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Uniaxial
Negative ne= 1.621 no = 1.641
Birefringence= ne-no
=1.621-1.641
= (-) 0.020
Stone is Tourmaline
Uniaxial Positive
n0 ne
1.544 1.552
1.544 1.551
1.544 1.553
1.544 1.549
Negative nβ = = 1.637
nβ is close to nϒ , therefore
Biaxial Negative
Stone is Andulusite
nα = 1.602
1.608 1.618
0.008
1.610 1.620 nβ = 1.610
1.602 1.610 0.010
nϒ = 1.620
1.604 1.608
Examples Birefringence = nα – nϒ
= 0.018
Biaxial Positive nβ =
.
= 1.610
nβ is close to nα , therefore
Biaxial Positive
Stone is Brazillinite
If the stone has very small facets, or has
been fashioned as a cabochon it is very
difficult to identify the light-dark margin.
Distance Vision To overcome this problem, L.B. Benson
Method (Jr) devised a technique which is called
the ‘distant vision’ method .
Place the curved surface of the stone on
the refractometer table.
View the scale from about 30-45cm
away.
As the head moves up and down
bubble may be seen changing from Refractive Index
Correspond to the
light to dark as shown. Gemstone