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  • Shanseres

Shanseres

Diopside

By Tim Matthews, JD, FGA, GG, DGA,
CEO and President of JTV
Published: June 2014
Modified: November 2021
Shanseres Polished
Table of Contents
  • General Information
  • Shanseres Colors
  • Alternate Names
  • Countries of Origin
  • Care
  • More About Shanseres

Shanseres® is a variety of diopside. The stone is related to chrome diopside, but unlike chrome diopside, it does not derive its color from chromium. Shanseres® is a single source gemstone mined at the border of Northern China and Southern Russia in a very remote area known as Yakutsk, Siberia along the old silk road. The name Shanseres® is derived from “Shan”-a Chinese word meaning mountain and “seres”-a derivative of the Chinese word for silk.

General Information

  • Classification
  • Optical Properties
  • Characteristic Physical Properties
  • Chemistry & Crystallography
Common Name
Shanseres
Species
Diopside
Transparency
Opaque-Transparent
Dispersion
Strength: Moderate Fire Value: 0.017
Refractive Index
1.664-1.724
Birefringence
0.024- 0.030
Optic Character
Biaxial
Optic Sign
Positive
Polariscope Reaction
Aggregate (AGG), Doubly Refractive (DR)
Fluorescence
SWUV: Inert to light bluish white
LWUV: Inert to green
CCF Reaction
None
Pleochroism
Dichroic, green and yellowish green
Hardness
5.5-6.5
Toughness
Good
Luster
Vitreous
Fracture
Conchoidal, Uneven, Brittle
Cleavage
Good
Chemical Name
magnesium silicate hydroxide
Chemical Formula
(Mg,Fe2+)3Si2O5(OH)4 
Crystal System
Monoclinic
Chemistry Classification
Silicate

Shanseres Colors

  • Green Shanseres
    Green
  • Green Shanseres
    Green
  • White Shanseres
    White
  • Yellow Shanseres
    Yellow
  • Brown Shanseres
    Brown
  • Black Shanseres
    Black
  • Gray Shanseres
    Gray
  • Colorless Shanseres
    Colorless

Alternate Names

Diopside

Countries of Origin

Russian Federation; Pakistan; Unknown; China

Care

Diopside is moderately soft, so be mindful of scratching. Avoid abrasives and solvents.

More About Shanseres

Shanseres® has been called the “crying gemstone,” because crystal healers believe it can be used to heal trauma by bring forth cleansing tears. It has also been promoted to bring creativity to the wearer and is said to be related to love and commitment. Alternative-medicine practitioners say that when worn close to the chest (such as a pendant), the stone can benefit the heart, lungs, and circulation.

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