Wednesday, August 6, 2025

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Introduction:

A light purplish-blue sapphire weighing 15.84 carats was submitted to the Laboratoire Franรงais de Gemmologie (LFG) for testing. This stone turned out to be a synthetic sapphire, but what made it especially interesting was the presence of Rose channels — a feature usually seen in natural sapphires.




What Are Rose Channels?

Rose channels are tiny hollow tubes inside the sapphire that always appear at the points where twin layers (called "twin lamellae") meet. These channels are positioned along the edges of certain crystal faces and form angles of about 90 degrees. Normally, these are features of natural sapphires.



Why Is This Discovery Important?

These channels and twin lines are common in natural sapphires, but very rare in synthetic ones. However, this sample — a Verneuil flame-fusion synthetic sapphire — had both features clearly visible. It challenges the assumption that Rose channels prove a gem is natural.




Other Findings from Testing:

  • Under the microscope: Clouds of bubbles and twinning planes were observed, typical of synthetic gems.

  • Under UV light:

    • No reaction under long-wave UV.

    • Strong blue glow under short-wave UV.

  • X-ray fluorescence testing showed no gallium, supporting that it’s synthetic.

  • DiamondView imaging revealed curved growth lines, a feature of Verneuil synthetic sapphires.

  • FTIR (Infrared) spectroscopy showed no absorption in the 1500–4000 cm⁻¹ range, where Rose channels in natural stones usually show signals.




Conclusion:

Even though Rose channels and twin planes are normally signs of a natural sapphire, this case proves they can also appear in synthetic sapphires. Therefore, these features alone cannot be used to confirm whether a stone is natural.


References / Source Credit:

This article is adapted and simplified from:

Hennebois, U., Delaunay, A., Herreweghe, A., Karampelas, S., & Fritsch, E. (2022). Synthetic sapphire with Rose channels. Gems & Gemology, 58(3), p. 387.
Available at: https://hal.science/hal-04001745v1


Primary Keywords (Main focus):

  • Rose channels in synthetic sapphire

  • Synthetic sapphire inclusions

  • Verneuil sapphire identification

  • Twinning planes in corundum

  • Gemstone identification techniques


๐Ÿ”‘ Secondary Keywords (Supporting terms):

  • Synthetic vs natural sapphire

  • Boehmite needles in sapphires

  • Flame-fusion synthetic gemstones

  • DiamondView gem testing

  • FTIR spectroscopy in gemstones

  • Corundum rose channels

  • CIGTL gem testing

  • Gemology sapphire features


 

Thursday, June 5, 2025

Comparison of Emeralds from the Chitral District, Pakistan, with other Pakistani and Afghan Emeralds

Comparison of Emeralds from the Chitral District, Pakistan, with other Pakistani and Afghan Emeralds" by Hanser et al. (2023), suitable for gemology students:


๐Ÿ”ท Origin and Location

  • Emerald Deposit: Chitral District, north-western Pakistan (discovered in 2021)

  • Geological Zone: Outside the traditional “Emerald Belt” (Indus Suture Zone)

  • Host Rocks: Quartz- and mica-rich metapelites of the Arkari Formation, intruded by pegmatitic leucogranite


๐Ÿชจ Rock Types and Formation

  • Chitral emeralds form in schist-hosted environments

  • Hosted in quartz- and mica-rich metamorphic rocks

  • Similar to emeralds in Afghanistan's Panjshir and Swat (Pakistan), but geochemically distinct


๐ŸŽจ Color and Diaphaneity

  • Colors: Light green to dark green

  • Transparency: Mostly transparent; higher-quality than earlier samples

  • Notable: Deeper-colored samples show potential for gem trade


๐Ÿ” Inclusions

  • Chitral Inclusions:

    • Two-phase inclusions (gas + liquid)

    • Hollow growth tubes (some with yellowish precipitates)

    • Surface-reaching inclusions: quartz, plagioclase (andesine/oligoclase), K-feldspar, phlogopite (main dark mica), rare muscovite

  • No three-phase inclusions, which is key to distinguishing from Panjshir, Swat, and Laghman emeralds

  • Laghman: Biotite and three-phase inclusions

  • Swat: Black opaque minerals (spinel, pyrite), talc, carbonate, and mica


๐Ÿ”ฌ Optical & Physical Properties

PropertyChitral Emeralds
Refractive Index1.580–1.590
Birefringence0.008–0.009
SG2.71–2.74
UV-Vis-NIRStrong Fe²⁺ absorption (~830 nm)
Raman SpectraStrong Type II H₂O peaks

๐Ÿงช Chemical Composition (Major/Trace Elements)

By EPMA (Oxides, wt.%):

  • SiO₂: ~63.6–64.4%

  • Al₂O₃: ~15.3–16.1%

  • FeO: ~0.45–0.63%

  • MgO: ~1.6–1.9%

  • Na₂O: ~1.5%

  • BeO: Fixed ~13.6%

By LA-ICP-MS (ppm):

  • High in:

    • Li: 938–1359 ppm (significantly higher than Swat, Panjshir, Laghman)

    • Cs: Up to 5782 ppm

    • Na: ~11,000–12,000 ppm

    • Mg: ~9,000–11,000 ppm

  • Low in:

    • Mn: ~15–26 ppm

    • Ti: ~11–18 ppm

    • Zn: ~13–18 ppm


๐Ÿ’ก Cause of Color

  • Chromophores: Chromium (Cr), Vanadium (V), and Iron (Fe)

  • Chitral emeralds show:

    • Fe²⁺ dominant (responsible for bluish-green tone)

    • Moderate Cr and V contents

  • Fe₂⁺ feature in UV-Vis (~830 nm) is stronger than Cr³⁺ and V³⁺, indicating schist-hosted genesis


๐Ÿงฌ Elements (in ppm)

ElementRangeCharacteristic
Li938–1359High – diagnostic for Chitral
Cs1151–5782High – separates from Swat
Cr514–1197Color contributor
V222–391Color contributor
Na~11,000–12,000Higher than Khaltaro
Fe~3413–4164Bluish-green tint source

๐Ÿ”Ž Diagnostic Features for Origin Determination

PropertyChitral vs Others
InclusionsNo three-phase; phlogopite-rich
Fe²⁺ AbsorptionStronger than Cr³⁺ & V³⁺
Li & Cs LevelsSignificantly higher
Water Type (Raman)Dominant Type II H₂O peaks
Growth FeaturesWeak zoning; no sawtooth structures

๐Ÿ“ Summary for Students

  • Chitral emeralds are schist-hosted, Fe²⁺-rich, and alkali-rich

  • No three-phase inclusions (unlike Panjshir or Swat)

  • High levels of Li and Cs make them chemically distinct

  • Excellent for origin studies due to inclusion types, spectroscopic patterns, and chemical profiles

  • Increasing mining activity in Chitral makes identification increasingly important in gem markets

Origin of Negative Crystals in Gemstones

Special Cases • Peridot: Contains rounded gas bubbles that, under reflected light, exhibit crystal faces, confirming them as negative crystals formed during growth. Negative crystals provide valuable insights into the growth and healing processes of gemstones. They are important for both gemological studies and aesthetic appreciation.

Wednesday, June 4, 2025

Corundum MCQs

Corundum MCQ Quiz (50 Questions)

Corundum MCQ Quiz (50 Questions)

Wednesday, February 26, 2025

Sodalite from Myanmar vs. Afghanistan: A Complete Comparison

Sodalite is a fascinating gemstone known for its vibrant blue hues and unique tenebrescence, the ability to change color under UV light. In recent years, high-quality sodalite (also called hackmanite) has been sourced from Myanmar and Afghanistan. If you are a gem collector, jeweler, or enthusiast looking to understand the differences between these two sources, this comprehensive comparison will help you make an informed choice.

1. General Characteristics

  • Tenebrescence: Both Myanmar and Afghan sodalite exhibit tenebrescence, allowing them to change color when exposed to UV light.

  • Transparency: Afghan sodalite is typically more transparent, whereas Burmese sodalite tends to have more inclusions.

2. Transparency & Clarity

  • Afghan Sodalite: Cleaner, with fewer inclusions and higher transparency.

  • Burmese Sodalite: More included, often with visible fractures and foreign material.

3. Color and Tenebrescence

  • Burmese Sodalite: Usually has a deeper, richer purple or violet color.

  • Afghan Sodalite: Ranges from very light violet to medium purple.

  • Tenebrescence: Afghan sodalite generally has a stronger tenebrescence effect than Burmese sodalite.

4. UV Fluorescence and Phosphorescence

  • Afghan Sodalite: Strong yellow to orange fluorescence under long-wave UV, moderate to strong white fluorescence under short-wave UV.

  • Burmese Sodalite: Weaker fluorescence, typically greenish-yellow in fractures.

  • Phosphorescence: Afghan sodalite shows stronger phosphorescence than Burmese sodalite.

5. Refractive Index & Specific Gravity

  • Afghan Sodalite: Refractive index of 1.45 - 1.48.

  • Burmese Sodalite: Refractive index of 1.47 - 1.48.

  • Specific Gravity: Burmese sodalite sometimes has a higher SG (up to 2.44) due to the presence of nepheline inclusions.

6. Spectroscopy & Chemistry

  • Both types contain traces of sulfur, which contribute to tenebrescence.

  • Afghan sodalite exhibits additional spectral features in UV-Vis-NIR spectra, such as peaks at 410-412 nm, 277 nm, and 313 nm, which are not found in Burmese sodalite.

7. Treatment

  • Afghan Sodalite: Often oiled to enhance clarity.

  • Burmese Sodalite: May also undergo oiling, especially after cutting.

Conclusion: Which One Should You Choose?

  • If you want a gemstone with strong tenebrescence, Afghan hackmanite is the better choice.

  • If you prefer a deep, rich purple or violet color, Burmese sodalite is ideal.

  • For higher transparency and fewer inclusions, Afghan sodalite is superior.

  • If you appreciate UV fluorescence and phosphorescence, Afghan sodalite offers stronger effects.

Final Thoughts

Both Myanmar and Afghan sodalite have their own unique appeal. Whether you’re a gem enthusiast, collector, or jeweler, understanding these differences can help you make a more informed decision. For investment or aesthetic purposes, consider your preference for tenebrescence, clarity, and fluorescence when choosing between these two beautiful varieties of sodalite.


  • Title: Sodalite from Myanmar vs. Afghanistan – Differences, Color, & Value

  • Meta Description: Discover the key differences between Burmese and Afghan sodalite, including color, tenebrescence, transparency, UV fluorescence, and treatment.


Wednesday, December 25, 2024

Gemology MCQs Part 6

Gemstone MCQs Quiz

Test Your Knowledge in Gemology Part 6

1. A 2-carat fine-quality ruby is worth more than 10 rubies of the same color and quality, which have a total weight of 4 carats.


Correct Answer: a) True

2. One carat equals:




Correct Answer: c) 1/5 of a gram

3. A ten-pointer is a stone that weighs:




Correct Answer: b) 1/10 of a carat

4. When comparing gem prices, you should compare their:




Correct Answer: a) Per-carat cost

5. If a Tanzanite weighs 4 carats and costs $1600, what is its per-carat price?




Correct Answer: b) $400

6. What is the cost of a 0.25-carat ruby that sells for $400 per carat?




Correct Answer: c) $100

7. A 1-carat round emerald would typically cost less than a 1-carat emerald-cut emerald, all other factors being equal.


Correct Answer: a) False

8. All step cuts are emerald cuts.


Correct Answer: b) False

9. Which cut is most commonly used for rubies and sapphires?




Correct Answer: b) Mixed cut

10. The large top facet of a stone is called?




Correct Answer: c) Table

11. The narrow rim around the circumference of a stone is called the:




Correct Answer: d) Girdle

Image of a diamond in a jewelry setting: Alt Text: "Question on the hardest gemstone, with a close-up of a diamond in a jewelry setting."