Sphene, also known as calcium titanium silicate, is a mineral that forms flattened wedge-shaped crystals that are usually twinned and have significant re-entry angles. It can also be found in massive, compact, and lamellar forms. Crystal Habits include elongated wedges that create tabular or platy crystals, as well as other types of crystals. Some crystals are not as elongated as others and can have a trigonal look, comparable to that of a flattened rhombohedron, when viewed from the side. In many cases, people twin with one another and form a twin that looks and feels similar to a deflated, caved-in football, but with flatter surfaces. The majority of gemstones have a crystalline structure. Crystals have planes of symmetry and are split into seven symmetry systems, each of which has its own set of rules. The number of axes, their length, and the angle at which they are oriented with respect to one another indicate which system a crystal belongs to. Sphene gemstones are formed when the monoclinic crystal system is formed.
Sources
A detrital mineral, sphene can be found in some sedimentary deposits. Sphene can be found as an accessory mineral in igneous rock; in schists, gneisses, and other metamorphic rocks; and in some metamorphic rocks. Sphene is largely found in Madagascar, Mexico, Canada, and, historically, Austria, among other places. Some of the finest yellow and green gems come from the Mexican state of Baja California; nevertheless, some of the finest green gems are found in Brazil. Despite the fact that it is readily available on the market, it is virtually unknown to the general public..
SYMBOLISM
Sphene is a titanium mineral with an extremely high melting point, and it is employed in the production of high-speed jets and rockets.
Titanium was found by the same individual who discovered uranium, which was named after the planet Uranus, which in Greek mythology is known as the God of Heaven. As a result, when he found another new element, he named it titanium in honor of the Titans, who were considered sons of the Earth.
HARDNESS AND STRENGTH
It has a specific gravity of 3.50 to 3.54 and a hardness of 5 to 5.5, making it a good choice for jewelry. Sphene has refractive indices that range from 1.880 and 2.054. Using a refractometer, you may determine how many light rays have been bent by a mineral by measuring its refractive index (RI). The difference between the minimum and greatest RI is referred to as birefringence. The amount of light rays that reflect off different portions of the rear of a stone is known as birefringence. When looking through the front facet of a stone, light rays appear to be twice the size of the back facets.
Treatments
There are no known Sphene enhancements, syntheses, or imitations available on the market at the present time.
Our gemstones have received any and all known treatments, and AJS Gems openly discloses these treatments.
Color
Sphene is generally green or yellowish-green in appearance, with bursts of color in a spectrum of colors on occasion. It is occasionally pink, black, or brown. With many gradations between the colors yellow, orange, brown and green gems can be found on the market. Impurities containing iron and rare-earth elements are responsible for the typical colors. There is a predilection for stones that are brighter in tone, particularly yellows, mild oranges, and greens, because these stones are best suited to display the superb dispersion of this gem.
Cut
When it comes to Sphene gemstones, the quality of the cut is particularly crucial. Sphene can have a very powerful fire and a beautiful shine if it is well cut. Sphene is a soft stone, however it is always cut as a facetted stone, which enhances its vivid aspect, rather than a cabochon, which is more common for stones softer than 7 on the Moh's scale and so less suitable for sphene. In addition to the most typical gemstone cuts, sphene can be found in a variety of shapes such as rectangular or square cuts, round cuts, pears and ovals, emeralds, cushions, and many more.
