TAFFY STONE

 
Tafite's English name, Taaffeite, comes from a man named Taaffe: In 1945, the jeweler of the Dublin, Ireland, Earl Edward Taaffe, found a weak double shadow in a 1.41ct light purple gemstone bought as a spinel. After being sent to a gemstone laboratory in London, it was identified as a new gemstone variety in 1951.

It is said that the world's largest Tafi Stone is only 10 carats. In addition to Sri Lanka, gem-quality crystals are also produced in Tanzania and Madagascar. In 1956, fragrant stones were discovered in Xianghualing, Hunan, China, and Tafi Stone was symbiotic with them. But it is not up to the gem level.

nature

Tafite, also known as bismuth magnesium spar, chemical composition: MgBeAl4O8, hexagonal system, common hexagonal double-cone or hexagonal barrel, granular aggregate; refractive index 1.719～1.723, density 3.61; Mohs hardness 8～9 Produced in metamorphic limestone and skarn.

colour

Since Tafi Stone is a natural color with beautiful colors and rich colors, the color of Tafi Stone has purple red Tafi Stone, Blue Tafi Stone, Pink Tafi Stone, Brown Green Tafi Stone, Purple Tafi Stone, Black Tower. Phoebe, colorless, green, pink, red, dark brown taffeta.
Place of origin

Tanzania

Madagascar

In the Tafi Stones of Sri Lanka, hexagonal cylindrical gas-liquid two-phase inclusions sometimes appear inside.

Xianghualing, Hunan, China: China's Hunan Xianghualing is of poor purity and is not gem-quality.

Material properties

Chemical composition: MgBeAl4O8 ; can contain elements such as Ca, Fe, Mn, Cr.

Crystalline state: crystal body

Crystal system: hexagonal system

Crystal habit: hexagonal double cone, hexagonal barrel crystal. Sometimes visible granular aggregates

Common colors: pink to red, blue, purple, purple, brown, green, colorless

Luster and transparency: glass luster. Transparent

Cleavage: None

Mohs hardness: 8 ~ 9

Density: 3.61 (± 0.01 ) g/cm3

Photographic characteristics: heterogeneous, monoaxial, negative

Polychromism: varies with color

Refractive index: 1.719 ~ 1.723 (± 0.004)

Birefringence: 0.004 ~ 0.005

UV fluorescence: no weak, green

Absorption spectrum: no characteristics, there may be 458nm weak absorption band

Magnification check: mineral inclusions, gas-liquid inclusions

Special optical effects: not seen

Optimization processing: unknown

Toughness: more brittle, such as being crushed by strong impact