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Information sur les pierres précieuses HiddeniteInformación de la piedra preciosa hiddenita
Introduction
Hiddenite is named after its founder, A.F. Hidden, who discovered this stone in 1879 in North Carolina. Hiddenite belongs to the spodumene species. Its color agent is chromium. The green color varies from a yellowish green to a green-yellow and can even approach the beauty of emerald green.

Hiddenite colors
Buying Hiddenite
Where is Hiddenite found?
Common Hiddenite Treatments
World-famous Hiddenite
Hiddenite gemology
Hiddenite legends & lore

Hiddenite colors
Hiddenite belongs to the spodumene species. Its color agent is chromium. The green color varies from a yellowish green to a green-yellow and can even approach the beauty of emerald green. Like kunzite, some specimens of hiddenite can exhibit color fading if exposed to strong light.

Buying Hiddenite
Color
The top and bottom of the crystal reveal the deepest colors and the cut has to take advantage of its effects.

Lighting
Hiddenite is strongly pleochroic, meaning there is a color intensity variation when a crystal of it is viewed from different directions.

Clarity
Hiddenite is a transparent gem and should be eye clean at least.

Cut
Hiddenite usually gets a step (emerald) cut. Hiddenite is strongly pleochroic, meaning there is a color intensity variation when a crystal of it is viewed from different directions. The top and bottom of the crystal reveal the deepest colors and experienced cutters take advantage of its effects. Due to hiddenite's cleavage, splintery fracture and strong pleochroism, it is considered a real gem cutter's challenge.

Hiddenite location and deposits
Hiddenite was originally found only in North Carolina. More recently, there have been finds in Afghanistan, Brazil and Madagascar, Myanmar and California that improved the supply of this fascinating gemstone.

Common Hiddenite treatments
None

World-famous Hiddenite
As a lesser-known gemstone, hiddenite hasn't gained fame as of yet.

Hiddenite gemology
Species: Spodumene
Color: Yellow-green, green-yellow, emerald-green
Chemical composition: LiAlSi2O6, lithium aluminum silicate
Crystal system: Monoclinic, prismatic, tabular
Hardness: 6.5 -7 (Mohs scale)
Specific gravity: 3.15 - 3.21
Refractive index: 1.660 - 1.681
Birefringence: +0.014 to + 0.016
Optical character:
Color of streak: White
Absorption spectrum: 690, 686, 669, 646, 620, 437, 433
Fluorescence: Very weak; red-yellow

The Hiddenite zodiac, myth & legend
As a lesser-known gemstone, hiddenite produces a blank page in the books of myth, history, wisdom, the zodiac scheme or the relation between planets and mankind.

First Published: March-29-2007

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