Hiddenite
What is Hiddenite?
Hiddenite is a variety of spodumene that is often found in Brazil, Madagascar, and the United States. It’s primarily used as a gemstone and is popular for its green to yellow-green color.
Hiddenite is a unique gemstone that comes in shades of green to yellow-green. Its vibrant hue and unique appearance make it a popular choice for jewelry and decorative items, especially beads and pendants.
| Chemical Classification | Inorganic - Silicate (Spodumene) |
| Color | Ranges from pale green to a deeper emerald-like green. |
| Streak | White |
| Luster | Vitreous. |
| Transparency | Typically transparent to translucent. |
| Occurrence | United States (North Carolina), Brazil, and Madagascar. |
| Formation | Hiddenite forms in granite pegmatites. |
| Diaphaneity | Transparent |
| Cleavage | None |
| Mohs Hardness | 6.5 - 7. |
| Specific Gravity | Approximately 3.15 - 3.21. |
| Diagnostic Properties | Green, a variety of spodumene. |
| Chemical Composition | LiAl(SiO3)2 |
| Pleochroism | Strong; typically yellow-green and green. |
| Crystal System | Monoclinic (variety of Spodumene) |
| Optical Properties | Biaxial (-) |
| Refractive Index | 1.660 - 1.676 |
| Birefringence | 0.015 |
| 2V angle | Measured: 58° |
| Dispersion | Not typically noted due to its color and transparency. |