Edenite Gem Guide and Properties Chart

Edenite is named for Edenville, New York which is the first known location where it was discovered. Specimens can be green, gray, brown, and white, and well-formed crystals are commonly found.

General Information

Classification
Optical Properties
Characteristic Physical Properties
Chemistry & Crystallography

Common Name

Edenite

Species

Amphibole

Transparency

Opaque-Translucent

Dispersion

Strength: Weak Fire

Refractive Index

1.606-1.684

Birefringence

0.023- 0.025

Optic Character

Biaxial

Optic Sign

Positive

Polariscope Reaction

Aggregate (AGG)

Fluorescence

SWUV: Pale greenish blue

Pleochroism

Unobservable, Depends on bodycolor: pale gray or colorless, greenish yellow, or pale green; pale brown, light green, green; colorless or pale bluish gray, light brownish green, greenish blue, or greenish

Hardness

5-6

Streak

White

Toughness

Poor

Luster

Vitreous

Stability

Brittle

Fracture

Uneven

Cleavage

Perfect

Chemical Name

Sodium Calcium Magnesium Silicate

Chemical Formula

NaCa₂Mg₅Si₇O₂₂(OH)₂

Crystal System

Monoclinic

Chemistry Classification

Silicate

Edenite Colors

Black
Brown
Gray
Green
White
Yellow

Countries of Origin

Myanmar; Cameroon; Russian Federation; Viet Nam; Czechia; United States of America; Egypt; Madagascar; United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland; Portugal; Greece; Austria; Sweden; Mozambique; Korea (the Republic of); Unknown; Mali; China; Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha; Brazil; Poland; Iraq; Slovakia; Slovenia; Bulgaria; France; Sri Lanka; Japan; Philippines; Saint Kitts And Nevis; United Arab Emirates; Belarus; Saint Vincent And The Grenadines; Switzerland; Spain; New Zealand; Canada; Cuba; Saint Lucia; Norway; Namibia; Finland; Italy; Antarctica; Australia; Ethiopia; Germany

Care

Edenite is brittle so please take when handling specimens.