Massive Epidote Crystals for Gemcutting

We call it a massive crystal when the crystalization proces has not led to threedimensional loose crystal fans but crystals are kind of imprinted on a epidote rock.

Well developed crystals of epidote are crystallizing in the monoclinic system and are of frequent occurrence: they are commonly prismatic in habit, the direction of elongation being perpendicular to the single plane of symmetry. The faces are often deeply striated and crystals are often twinned.

Many of the characters of the mineral vary with the amount of iron present for instance, the color, the optical constants, and the specific gravity. The color is green, grey, brown or nearly black, but usually a characteristic shade of yellowish-green or pistachio-green.