw bubbles, and they were knowledgeable, that would not only rule out Citrine, but confirm glass. So, why wouldn't they just confirm glass instead of all the "maybe it is clinohumite" stuff.

[Stephen Challener]

Why many jewelers say what they say about gems is an enduring mystery.
If they saw bubbles, all I can think is they might not have wanted to deliver bad news and/or weren't confident enough in their skills to make that kind of determination.
Honestly, based on the color and cut I would think glass a likely option. But anyone with proper gemological tools should be able to sort this out readily enough.

[Barbra Voltaire, FGG]

When I mentioned "Cairgorn-like" stone above, that included glass imitations.
Here is an example of a Victorian silver pin adorned with Scottish agates and Cairngorm-like faceted glass:

Courtesy of Lang Antiques

[Adamjlester]

Hi all thanks for your advice and input I will be searching for a gemologist near me in Monmouth UK soon hopefully they can shed some light with a refractometer, 2 of the three jeweller's are supposed to be very good but I'm starting to think otherwise... They just said that it's not citrine or glass by the type of inclusions I have wiped it with a soft cloth but there are a few minor scuffs on the face as I found this metal detecting in quite a remote area were I also found some coins dating around 125-200 years old