Eosphorite

Eosphorite
(From Sri Lanka. Weight: 0.56 carats)
Image © supplied by Woodmansee* Gems

Eosphorite
(From Sri Lanka. Weight: 0.67 carats)
Image © supplied by Woodmansee* Gems

Eosphorite History & Etymology:

Eosphorite was first discovered in 1878. The first crystals of Eosphorite that were discovered were light pink in color with inclusions almost similar to pink coloring of the sky during dawn. Hence Eosphorite derive their name from eosphoros in Greek which literally translates to dawn bearing signifying the pink colored sky at dawn.

Eosphorite Occurrence:

Eosphorite is extremely rare are hence found in just one locality. Eosphorite to date is found only in the Branchville Mica Mine in Connecticut, USA. While Eosphorite is rare, finding gem quality crystals of Eosphorite is even more difficult. Eosphorite is characterized by its pinkish or orangish hue with inclusions. Eosphorite typically displays slight to extremely heavy inclusions thus making it almost impossible to find clear and bright gemstones of Eosphorite.

However the biggest and clearest gemstone of Eosphorite was found in the Branchville Mica Mine of size 10 carats.

Eosphorite Properties:

Eosphorite is composed of high quantities of iron, aluminum and manganese. Eosphorite crystals also contain high quantities of phosphate, which classifies the crystals as a phosphate mineral. Eosphorite displays monoclinic and prismatic properties.

Eosphorite occurs as crystalline masses in its natural formations. The crystalline masses can be short and even long and prismatic. The crystalline masses of Eosphorite are at least 20 cm in size and take a spherical radiating shape. The texture of the crystals ranges from globular to granular, however Eosphorite does exhibit twinning due to excessive oxidation. The twinning in Eosphorite gives rise to a pseudo-orthorhombic type of crystallography.

The cleavages on Eosphorite are quite poor and display sub-conchoidal to sometimes uneven fracturing. The poor cleavages and the uneven fracturing make Eosphorite quite brittle. But the Moh’s hardness of the Eosphorite crystals is at 5. Eosphorite is relatively dense with a density of 3.07 g/cm3 on an average. Eosphorite does not display properties of luminescence and is neither radioactive.

Eosphorite typically occurs in rose red to pink coloring. Pinkish orange colored crystals have also been found. Extremely rare crystals of Eosphorite with brown and black coloring have also been mined. The brown and black coloring typically occurs due to excessive oxidation at the time of formation.

The transparency of Eosphorite varies from completely transparent, which is extremely rare, to translucent to the slight to extremely heavy inclusions in the Eosphorite crystals. With luster that ranges from vitreous to sometimes resinous, Eosphorite is extremely sought after by gemstone experts and gemstone connoisseurs for its rarity.

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