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cat's-eye |
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cat's-eye, gemstone that displays a thin band of reflected light on its surface when cut as a cabochon. Its name is derived from its supposed resemblance to the eye of a cat. The optical effect, known as chatoyancy, is caused by the reflection of light from very thin, closely spaced filaments in parallel arrangement within the stone. True cat's-eye, a variety of chrysoberyl chrysoberyl [Gr.,=golden beryl], a beryllium aluminate used as a gem. It has a vitreous luster and is transparent to translucent. The more valuable cat's-eye is a variety of chrysoberyl. Another variety, alexandrite, was first discovered in the Ural Mts.
..... Click the link for more information. from Sri Lanka and Brazil, is the most valuable, but some quartz, tourmaline, and a few other minerals that display chatoyancy are also used as gems. A golden-yellow species called tiger's-eye is a form of quartz that contains crocidolite asbestos. cat's-eyeAny of several gemstones that display a luminous band reminiscent of the eye of a cat. Grayish green or greenish quartz cat's-eye is the most common type; although it comes from the Orient, it is often called occidental cat's-eye to differentiate it from the rarer, and more valuable, precious or oriental cat's-eye, which is a greenish variety of chrysoberyl. Crocidolite cat's-eye (African cat's-eye) is more commonly known as tigereye. Corundum cat's-eye is an imperfect star sapphire or ruby in which the star is reduced to a luminous zone.Want to thank TFD for its existence? Tell a friend about us, add a link to this page, add the site to iGoogle, or visit the webmaster's page for free fun content. |
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