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Scapolite is a gemstone with a variety of colors, including yellow, pink, violet, gray, and white, and is often found in prismatic or "rod-like" crystals. It is typically transparent to translucent and can display special optical effects like the cat's-eye effect (chatoyancy) or asterism, though it is not widely known due to its relatively low hardness and lack of dispersion. It is sensitive to heat and acid and has perfect cleavage, so it requires careful handling. Description and appearance Color: Commonly yellow, but also found in pink, violet, gray, and white. The color depends on the specific composition of the mineral.Clarity: Can range from translucent to transparent.Luster: Vitreous luster when cut and polished.Crystal structure: Named from the Greek words for "rod" and "stone," as it often forms long, slender, rod-like crystals.Optical effects:Chatoyancy (cat's-eye effect): Rare and desirable, this effect occurs in translucent stones with a sharp, narrow streak of light when viewed under focused light.Asterism: A star-like effect seen in cabochons due to tiny inclusions.Iridescence: Some varieties, called "rainbow scapolite," have iridescent inclusions that show spectral colors. Properties and care Hardness: \(5-6\) on the Mohs scale, making it relatively soft compared to other gemstones.Cleavage: Has a perfect cleavage, meaning it can easily split or break along certain planes, so it requires very careful handling during setting.Heat and acid sensitivity: Sensitive to heat and acids, so care should be taken during processes like soldering.Fluorescence: Often fluoresces orange to yellow under longwave (LW) or shortwave (SW) ultraviolet light. Rarity and value Common vs. rare colors: Yellow is the most common color, while purple and pink varieties, especially those with cat's-eye effects, are rarer and more sought-after by collectors.Size: Rare in larger sizes; high-quality pink and purple stones over 5 carats are especially scarce.Uses: Due to its properties, it is more of a collector's stone than a common jewelry gemstone, although the rarer, more attractive stones are used for special pieces.