- james
Ruby in Fuchsite
Fuchsite is a green variety of muscovite mica. Chromium is the source of fuchsite’s green color.
Occasionally, corundum crystals are found in fuchsite. When these crystals are of a bright red color, the material is known as ruby in fuchsite.
Ruby in fuchsite is one of the most commonly misidentified gem materials. Often this stone is misidentified as ruby in zoisite. This identification problem can easily be solved if a person learns the three facts below and uses them for identification.
1) Fuchsite has a hardness of 2 to 3, while zoisite has a hardness of at least 6.
2) Rubies have blue kyanite alteration rims in fuchsite but no alteration rims in zoisite.
This stone is probably one of my most popular stones I have ever worked on. For years I have gone through more than a 100 pounds per year looking for that special piece mixed in all the other parts I throw away.
Because of the softness of the fuchsite and the hardness of the ruby, it can be a nightmare for cutting and polishing, but once finished the stone is indeed a gem of great quality and desirability.
