Taaffeite Details
History
Taaffeite was first discovered in 1945 by a gemologist named Richard Taaffe. At the time, he thought the mineral was a spinel, but it was later identified as a new mineral species. Taaffeite is a rare mineral and was only found in a few locations around the world. It was first discovered in Sri Lanka and later found in Tanzania, China, and Madagascar.
For many years, taaffeite was considered to be one of the rarest gemstones in the world. Its rarity and beauty have made it a popular choice for collectors and jewelry designers.
Physical and Optical Properties
Taaffeite has a chemical composition of Mg3Al8BeO16 and a Mohs hardness of 8.5, which makes it a durable gemstone. It has a refractive index of 1.719-1.720 and a specific gravity of 3.60-3.62. Taaffeite is usually found in colors such as lavender, mauve, and violet.
Under ultraviolet light, taaffeite can show a strong fluorescence. It can also show pleochroism, which means that it can appear different colors when viewed from different angles.
Rarity Rank
Taaffeite is one of the rarest gemstones in the world. It is estimated that less than 50 cut taaffeite gemstones exist. The rarity of taaffeite is due to its limited occurrence in nature, as well as the fact that it is very difficult to identify. Taaffeite is often mistaken for other gemstones, such as spinel and sapphire, which has led to many unconfirmed reports of its discovery.
Use
Taaffeite is primarily used as a gemstone due to its rarity and beauty. It is a popular choice for collectors and jewelry designers. However, due to its limited availability, taaffeite is not widely used in the jewelry industry.
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