CHATOYANCY

Domain	Definition
Mining	An optical phenomenon, possessed by certain minerals in reflected light, in which a movable wavy or silky sheen is concentrated in a narrow band of light that changes its position as a mineral is turned. It results from the reflection of light from minute, parallel fibers, cavities or tubes, or needlelike inclusions within the mineral. The effect may be seen on a cabochon-cut gemstone, either distinct and well defined (such as the narrow, light-colored streak in a fine chrysoberyl cat's-eye) or less distinct (such as in the usual tourmaline or beryl cat's-eye).Syn:chatoyance. (references)
Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

Specialty Definition: Chatoyancy

In gemology, chatoyancy is an optical reflectance effect seen in certain gemstones. Coined from the French, meaning "cat's eye," chatoyancy arises either from the fibrous structure of a material, as in tiger eye quartz, or from fibrous inclusions or cavities within the stone, as in cat's eye chrysoberyl. The effect can be likened to the sheen off a spool of silk; the mobile, wavering reflection always being perpendicular to the direction of the fibres. For a gemstone to show this effect it must be cut en cabochon, with the fibres or fibrous structures parallel to the base of the finished stone.

Some gem species known for this phenomenon include the aforementioned quartz, chrysoberyl, beryl (especially var. aquamarine), tourmaline, apatite, and scapolite.

References

Webster, R., Jobbins, E. A. (Ed.). (1998). Gemmologist's compendium. St Edmundsbury Press Ltd, Bury St Edwards.

Anagrams: CHATOYANCY

Scrabble® Enable2K-Verified Anagrams
	Words within the letters "a-a-c-c-h-n-o-t-y-y"
	-3 letters: tachyon.
	-4 letters: cancha, catchy, chancy, chanty, choana, concha, conchy.
	-5 letters: atony, cacao, canto, canty, catch, chant, coach, coact, conch, cotan, cyano, cyton, nacho, natch, notch, octan, yacht.
	Words containing the letters "a-a-c-c-h-n-o-t-y-y"
	+4 letters: psychoanalytic.
	+5 letters: sycophantically.
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