Sinhalite
Consumer Information
What color is it?: Mainly brown but with green or yellow overtones.
What is the story behind this gemstone?: This is a pretty gemstone that offers a beautiful combination of earth-tone brown colors. It is not found in jewelry stores very often but when you find one seriously consider getting one. There is really nothing like it on the market.
Can I wear it everyday?: Basically yes. I would recommend it for pendants more than anything else.
Is it expensive?: Not really. About the same price range as a nice tourmaline.
Is it a birthstone?: No.
What do I need to know before going shopping?: You will need to find an independent, professional jeweler with some good knowledge of colored gemstones. And I would call ahead first. It is rare for a retail jeweler to stock this gemstone on a regular basis.
General Information
Source: Sri Lanka, Russia, and USA
Chemical: Mg(AlFe)BO4
Formation:Forms in igneous rocks most often.
Crystal System: Orthorhombic
Unusual Properties: None.
Gemological Information
RI: 1.669 - 1.707
Birefringence: .038
Optic Character: B-
Specific Gravity: 3.48 + -
Hardness: 6 1/2
Transparency: TP
Special Identifying Properties and Tests: None
Synthetics: None
Imitations: None