The Encylopedia of gems in English is still under construction. Thanks to visit the encyclopedia of gems in French.

< back to the encyclopaedia (379)

Diaspor

Diaspor
  • Translations : Diaspore, Diáspora, Diaspoor, Diasporo, Діаспор, ダイアスポア, 硬水鋁石, Диаспор
  • Synonym : Tanatarite, Zultanite, Diasporite, Empholite, Tanatar, Tanatarite, Kayserite, Diasporogelite
  • Etymology : From Greek " DIASPORE " διασπείρειυ = dispersal, because of its fragmentation in the heating.
  • Discovery: 1801 by Rene Just Haüy
  • Type localityMramorskii Zavod (Mramorsk Zavod), Kosoi Brod Village, Ekaterinburg (Sverdlovsk), Sverdlovskaya Oblast', Middle Urals, Urals Region, Russia

Utilisé en minerai d’aluminium. Sa composition est intermédiaire entre la bauxite (autre minerai d’aluminium) et le corindon (famille des saphirs et rubis).

Le diaspore montre souvent un changement de couleur suivant la source lumineuse.

Zultanite (derived of Sultanite) is often given to the variety of Diaspore resulting from Turkey.

To know more about Diaspore, see Mindat.org->

 

Gemological data

  • Chemical formula : Al O (OH)
  • Hardness (Mohs) : 6.5 - 7
  • Density : 3.3 - 3.5
  • Refractive index : nα = 1.682 - 1.706 nβ = 1.705 - 1.725 nγ = 1.730 - 1.752
  • Birefingence : 0,048
  • Crystal system : Orthorhombic
  • Group : Diaspore
  • Mineralogical Class : Hydroxides

The gallery

< back to the encyclopaedia (379)