Siberite Tourmaline Faceting Information

Extra Siberite Tourmaline Faceting tips! Helpful information such as details, reviews, tricks, successful tips and suggestions on Siberite Tourmaline stones

Home Learning Center Jewelry and Lapidary Cutting Information for Specific GemstonesSiberite Tourmaline Faceting Information

By Jeff R. Graham

Siberite Tourmaline Faceting Information

Siberite Tourmaline

Color: Blue/purple
Moh's Hardness: 7-7.5
Refractive Index: 1.616-1.652
Critical Angle: 38.23°
Specific Gravity: 3.02-3.26
Cleavage: None
Fracture: Uneven, small conchoidal.
Dispersion: .017
Heat Sensitivity: Sometimes
Dichroic: Strong (many color variations)
Birefringence (double refraction): Medium (.014-.024)
Crystal structure: Hexagonal

Treatments: Generally there is no treatments with this kind of rough.

What I prefer to polishing with: Alumina oxide with a tin lap (scored).

Jeff's Comments: Cuts and polishes like any other Tourmaline, usually no problems. This material is quite rare and is seldom flawless.

Design Notes: About any Tourmaline design will work well, although I generally prefer a shallow checkerboard on darker rough.

Design Links: Signature #4 - This is good for about any rough
Easy Emerald - This is a classic and works well on poor "c" axis colored stones
Smith Bar - This is a classic and works well on poor "c" axis colored stones

Jeff R. Graham

The late Jeff Graham was a prolific faceter, creator of many original faceting designs, and the author of several highly-regarded instructional faceting books such as Gram Faceting Designs.

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Siberite Tourmaline Faceting Information