Table of Refractive Indices and Double Refraction of Selected Gems
Refractive indices and double refraction (birefringence) help gemologists identify gems. The following table lists these values for selected gemstones.
3 Minute Read
HomeLearning CenterGemologyReference Charts & MaterialsTable of Refractive Indices and Double Refraction of Selected Gems
For gemologists, refractive index and double refraction (birefringence) serve as important clues for identifying gems. The following table lists these values for a variety of stones found in jewelry and gem collections.
Refractive Indices and Double Refraction Values
The following table organizes gemstones from highest to lowest refractive indices.
| Gemstone | Refractive Index | Double Refraction |
| Hematite | 2.940-3.220 | 0.287 |
| Cinnabar | 2.905-3.256 | 0.351 |
| Proustite | 2.881-3.084 | 0.203 |
| Pyrargyrite | 2.880-3.080 | 0.200 |
| Cuprite | 2.849 | none |
| Rutile | 2.616-2.903 | 0.287 |
| Brookite | 2.583-2.700 | 0.117 |
| Anatase | 2.488-2.564 | 0.046-0.067 |
| Diamond | 2.417-2.419 | anomalous |
| Fabulite | 2.409 | none |
| Stibiotantalite | 2.370-2.450 | 0.080 |
| Sphalerite | 2.368-2.371 | none |
| Crocoite | 2.290-2.660 | 0.270 |
| Wulfenite | 2.280-2.400 | 0.120 |
| Tantalite | 2.260-2.430 | 0.160 |
| Linobate | 2.210-2.300 | 0.090 |
| Manganotantalite | 2.190-2.340 | 0.150 |
| Cubic zirconia (CZ) | 2.150-2.180 | none |
| Mimetite | 2.120-2.135 | 0.015 |
| Phosgenite | 2.114-2.145 | 0.028 |
| Senarmontite | 2.087 | none |
| Boleite | 2.030-2.050 | 0.020 |
| Zincite | 2.013-2.029 | 0.016 |
| Cassiterite | 1.997-2.098 | 0.096-0.098 |
| Simpsonite | 1.994-2.040 | 0.058 |
| Gadolinium gallium garnet (GGG) | 1.970-2.020 | 0.058 |
| Sulfur | 1.958-2.245 | 0.291 |
| Bayldonite | 1.950-1.990 | 0.04 |
| Scheelite | 1.918-1.937 | 0.010-0.018 |
| Andradite garnet | 1.880-1.940 | none |
| Anglesite | 1.878-1.895 | 0.017 |
| Uvarovite garnet | 1.865 | none |
| Purpurite | 1.850-1.920 | 0.007 |
| Sphene (titanite) | 1.843-2.110 | 0.100-0.192 |
| Yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG) | 1.833-1.835 | none |
| Zircon | 1.810-2.024 | 0.002-0.059 |
| Cerussite | 1.804-2.079 | 0.274 |
| Gahnite | 1.791-1.818 | none |
| Spessartite garnet | 1.790-1.820 | none |
| Painite | 1.787-1.816 | 0.029 |
| Monazite | 1.774-1.849 | 0.049-0.055 |
| Almandine garnet | 1.770-1.820 | none |
| Gadolinite | 1.770-1.820 | 0.01-0.04 |
| Ruby (corundum) | 1.762-1.778 | 0.008 |
| Sapphire (corundum) | 1.762-1.778 | 0.008 |
| Benitoite | 1.757-1.804 | 0.047 |
| Shattuckite | 1.752-1.815 | 0.063 |
| Chrysoberyl | 1.746-1.763 | 0.007-0.011 |
| Periclase | 1.740 | none |
| Scorodite | 1.738-1.816 | 0.027-0.030 |
| Staurolite | 1.736-1.762 | 0.010-0.015 |
| Grossular garnet | 1.734-1.759 | none |
| Chambersite | 1.732-1.744 | 0.012 |
| Hessonite garnet | 1.730-1.757 | none |
| Epidote | 1.729-1.768 | 0.015-0.049 |
| Pyroxmangite | 1.726-1.764 | 0.016-0.020 |
| Azurite | 1.720-1.848 | 0.108-0.110 |
| Pyrope garnet | 1.720-1.756 | none |
| Hodgkinsonite | 1.719-1.748 | 0.022-0.026 |
| Taaffeite | 1.719-1.730 | 0.004-0.009 |
| Rhodonite | 1.716-1.752 | 0.010-0.014 |
| Gahnospinel | 1.715-1.754 | none |
| Spinel | 1.712-1.762 | none |
| Kyanite | 1.710-1.734 | 0.015-0.033 |
| Adamite | 1.708-1.760 | 0.048-0.050 |
| Diaspore | 1.702-1.750 | 0.048 |
| Serendibite | 1.701-1.743 | 0.005 |
| Sapphirine | 1.701-1.734 | 0.004-0.007 |
| Aegirine-augite | 1.700-1.800 | 0.030-0.050 |
| Idocrase (vesuvianite) | 1.700-1.723 | 0.002-0.012 |
| Tanzanite | 1.691-1.700 | 0.009 |
| Neptunite | 1.690-1.736 | 0.029-0.045 |
| Willemite | 1.690-1.723 | 0.028-0.033 |
| Rhodizite | 1.690 | none |
| Triphylite | 1.689-1.702 | 0.006-0.008 |
| Lithiophilite | 1.680-1.700 | 0.01 |
| Dumortierite | 1.678-1.689 | 0.015-0.037 |
| Legrandite | 1.675-1.740 | 0.060 |
| Hypersthene | 1.673-1.731 | 0.010-0.016 |
| Parisite | 1.671-1.772 | 0.081-0.101 |
| Clinozoisite | 1.670-1.734 | 0.010 |
| Sinhalite | 1.665-1.712 | 0.036-0.042 |
| Lawsonite | 1.665-1.686 | 0.019-0.021 |
| Diopside | 1.664-1.730 | 0.024-0.031 |
| Bustamite | 1.662-1.707 | 0.014-0.015 |
| Kornerupine | 1.660-1.699 | 0.012-0.017 |
| Hiddenite | 1.660-1.681 | 0.014-0.016 |
| Kunzite | 1.660-1.681 | 0.014-0.016 |
| Boracite | 1.658-1.673 | 0.010-0.011 |
| Axinite | 1.656-1.704 | 0.010-0.012 |
| Malachite | 1.655-1.909 | 0.254 |
| Sillimanite | 1.655-1.684 | 0.014-0.021 |
| Jadeite | 1.652-1.688 | 0.20 |
| Peridot | 1.650-1.703 | 0.036-0.038 |
| Ludlamite | 1.650-1.697 | 0.038-0.044 |
| Enstatite | 1.650-1.680 | 0.009-0.012 |
| Euclase | 1.650-1.677 | 0.019-0.025 |
| Phenakite | 1.650-1.670 | 0.016 |
| Dioptase | 1.644-1.709 | 0.051-0.053 |
| Jet | 1.640-1.680 | none |
| Eosphorite | 1.638-1.671 | 0.028-0.035 |
| Spurrite | 1.637-1.681 | 0.039-0.040 |
| Jeremejevite | 1.637-1.653 | 0.007-0.013 |
| Barite | 1.636-1.648 | 0.012 |
| Siderite | 1.633-1.875 | 0.242 |
| Danburite | 1.630-1.636 | 0.006-0.008 |
| Clinohumite | 1.629-1.674 | 0.028-0.041 |
| Apatite | 1.628-1.649 | 0.002-0.006 |
| Andalusite | 1.627-1.649 | 0.007-0.013 |
| Friedelite | 1.625-1.664 | 0.030 |
| Smithsonite | 1.621-1.849 | 0.228 |
| Datolite | 1.621-1.675 | 0.040-0.050 |
| Celestite | 1.619-1.635 | 0.010-0.012 |
| Tourmaline | 1.614-1.666 | 0.014-0.032 |
| Actinolite | 1.614-1.653 | 0.020-0.025 |
| Hemimorphite | 1.614-1.636 | 0.022 |
| Lazulite | 1.612-1.646 | 0.031-0.036 |
| Prehnite | 1.611-1.669 | 0.021-0.039 |
| Gaspéite | 1.610-1.810 | 0.22 |
| Turquoise | 1.610-1.650 | 0.040 |
| Topaz | 1.609-1.643 | 0.008-0.016 |
| Sugilite | 1.607-1.611 | 0.001-0.004 |
| Sogdianite | 1.606-1.608 | 0.002 |
| Brazilianite | 1.602-1.623 | 0.019-0.021 |
| Rhodochrosite | 1.600-1.820 | 0.208-0.220 |
| Odontolite | 1.600-1.640 | 0.010 |
| Nephrite | 1.600-1.627 | 0.027 |
| Pectolite (larimar) | 1.595-1.645 | 0.038 |
| Montebrasite | 1.594-1.633 | 0.22 |
| Phosphophyllite | 1.594-1.621 | 0.021-0.033 |
| Meliphanite | 1.593-1.612 | 0.019 |
| Eudialyte | 1.591-1.633 | 0.003-0.010 |
| Chondrodite | 1.592-1.646 | 0.028-0.034 |
| Catapleiite | 1.590-1.629 | 0.039 |
| Wardite | 1.590-1.599 | 0.009 |
| Herderite | 1.587-1.627 | 0.023-0.032 |
| Colemanite | 1.586-1.615 | 0.028-0.030 |
| Howlite | 1.586-1.605 | 0.019 |
| Zektzerite | 1.582-1.585 | 0.003 |
| Amblygonite | 1.578-1.646 | 0.024-0.030 |
| Ekanite | 1.572-1.573 | 0.001 |
| Anhydrite | 1.570-1.614 | 0.044 |
| Augelite | 1.570-1.590 | 0.014-0.020 |
| Emerald (beryl) | 1.565-1.602 | 0.006 |
| Aquamarine (beryl) | 1.564-1.596 | 0.004-0.005 |
| Variscite | 1.563-1.594 | 0.031 |
| Beryl (precious) | 1.562-1.602 | 0.004-0.010 |
| Tremolite | 1.560-1.643 | 0.017-0.027 |
| Vivianite | 1.560-1.640 | 0.050-0.075 |
| Serpentine | 1.560-1.571 | 0.008-0.014 |
| Larbradorite | 1.559-1.570 | 0.008-0.010 |
| Hambergite | 1.553-1.628 | 0.072 |
| Pyrophyllite | 1.552-1.600 | 0.048 |
| Muscovite | 1.552-1.618 | 0.036-0.043 |
| Beryllonite | 1.552-1.561 | 0.009 |
| Charoite | 1.550-1.561 | 0.004-0.009 |
| Amethyst (quartz) | 1.544-1.553 | 0.009 |
| Aventurine (quartz) | 1.544-1.553 | 0.009 |
| Rose quartz | 1.544-1.553 | 0.009 |
| Citrine (quartz) | 1.544-1.553 | 0.009 |
| Prasiolite (quartz) | 1.544-1.553 | 0.009 |
| Smoky quartz | 1.544-1.553 | 0.009 |
| Rock crystal (quartz) | 1.544-1.553 | 0.009 |
| Andesine | 1.543-1.551 | 0.008 |
| Oligoclase | 1.542-1.549 | 0.007 |
| Talc | 1.540-1.590 | 0.050 |
| Scapolite | 1.540-1.579 | 0.006-0.037 |
| Petrified Wood | 1.540 | none |
| Jasper | 1.540 | none |
| Amber | 1.539-1.545 | none |
| Ivory | 1.535-1.570 | none |
| Apophyllite | 1.535-1.537 | 0.002 |
| Tiger's eye | 1.534-1.540 | none |
| Aragonite | 1.530-1.685 | 0.155 |
| Agate | 1.530-1.540 | 0.004-0.009 |
| Chalcedony | 1.530-1.540 | 0.004-0.009 |
| Chrysoprase | 1.530-1.540 | 0.004-0.009 |
| Moss agate | 1.530-1.540 | 0.004-0.009 |
| Sepiolite | 1.530 | none |
| Witherite | 1.529-1.677 | 0.148 |
| Milarite | 1.529-1.551 | 0.003 |
| Nepheline | 1.526-1.546 | 0.0004 |
| Sunstone | 1.525-1.548 | 0.01 |
| Cordierite | 1.522-1.578 | 0.008-0.018 |
| Iolite (cordierite) | 1.522-1.578 | 0.008-0.018 |
| Amazonite | 1.522-1.530 | 0.008 |
| Pearl | 1.520-1.690 | 0.156 |
| Ammolite | 1.520-1.680 | 0.155 |
| Strontianite | 1.520-1.670 | 0.150 |
| Gypsum | 1.520-1.529 | 0.009 |
| Orthoclase | 1.518-1.530 | 0.008 |
| Sanidine | 1.518-1.530 | 0.008 |
| Moonstone | 1.518-1.526 | 0.008 |
| Pollucite | 1.517-1.525 | none |
| Carletonite | 1.517-1.521 | 0.004 |
| Stichtite | 1.516-1.544 | 0.026 |
| Thomsonite | 1.515-1.542 | 0.006-0.025 |
| Magnesite | 1.509-1.717 | 0.022 |
| Scolecite | 1.509-1.525 | 0.007-0.012 |
| Leucite | 1.504-1.509 | 0.001 |
| Mesolite | 1.504-1.508 | 0.001 |
| Dolomite | 1.502-1.698 | 0.185 |
| Petalite | 1.502-1.519 | 0.012-0.017 |
| Lapis lazuli | 1.500 | none |
| Haüyne | 1.496-1.510 | none |
| Tugtupite | 1.496-1.502 | 0.006 |
| Cancrinite | 1.495-1.528 | 0.024-0.029 |
| Celluloid | 1.495-1.520 | none |
| Ulexite | 1.491-1.520 | 0.029 |
| Yugawaralite | 1.490-1.509 | 0.011-0.014 |
| Whewellite | 1.489-1.651 | 0.159-0.163 |
| Kurnakovite | 1.488-1.525 | 0.036 |
| Inderite | 1.486-1.507 | 0.017-0.020 |
| Calcite | 1.486-1.658 | 0.172 |
| Coral | 1.486-1.658 | 0.160-0.172 |
| Moldavite | 1.48-1.540 | none |
| Natrolite | 1.480-1.493 | 0.013 |
| Sodalite | 1.480 | none |
| Analcime | 1.479-1.489 | none |
| Thaumasite | 1.464-1.507 | 0.036 |
| Creedite | 1.461-1.485 | 0.024 |
| Chrysocolla | 1.460-1.570 | 0.023-0.040 |
| Obsidian | 1.450-1.550 | none |
| Gaylussite | 1.443-1.523 | 0.080 |
| Glass | 1.440-1.900 | none |
| Fluorite | 1.434 | none |
| Sellaite | 1.378-1.390 | 0.012 |
| Opal | 1.370-1.520 | none |
| Villiaumite | 1.327 | anomalous |
Notes
A double refraction of "none" means the stone is either isometric or amorphous. "Anomalous" means this singly refractive stone may show anomalous double refraction (ADR). Singly refractive gems with high refractive indices may show ADR.
International Gem Society
Related Articles
Gemstone Toxicity Table
Gem faceters and jewelry enthusiasts alike should learn about gemstone toxicity. This table has toxicity ratings for 280+ gems, based...
Read More
Table of Gems Ordered by Crystal System
This table contains a selection of minerals gemologists may encounter as jewelry stones or gem specimens. The gems are sorted...
Read More
Specific Gravity Values of Selected Gems
Measuring specific gravity helps gemologists identify gemstones. The following table lists the specific gravity values for a variety of gem...
Read More
Standard Gem Sizes Chart
Will your gem fit in a standard setting? Use this chart of standard gem sizes for popular cuts and also...
Read More
Latest Articles
A Guide to Early Victorian Romantic Period Jewelry
The Romantic Period marked the start of the Victorian Era. Learn about the typical qualities of Romantic Period jewelry, including...
Read More
Malaya or Malaia Garnet Value, Price, and Jewelry Information
Malaia or malaya garnets are typically light to dark, slightly pinkish orange, reddish orange, or yellowish orange in color. This...
Read More
Choosing Your First Gemstones: A Rough Guide for Faceters
How should novice faceters choose their first gemstones? Learn which gem rough materials combine cutting ease, low cost, good size,...
Read More
Gemstone Coatings: CVD and More
Gemstone coatings are a simple way to enhance color and luster. Learn about commonly coated gems, different coating techniques, and...
Read More
Never Stop Learning
When you join the IGS community, you get trusted diamond & gemstone information when you need it.
Get Gemology Insights
Get started with the International Gem Society’s free guide to gemstone identification. Join our weekly newsletter & get a free copy of the Gem ID Checklist!