trigonal Synthetic synthetic corundum
Flux-Grown Sapphire (Crystal)
Formula Al2O3:Fe,Ti
Crystal Structure
#! Species: Flux-Grown Sapphire
#! System: Trigonal (-3m)
#! Habit: Tabular crystal from flux growth
trigonal[-3m]:{10-10}@1.0 + {10-11}@0.8 + {0001}@0.5
trigonal
-3m
{10-10} {10-11} {0001}
Quick Facts
Hardness
9.0
Specific Gravity
3.99
Refractive Index
1.762
Optical Character
Uniaxial -
Physical Properties
- Crystal System
- trigonal
- Hardness (Mohs)
- 9.0
- Specific Gravity
- 3.99
- Fracture
- Conchoidal
- Lustre
- Vitreous to adamantine
Optical Properties
- Refractive Index
- 1.762
- Birefringence
- 0.008
- Optical Character
- Uniaxial -
- Dispersion
- 0.018
- Pleochroism
- strong: violetish-blue / greenish-blue
- Fluorescence
- Inert to weak
Origin & Identification
- Origin
- Synthetic
- Growth Method
- Flux
- Manufacturer
- Chatham
- First Produced
- 1970
- Diagnostic Features
- Flux remnants (wispy veils), platinum platelets, characteristic flux fingerprint inclusions, no natural silk
Characteristics
Colours
BluePadparadschaYellow
Common Inclusions
Flux remnantsPlatinum plateletsFlux fingerprints
Natural Counterpart
The natural gem this synthetic imitates
Related Minerals
Other minerals in the trigonal system
