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Powder diffraction analysis of gemstone inclusions

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 March 2012

Laura Leon-Reina ,
José M. Compana ,
Ángeles G. De la Torre ,
Rosa Moreno ,
Luis E. Ochando  and
Miguel A. G. Aranda
Laura Leon-Reina
Affiliation:
Servicios Centrales de Investigación, Universidad de Málaga, 29071 Málaga, Spain
José M. Compana
Affiliation:
Departamento de Química Inorgánica, Cristalografía y Mineralogía, Universidad de Málaga, 29071 Málaga, Spain
Ángeles G. De la Torre
Affiliation:
Departamento de Química Inorgánica, Cristalografía y Mineralogía, Universidad de Málaga, 29071 Málaga, Spain
Rosa Moreno
Affiliation:
Departament de Geologia, Universitat de València, 46100 Burjassot, Valencia, Spain and Instituto de Reconocimiento Molecular y Desarrollo Tecnológico, Campus Burjassot, Valencia, Spain
Luis E. Ochando
Affiliation:
Departament de Geologia, Universitat de València, 46100 Burjassot, Valencia, Spain and Instituto de Reconocimiento Molecular y Desarrollo Tecnológico, Campus Burjassot, Valencia, Spain
Miguel A. G. Aranda*
Affiliation:
Departamento de Química Inorgánica, Cristalografía y Mineralogía, Universidad de Málaga, 29071 Málaga, Spain
*
a)Author to whom correspondence should be addressed. Electronic mail: g_aranda@uma.es
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Abstract

Gemstones are pieces of materials that once cut and polished are used as jewels or adornments. Gemstones may be single crystal (such as diamonds), polycrystalline (such as lapis lazuli), or amorphous (such as amber). In any case, gems may have inclusions that may yield a variety of optic effects. It is also important to unravel the crystal structure of the inclusion(s) in order to determine the origin of the gem and to help to understand their formation mechanism. Here, we expand the use of powder diffraction to identify crystalline inclusions in bulk gemstones highlighting Mo Kα radiation to penetrate within compact gems. Initially, rock crystal quartz with rutile needles was investigated and rutile diffraction peaks were more conspicuous in the Mo pattern than in the Cu pattern. Next, rock crystal quartz with beetle legs was characterized and the red iron oxide inclusion was identified as hematite. The study of a fake gem, glass showing aventurine effect, gave the diffraction peaks of metallic copper. Later, polycrystalline gems, moss agate, and aventurine quartz were also studied. The powder patterns of these compact gemstones could be successfully fitted using the Rietveld method. Finally, we discuss opportunities for further improvements in laboratory powder diffraction to characterize inclusions in compact gems.

Keywords

gemstonesinclusionsX-ray penetration depthMo radiationpowder diffraction
Type
Technical Articles
Information
Powder Diffraction , Volume 26 , Issue 1 , March 2011 , pp. 48 - 52
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2011

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