Thulite

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Thulite (rosaline)
Credit: Dave Dyet link

Description

A pale to deep pink translucent Zoisite stone in which manganese replaces up to 2 % of the calcium. Thulite was discovered near Telemark, Norway and named for Thule, an old name for Norway. It has been used as a gemstone and often has streaks of gray or white.

Synonyms and Related terms

zoisite; rosaline

Physical and Chemical Properties

  • Cleavage = perfect in one direction
  • Luster = vitreous
  • Fracture = conchoidal to uneven
  • Streak = white or gray
  • Fluorescence = inert
  • Pleochroism = present; and possibly dichroism or trichroism depending on color
Mohs Hardness 6.0 - 6.5
Density 3.1-3.4 g/ml
Refractive index 1.691 - 1.700
Birefringence 0.006 - 0.018

Resources and Citations

  • Gem Identification Lab Manual, Gemological Institute of America, 2016.
  • Wikipedia Thulite Accessed Dec 2022
  • Mineralogy Database: Zoisite

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