Gemology Hub / Gems Hub / Minerals Hub

Friday, December 30, 2022

Free Raman Spectra of Different Minerals and Gemstones with txt file, Ms Excel and .Spec extension

Raman Spectra of Different Minerals & Gemstones in TXT File Extension, Microsoft Excel and in .Spec format. Click on the below text and you will find the Raman spectra in different format as you desired. Its totally free and for educational / research purposes.

1. Banded Pink Calcite from Baluchistan, Pakistan, Raman Spectra

Pink Banded calcite From Baluchistan, Pakistan



Saturday, October 15, 2022

Everything You Need To Know About Natural Black Diamonds and Their Magnetic Sensitivity

Black colour could occur amongst any diamond type (Ia, Ib, IIa, IIb)
Most natural diamonds are non-magnetic. However, very rarely, a natural diamond can be attracted by a magnet. This occurs when the diamond contains numerous and/or large inclusions of minerals such as pyrrhotite, magnetite, or native iron etc.






Tuesday, October 11, 2022

What Is A Triple X Diamond? The Secret Behind Investing In These Rare Diamonds

Exploring The Uniqueness Of Triple X Diamonds: What Makes This Cut So Special?

The term "triple X diamond" refers to round brilliant diamonds that have been assessed Excellent cut, Excellent symmetry, and Excellent polish by the GIA. Because X stands for Excellent, Triple X simply implies Triple Excellent.

The cut, symmetry, and polish grades of a diamond demonstrate the level of craftsmanship that went into turning a rough diamond into a polished stone. All three affect a diamond's light interaction and are graded Excellent, Very Good, Good, Fair, and Poor on GIA Diamond Grading Reports.

Many diamond purchasers look for Triple Excellent diamonds because they desire the greatest craftsmanship possible. A diamond's top-notch craftsmanship guarantees that it emits the most light and fire while also having a pleasing pattern.

What does it mean to have an excellent cut?

The most significant aspect of a diamond is its cut. It influences the dimensions of a diamond, such as its depth and the angles of its facets, which affect how light bounces around inside the stone. A diamond with an Excellent cut grade has been cut within parameters that allow it to radiate tremendous brightness, sparkle, and fire while maintaining an even pattern of light and dark parts (scintillation). Large light or dark areas in poorly cut diamonds can make the stone appear dull or boring to the eye.

What does it mean to have an excellent Symmetry? 

The form of a diamond's symmetry is important. It describes how well the facets are aligned and how similar the sizes, shapes, and proportions of the same sorts of facets are. All of the facets should meet at the girdle in a diamond with Excellent symmetry (the widest part of the diamond). And the crown's kite-shaped facets should line up with the pavilion's wedge-shaped facets (bottom of the diamond). At the top of the diamond, the huge octagonal table facet should be centred, while the pavilion facets at the bottom should meet in a perfect point at the diamond's tip. Excellent symmetry improves the light return of a diamond and can make it look more balanced to the eye.

What does it mean to have an excellent polish? 

Polish refers to the quality of a diamond's finish or how neatly the diamond's surface has been polished. A diamond with Excellent polish has no noticeable polish flaws at 10 magnification. Small surface imperfections, such as pits and polish lines, are frequently formed by the polishing wheel during the polishing process and are typically rectified by re-polishing. While they are generally unnoticeable to the untrained eye, having a lot of surface flaws can reduce the stone's brilliance and glitter.

Consider the diamond's facets to be mirrors. The more flawless the reflection, the smoother the surface. Through these mirrors (facets), the diamond collects light from all around the viewer. When the dimensions and symmetry of a diamond are just right, the mirrors reflect the light in a brilliant display of brilliance, fire, and scintillation.

Is it necessary for me to exclusively purchase Triple X diamonds?

To be of exceptional grade, a diamond does not have to be Triple X. While symmetry and polish both have an impact on a diamond's overall cut rating, they do not have to be Excellent in order for the diamond to obtain an Excellent cut grade. Excellent cut can be assigned to diamonds with Very Good symmetry or Very Good polish. This is due to the fact that the distinction between a diamond with Excellent symmetry and polish and a diamond with Very Good symmetry and polish is only visible under magnification.

Furthermore, a Triple X cut diamond might appear dull if it contains noticeable inclusions or highly intense fluorescence. Cut, polish, and symmetry grades must be weighed against other quality parameters.

Is it true that Triple X diamonds are extremely rare?

A Triple X grading diamond is simple to find thanks to technology advancements and market desire. Diamonds are cut to the GIA cut standards on a regular basis by diamond producers.

When the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) created its cut grade for round brilliant diamonds in 2005, it did a lot of study on the scintillation patterns that people liked and recorded the diamond dimensions and cutting parameters that were utilised to make them. Cutting centres were given these cutting parameters, which were subsequently utilised to cut diamonds. Since then, these proportions and specifications have been industry standard and accepted. Many businesses have devices that cut diamonds to the optimal proportions automatically. As a result, triple X diamonds are becoming more prevalent.

Synthetic Paraiba Beryl: A Glimpse Into The Beauty Of Copper-Bearing Color

 

2008.6.20
Paraiba Neon Blue Copper-Beryl: A Revolutionary New Synthetic Beryl Discovered By Japanese Researchers

A Japanese research gemological laboratory published a report dated 20th June 2008, Author Dr. Ahmadjan Abduriyim about the new type of synthetic beryl whose color resembles Paraiba neon blue copper-bearing tourmaline.
For further details kindly visit the following website

https://grjapan.ddo.jp/gaaj_report/2008/2008_06-2en.html

With regards 

HUK

Unakite Rocks: An Introduction To Their Beauty Under The Microscope

An In-Depth Look At Unakite Rock Under A Gemological Microscope

Unakite is first discovered in the United States. The Unakas mountains of North Carolina. Unakite is an changed granite consists of pink orthoclase feldspar, green epidote, and generally colorless quartz. It exists in various shades of green and pink and is usually mottled in appearance. In good quality unakite is considered a semiprecious stone, will take a good polish and is often used in jewelry and other lapidary work such as eggs, spheres and other carvings like animals. 






Uncovering The Hidden Beauty Of Pakistani Topaz With Triplite Inclusions Under A Microscope


Astonishing Beauty: Observing Pakistani Topaz With Triplite Inclusions Under The Microscope

"Topaz is a silicate mineral of aluminium and fluorine and orthorhombic crystal system. Drop-shaped cavities with two or three unmixed liquids are seen in certain topaz (three-phase). Cubic crystals may be found in white topaz from Nigeria, Africa. Mica, spessartine garnet, monazite, quartz, monzonite, limonite, fluorite, albite, and brookite are solid minerals found as inclusions. Rutilated topaz is a trade name for needle-like inclusions of limonite-stained etched dislocation channels or voids in Brazilian topazes. Triplite(Mn,Fe++,Mg,Ca)2(PO4)(F,OH) in topaz is an exceptionally uncommon phosphate mineral with unique inclusions, and the best location is Braldu Valley, Skardu District, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan.

Drop-shaped cavities with two or three unmixed liquids are seen in certain topaz (three-phase). Cubic crystals may be found in white topaz from Nigeria, Africa. Mica, spessartine garnet, monazite, quartz, monzonite, limonite, fluorite, albite, and brookite are solid minerals found as inclusions. Rutilated topaz is a trading name for needle-like inclusions of limonite-stained etched dislocation channels or voids in Brazilian topazes.
Triplite(Mn,Fe++,Mg,Ca)2(PO4)(F,OH) in topaz is an exceptionally uncommon phosphate mineral with unique inclusions, and the best location is Braldu Valley, Skardu District, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan.

Triplite in Topaz
Triplite inclusions in Topaz, Origin: Pakistan 

Triplite in Topaz
Triplite inclusions in Topaz, Origin: Pakistan 

Triplite in Topaz
Triplite inclusions in Topaz, Origin: Pakistan 

Laurentthomasite is a newly found mineral in Madagascar.

Laurentthomasite is a mineral that was recently approved by the International Minerals Association (IMA) in 2019. It's appealing not only as a newly discovered mineral, but also as an excellent translucent and attractively coloured gemstone. We might be able to test some samples in the coming days. I'd like to share our calculated 
property with you.

rare mineral found in maddagascar
The basic gemmological property
 Theoretically is R.I. is 1.540-1.545 (uniaxial +) but our tested samples showed 1.555-1.560 (uniaxial +). The S.G is about 2.67. The crystal system is hexagonal. And it shows strong pleochroism as blue and yellow.
The hardness is about 6.

close-up of rare mineral found in madagascar
Laurentthomasite

     Laurentthomasite 



Weights Commonly Used In Gem Trade

 Weights Frequently Used in the Gem Trade

 

 

 

 

 

1

Carats

=

100

Cents

 1

Carats

=

0.200

Grams

1

Carats

=

200

Milligrams

1

Grams

=

5

Carats

1

Tola

=

11.664

Grams

1

Tola

=

59.32

Carats

1

Ratti

=

0.91

Carats

1

Grain

=

0.25

Carats

1

Momme

=

3.750

Grams

1

Momme

=

18.75

Carats

 1

Carats

=

4

Grain Pearl

1

Ratti

=

0.91

Carat

1

Tola

=

64.09

Ratti

Diamond Found in Deep Earth May Hold New Mineral

                 Deep-Earth Diamond Contains a New Mineral

The unexpected discovery of calcium silicate perovskite, a mineral never before seen in nature, has opened a window into the mysteries of the Earth's mantle. Found at depths of 660 to 900 kilometres below the planet's surface, the mineral can only form under extreme pressure. This finding has the potential to revolutionize geologists' understanding of the mantle's influence on plate tectonics.


Though the mineral had been created in the laboratory at a pressure of 20 gigapascals, it reverted to a different form when removed from the artificial environment. This led researchers to believe that discovering naturally occurring calcium silicate perovskite from the mantle would be nearly impossible. As Oliver Tschauner of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, explains, "We believed the chances of discovering it were so slim that we never actively sought for it." However, this remarkable discovery has now revealed a wealth of new information about the Earth's deep mantle.

diamond
The tiny gray blobs of mineral embedded in this slice of clear diamond are the first samples of newly named davemaoite, a calcium silicate perovskite mineral that only forms in the lower mantle.
The unexpected discovery of a diamond created deep in the Earth's mantle has revealed a material that has never been seen before in nature. This finding provides a unique insight into the planet's deep mantle and may help to uncover new information about the planet's structure at depths of more than 660 kilometres. This could potentially help geologists to better understand how the mantle influences plate tectonics on Earth.

When scientists investigated flaws in a diamond from Orapa, Botswana, they were surprised to find three small particles of calcium silicate perovskite. This variant had a distinct cubic crystal structure that distinguished it from other varieties of the mineral. The researchers named the new mineral davemaoite after geologist Ho-Kwang Dave Mao, who pioneered the use of diamonds as a way to produce mantle-like pressures on the Earth's surface.

Geoscientists can gain a better understanding of the composition of the Earth's mantle by studying what is present in the crust. Rocks and minerals are transported up and down between the layers over millions of years, but the minerals morph and alter as they leave the lower mantle's intense pressure and blistering temperatures. Diamonds, however, are the only direct window into this region as they do not morph and can lock in microscopic inclusions under their extreme hardness. Diamonds form at least 150 km below the surface, with some starting as deep as 1,000 km below the surface under extreme pressure—even when the diamond ascends to the crust and is plucked by a miner."The diamond doesn't allow anything in or out," says Oded Navon, a geologist at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem who studies diamonds and the deep mantle but was not involved in the davemaoite finding. "It's a near-perfect closed box."

diamond

The unexpected discovery of davemaoite, a calcium silicate perovskite mineral, has captivated scientists around the world. Found embedded in a diamond from Orapa, Botswana, the mineral had never been seen before in nature and provides a unique glimpse into the planet's deep mantle. This discovery could help geologists better understand how the mantle influences plate tectonics on Earth.

The davemaoite particles were incredibly small, measuring only five to ten micrometres across. To analyze the inclusions, the researchers used x-rays and then drilled into two of them with a laser, vaporizing the material and passing it through a mass spectrometer to identify the elements. Surprisingly, the davemaoite contained an unusually high level of potassium, which may have helped preserve the mineral during its time on the Earth's surface.

The findings, published in Science, have opened up a new realm of possibilities for scientists to explore the mysteries of the Earth's mantle. With further research, the discovery of davemaoite could help unlock the secrets of the planet's deep interior and provide invaluable insight into the processes that shape our world. 

 

According to Yingwei Fei, a geochemist at the Carnegie Institution for Science who wrote an editorial accompanying the new study in Science but was not involved in the research, the high potassium level also suggests a global "conveyor belt" that circulates elements between the crust and deep mantle.Although potassium is not abundant in the deep mantle, it is believed to get there in slabs of crust at subduction zones, when one tectonic plate is forced beneath another.

 

According to Tschauner, one type of potassium, davemaoite, is radioactive and contains trace quantities of radioactive elements such as thorium and uranium, which are not easily absorbed by the other minerals that make up the lower mantle. This is significant, as the decay of these elements accounts for almost one-third of the heat generated in the Earth's core. Geoscientists believe davemaoite makes up roughly 5 to 7 percent of the lower mantle based on mineral concentrations closer to the Earth's surface. However, Tschauner notes that the mineral may not be evenly distributed. As a result, pockets of uranium- and thorium-rich davemaoite may predominate in some areas, which could explain why some portions of the mantle are hotter than others. These hotspots help to drive circulation in the mantle, which in turn drives plate tectonics, so slight fluctuations in mineral concentrations could have a major impact on the planet's surface. Such changes could also provide insight into the relationship between the Earth's crust and lower mantle, aiding in the understanding of how materials migrate between them. According to Tschauner, this is a field of study that is only now becoming possible. Having access to genuine minerals from the lower mantle is a relatively new avenue for this type of research, he says.

 




  

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Topaz , meaning of topaz, its chemistry, crystal system, varieties , physical & optical properties, treatment and identification

TOPAZ

The meaning of Topaz is to seek, to search or fire.

(The state gemstone for the US state of Utah.)

Chemistry:

Aluminum fluo-silicate - A12 (F, OH) 2SiO4


 Crystal system and habit:

Orthorhombic: Usually found as elongated prisms with a

 rhomb - shaped cross section. The prisms will frequently show

 vertical striations. Also found as rolled pebbles.

orthorhombic Topaz crystal system 

orthorhombic Topaz crystal system 

orthorhombic Topaz crystal system 

Topaz crystals with faceted topaz 
Pink Topaz lot from Katlang, Mardan, KPK, Pakistan 
Pink Topaz lot from Katlang, Mardan, KPK, Pakistan 
Topaz crystal


Pink Topaz from Katlang, Mardan, KPK, Pakistan 

Varieties: Transparent to translucent.

•    Topaz (use with color prefix)-colorless

Yellow to orange ('sherry' brown)  and brownOrange topaz, the state gemstone for the US State of Utah

•    Pink and red (rare) (color due to chromium).

•    Blue and blue-green (resembling aquamarine).

 

Phenomena:

 

 

Topaz Cat's-eye (blue and yellowish-orange stones - rare).

Physical properties:

 

 

Cleavage

Fracture

Hardness

Perfect basal, easy

Conchoidal

8

 

Specific Gravity

Blue, yellow & white (F)

3.56

Orange, red & pink (OH)

3.53

 

Refractive Index

1.61 - 1.62

1.63-

1.64

Birefringence

0.010

0.008

 

Optical Nature

Dispersion

Biaxial, positive

Low (0.014)

 

 

Pleochroism

Luster

Distinct in well colored stones

Vitreous

 

 

Occurrence:

 

Brazil, Nigeria, Australia, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Burma, USA, Mexico, and Namibia. (Colorless stones for treatment come mostly from Nigeria and Sri Lanka).



Other points:


·     Durability: Fair.

·     Birthstone: November.


 

Inclusions:

 fluids, 2 or multi-phase inclusions: occasional crystals inclusion and rare unusual tripolite mineral inclusion in topaz from Pakistan.

Spectrum : 

Pink Topaz Spectrum (Dark Pink)


 

Enhancement: Topaz is sometimes seen in various shades of pink and, in a large percentage of cases, this color is artificially induced. It is produced by heat treatment of 'sherry' brown ('pinked'') stones (color is stable).

yellowish orange topaz is heated to conver in pink topaz

Buy natural unheated Pink topaz on ebay shop

Buy Natural unheated certified pink topaz


Currently much treated blue topaz is also met with on the market.* , Pale blue or colorless material is irradiated which, with subsequent heat treatment, induces a handsome blue color (stable) or green (unstable). Depending to a certain extent upon the type of treatment used, light to medium 'aquamarine' blue is produced as well as 'super' blues not met with in nature.

Colorless topaz after irradition treatment 

Cut:

Step and mixed cut common. Care must be taken when cutting to make sure that a facet is worked at a slight angle to the cleavage plane (which doesn't take a good polish). Cabochon for slightly included material.

Some common questions about Topaz

How do I know if a topaz is “Imperial topaz”?

There is no official standard for Imperial topaz. Some dealers use the term for colors that are orange to pink to red to purple; others reserve the term for certain saturated shades. It’s the color, not the term “Imperial,” that gives topaz its value.

Is pink topaz from Pakistan or Brazil more valuable?

Color is more important than country of origin in assessing topaz quality. The rarest color of topaz is a vivid purplish pink.

Is blue topaz radioactive?

National regulations around the world control the release of gems from irradiation facilities to ensure that they meet safety standards. In the United States, the standard for release and import of topaz is a small fraction of the background radiation that everyone is exposed to every day.