Scapolite Gemstone
Scapolite
Scapolite is silicate of aluminium with calcium and sodium where potassium or fluorine may be present. Scapolite was first discovered in 1913 in the Mogok Stone Tract in upper Burma. It comes in an interesting variety of colors, including white, colorless, greenish, gray, yellow, brown, reddish and pink. There is also a lavender scapolite that is produced by heat treatment. The other colors are typically untreated. The most common color for gemstones is a bright honey-yellow.
A cat’s-eye effect can be seen in some pink and purple stones. Scapolite may easily be confused with amblygonite, chrysoberyl, and golden beryl.
A scapolite is cut into cabochon when parallel needle like inclusions is found within it so that it can generate cat’s eye effect otherwise it is cut in facetted cut stone. The best scapolite come form Kenya, Madagascar, Brazil and Tanzania.
Scapolite, is coming from Greek for “rod” or “shaft,” is commonly found in stubby to long prismatic crystals, that become the name. Scapolite is found in a number of locations in the world, including Canada, the USA, Norway, Italy and Mexico. Gemstone sources are found in Brazil, Madagascar, Tanzania, Kenya, Canada and Burma.