Hiddenite Gemstone & Information | Gemopedia by JTV | Gemopedia™

Hiddenite is the green chromium-rich variety of spodumene, which is rarer than its pink sibling, kunzite. Hiddenite is named for American gemologist William Hidden, who first discovered this transparent green variety in North Carolina in the area that now also bears its name, Hiddenite.
Colors
Medium Green To Emerald Green
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Hiddenite classification
CommonNameHiddeniteSpeciesSpodumeneVarietyHiddeniteColorsMedium Green To Emerald GreenAlternateNamesGemstoneGroupsKeySeparationsRI, birefringence, optic character and spectra. Biaxial common point is 0.006 from high RI.ClassificationCommentsSome gemololgists would argue that the stones must come from Hiddenite, N.C. and colored by chromium to be called Hiddenite. -
Hiddenite chemistry & crystallography
ChemicalNamelithium aluminum silicateChemicalFormulaLiAlSi2O6SynthesisCrystalSystemMonoclinicChemistryClassificationSilicateNatureNaturalCrystallinityCrystallineChemistryComments -
Hiddenite optical properties
TransparencyTransparentDispersionStrength: moderate fire Value: 0.017OpticalCommentsRefractiveIndex1.662-1.676Birefringence0.014-0.016OpticCharacterBiaxialOpticSignPositivePolariscopeReactionDoubly Refractive (DR)FluorescenceSWUV: inert to weak orangy red or pink
LWUV: inert to weak orangy red or pinkCCFReactionPleochroismTrichroic, moderate to strong, yellowish green, green, blue-green -
Hiddenite characteristic physical properties
Hardness6.5-7CharacteristicCommentsStreakWhiteSpecificGravity3.15-3.21 Typical:3.18ToughnessPoorInclusionsHiddenite is a type I clarity stone. Stones might contain growth and etch tubes, healing cracks, liquid and multi-phase inclusions.LusterVitreousStabilityFractureUneven, SplinteryCleavagePerfect, in two directions