Ivory
Organic gem
Take care.
- Sensitive to heat: Keep it away from heat and sudden changes of temperature, including hot lights and ultrasonic cleaners.
About it
Dentine from tusks and teeth; elephant and mammoth ivory show crosshatched Schreger lines in cross-section. International elephant ivory trade is banned under CITES and many countries restrict sales, so check the law first.
- Type
- Organic gem
- Group
- Tooth and tusk (dentine)
- Hardness (Mohs)
- 2–3
- Specific gravity
- 1.7–2
- Lustre
- greasy, dull
- Colours
- white, cream, yellowish, browning with age
- Transparency
- opaque, translucent
- Cleavage and fracture
- none; splintery fracture
- Under UV light
- bluish white to violet under longwave UV
Typical values: real specimens vary. For more, see mindat.org.