Color Change Diaspore Gemstone Information

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Color change diaspore is an extremely rare gemstone-quality form of aluminum oxide hydroxide, one of three major mineral components of bauxite, an important ore of aluminum widely used for many industrial purposes. Color change diaspore is extremely rare and as its descriptive name suggests, it has a unique ability to change color under different lighting conditions. Under natural light, most appear green with flashes of yellow, and under incandescent lighting, most stones will appear pink or champagne in color. When exposed to subdued lighting (candlelight), a light pinkish-orange to raspberry-red color can often be seen.

When color change diaspore was first introduced to the international gem market, it was marketed under the trade name, 'Zultanite', after the company that owned the rights to the Turkish mines, as well as the branded patent name of 'Csarite'. These marketing names were very short-lived, although branded stones are still available, but usually at a very high premium. Since these marketing branded trade names were never officially recognized in the gem industry, color change diaspore is most often simply referred to by its mineral name, diaspore.

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Diaspore was actually discovered in the Ural Mountains of Russia in 1801, but it wasn't faceted as a gemstone until the early 1980s. The color change gemstone has only recently been mined on a commercial level, and although it can be found in various locations around the world, the only major commercial source is Mugla, Turkey. Other smaller, but notable deposits have been found in areas, including Russia's Ural Mountain region, mainly the Saranovskii Mine in Sarany, as well in South Africa's Wessels and N'Chwaning mines. Deposits of diaspore crystals were discovered at Chester, Massachusetts (USA), but these were not of major commercial value. Other notable sources include New Zealand, Brazil, Argentina, UK, China, Arizona and Pennsylvania (USA).

Color Change Diaspore Color

Color change diaspore owes its color to manganese. Under natural or fluorescent light, most specimens appear light-olive or kiwi-green with flashes of yellow. Under incandescent lighting, the color shifts to more of a champagne hue. When exposed to subdued lighting (candlelight), a light pinkish-orange to raspberry-red color can be seen. Mixed lighting sources can result in color combinations. Color change diaspore also exhibits pleochroism; a single stone can appear violet-blue, light-green or pink to dark-red, depending on the viewing angle. Smaller gemstones tend to exhibit a lesser degree of color change than larger stones, though there are always exceptions.

Color Change Diaspore Clarity and Luster

Color change diaspore has an extremely attractive, vitreous to pearly luster. High quality specimens have excellent transparency, but inclusions are very common. Eye-clean specimens are extremely rare, especially in larger stones. Some diaspore occurs with translucent material, but top grade faceted stones are very clear and transparent.

Color Change Diaspore Cut and Shape

Color change diaspore is most often faceted into traditional shapes, such as oval facets and rectangular step cuts. Cat's eye diaspore, a rare chatoyant variety, is always cut en cabochon. Since gem quality diaspore is extremely rare, fancy shapes and calibrated gems demand very high premiums. Gemstones over 3 carats are especially rare, and command very high premiums.

Color Change Diaspore Treatment

Color change diaspore is not known to be treated or enhanced in any way. It is one of the few gemstones that remains completely untreated and unenhanced, from mine to market.

Please refer to our Gemstone Glossary for details of gemology-related terms.

Buy Cat's Eye Diaspore

Color change diaspore has very few similar gems, particularly due to its combination of rare optical properties. Gibbsite and boehmite are somewhat similar, especially since they are the other two major components of bauxite. Diaspore occurs as an alteration product of corundum, but although they share similar qualities, they are not exactly related.

Possibilities for confusion include chrysoberyl, cat's eye chrysoberyl, alexandrite, cat's eye alexandrite, color change sapphire and color change garnet. Cat's eye diaspore has many unofficial trade names, including Turkish diaspore, cat's eye Zultanite, empholite, kayserite and tanatarite, as well as various spelling variations of these names.

Most Popular Related Trade Names and Mineral Associations:

Chrome diaspore, mangan diaspore, Zultanite, cat's eye diaspore, diaspore and Turkish diaspore are the most common trade names and mineral associations.

Lesser-Known Related Trade Names and Mineral Associations:

Empholite, kayserite, tanatarite, Csarite, ottomanite, kaolinite, chlorite, margarite, pyrophyllite, goethite, gibbsite and boehmite are some of the lesser-known trade names and mineral associations.

Color change diaspore is not a very well-known gem, and since it is relatively new, there is very little fame, myth or legend associated with the stone. It is not known as an official birthstone for any month, and it has no official place in the scheme of astrology or planetary energies. However, color change diaspore is a gemstone of many colors, and in the metaphysical world of crystal energies, color is very important.

Crystals of green color are known to be strong and nurturing. Green is an earthy color, so green colored cat's eye diaspore can help to encourage new life, growth and development. Olive colored stones are known to help with dedication and focus. They can enhance our hunger for knowledge and increase our yearning for wisdom. All shades of green represent intelligence, so both kiwi-green and olive-green gemstones will help strengthen the ability to learn and absorb knowledge.

The healing powers of gems have been mentioned for centuries by healers, shamans and medicine men from various cultures. Whether the beliefs are true or simply a placebo effect, it truly doesn't matter as long as it helps those who believe and are in need. The best practice for alternative crystal healing is to wear the gemstone in direct contact with the skin, especially near the injured part of the body.

Color change diaspore is an excellent jewelry gemstone. Jewelry designers are very much attracted to color change gemstones, making diaspore extremely desirable and highly valuable. It has relatively good hardness (6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale) and a good level of durability, comparable to peridot and tanzanite. Its refractive index of 1.702-1.750 is between that of tanzanite and spinel, which means that it has attractive brilliance and a high level of dispersion.

Owing to its perfect cleavage, diaspore can cleave easily, so extra care should be taken when cutting, polishing and setting gems into jewelry. Color change diaspore is ideal for any type of jewelry, including earrings, pendants, bracelets, necklaces, pins and brooches, but when wearing diaspore as a ring, it is recommended that extra care be taken to prevent hard knocks and blows which can cause the stone to split.

Note: Buy colored gemstones by size and not by carat weight. Colored stones vary in size-to-weight ratio. Some stones are larger and others are smaller than diamond by weight in comparison.

Color change diaspore is considerably hard, but it is still slightly softer than common quartz. Ordinary dust often contains traces of quartz, so simply wiping down your gemstone can eventually lead to a reduction of polish. Color change diaspore has a distinct perfect cleavage, very similar to diamond and topaz, which means a single blow can cause it to fracture. It is recommended that extra care be taken when cutting, polishing and setting the gem. Avoid wearing diaspore jewelry when working with harsh chemicals and cleaners, especially bleach and sulfuric acid. Always remove any gems or jewelry before playing sports, exercising or engaging in household chores.

Do not use ultrasonic cleaners or steamers to clean your gems and avoid extreme heat or temperature fluctuations. To clean your gemstone, simply use warm soapy water and a soft cloth. Be sure to rinse well to remove soapy residue. To prevent scratches, always keep your gems and jewelry separately when storing them. It is best to wrap them in a soft cloth or place them inside a fabric-lined jewelry box.