Yujie Gao

The Malysheva emerald mine (Urals, Russia) boasts a long history and extraordinary emerald output. However, recent studies indicate that Malysheva emeralds share highly similar inclusion varieties, UV-visible-near infrared (UV-Vis-NIR) spectra, and compositional characteristics with other tectonic-magmatic-related (type I) emeralds from Zambia, Brazil, and Ethiopia. This similarity poses challenges for determination of the emeralds’ origin. This paper systematically investigates the microscopy, spectroscopy, and trace element chemistry of Malysheva emerald samples and compiles previously reported compositional data for the aforementioned Type I emeralds. Based on this dataset, principal component analysis (PCA) and machine learning methods are employed to construct models for emerald provenance discrimination. The results have updated the provenance characteristics of Malysheva emeralds, confirming the solid phase component of their three-phase inclusions as siderite and revealing two UV-Vis-NIR spectral patterns. Furthermore, the unique infrared absorptions related to HDO and D₂O molecules within the 2600–2830 cm⁻¹ range were discovered, which can be indicative of the origin of Malysheva. The prediction results of the machine learning model demonstrate an accuracy rate of 98.7%, and for an independent validation set of Malysheva emeralds, the prediction accuracy reached 100%. The feature importance ranking of the model highlights trace elements and parameters strongly correlated with the emeralds’ origin. These results illustrate the enormous potential of machine learning in the field of emerald origin determination, offering new insights into the traceability of precious gemstones.

This article reports on the recent mining and production status of ruby in Longido, Tanzania. Faceted-grade rubies and their matrix from Longido Area, Tanzania, were investigated by standard gemological testing, including FTIR, UV-VIS, Raman spectra, and LA-ICP-MS. Microscopic observations revealed dense needle-like and triangular inclusions, distinct growth lines, and color banding as typical inclusions. In agreement with the Raman results, the transmission FTIR spectrum confirmed the presence of aluminum hydroxide. The Raman spectra identified associated minerals and inclusions, including zoisite, parasites, feldspar within the matrix, rutile, and diaspore in the ruby host. The chemistry analysis revealed a high amount of Cr and relatively low iron as a good indicator of geographic origin.

Spinel is a precious stone with a long history. In ancient societies spinel was considered to be an imitation of ruby. With the depletion of ruby mineral resources, gem—grade spinel has attracted more and more attention from consumers. In the last decade, as the popularity of spinel in the global colored gem market continues to rise, plenty of domestic and foreign jewelry brands have launched spinel based jewelry. This study takes spinels from Burma, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, and Tanzania as its research objects and performs a series of tests to obtain their gemological characteristics, spectral characteristics, and chemical composition, with the aim of comparing the differences between spinels with different colors from different areas and exploring the chromogenic mechanism of spinels. Only Burmese red spinels have a typical Cr spectrum. The types of inclusions and the contents of trace elements are the main differences between spinels from the four areas. Burmese spinel is characterized by an octahedral negative crystal filled with dolomite or a mixture of dolomite and calcite. Magnesite is present in Sri Lankan spinels, and dolomite is present in Tanzanian spinel. Dislocation systems and the presence of titanite and talc inclusions are strongly indicative features of Vietnamese spinel. Sri Lankan spinel is characterized by abundant gas–liquid inclusions, such as the beaded healing fissure. The trace element contents of the four areas are different. Burmese spinel is poor in Fe and Zn (Fe: 135.68–3925 ppm; Zn: 338.58–1312 ppm), while Burmese red spinel is rich in Cr (up to 7387 ppm). Vietnamese spinel is rich in Fe (3669.63–19,425 ppm) and poor in Ti content (3+ and V³⁺, showing a wide absorption band centered at 400 nm and 550 nm. Fe plays a dominant role in purple spinels. The purple spinel is colored by Fe³⁺ and Fe²⁺.

In this study, seventeen faceted gem-quality chrysoberyls exhibiting an attractive canary yellow color were investigated using a variety of gemological, spectral, and chemical methods. Microscopic observation revealed the presence of distinct growth lines and inclusions, including CO₂ fluids, carbon, and crystals of mineral such as calcite, quartz, sillimanite, and mica, identified by the Raman spectrum. The FTIR spectra showed the characteristic peaks of 2405 and 2160 cm⁻¹ and a 3223 cm⁻¹ peak in all samples, which can be accompanied by the 3112 cm⁻¹ shoulder, 3301, and 3412 and 3432 cm⁻¹ peaks. The UV-Vis spectra showed an Fe-related peak at 440 nm, along with the 650–660 nm band and the absorption band in the blue zone of visible light. Chemical analyses via EDXRF showed a composition poor in V and Cr and rich in Fe. The spectral and chemical results could help explain the origin of the canary yellow color, which originates from the abundant amount of Fe with very little influence from Cr and V.

In this study, seventeen faceted gem-quality chrysoberyls exhibiting an attractive canary yellow color were investigated by a series of gemological, spectral, and chemical methods. Microscopic observation reveals distinct growth lines and inclusions, including CO2 fluids, carbon, and mineral crystals such as calcite, quartz, sillimanite, and mica, identified by the Raman spectrum. The FTIR spectrum exhibits the 2405 and 2160 cm-1 feature peaks and a 3223 cm-1 peak in all samples, which can be accompanied by the 3112 cm-1 shoulder, 3301, and 3412 and 3432 cm-1 peaks. The UV-Vis spectrum shows a Fe-related peak at 440 nm, along with the 650–660 nm band and the absorption band in the blue zone of the visible light. The chemical results of EDXRF reveal a V-poor, Cr-poor, and Fe-rich feature. The spectral and chemical results could contribute to explaining the origin of the canary yellow color, which originates from the abundant amount of Fe with very little influence from Cr or V.

In the present study, we collected and investigated spinels from the Man Sin deposit in Myanmar using standard gemological testing, microscopic observation, EDXRF, and Raman spectrometry. The color observation was performed under various lighting conditions to show color differences. A very high Cr/Fe ratio is linked with exceptionally strong red fluorescence. Microscopic observation and Raman spectroscopy identified mineral inclusions of colorless phlogopite, molybdenite, hauerite, native sulfur, and calcite. Man Sin spinels are typical Fe– and Zn–poor spinels. Binary and ternary diagrams were used to discriminate each deposit (i.e., Man Sin, Mogok, and Namya in Myanmar) with high reliability. Jedi spinel fever in the Asian market, due to their unique neon color appearance and exceptionally strong fluorescence, is also discussed.

Gemstones usually contain inclusions as the natural hallmark of their formation. Studies on inclusions may contribute to our understanding of the gem and better adapt to the gems and jewelry industry. In this study, we applied advanced 3D Raman mapping and high-resolution X-ray computed tomography (HRXCT) and conducted a thorough experiment on one emerald with a special trapiche pattern containing a colorless core, solid minerals, and fluids. Hematite and magnetite were identified as metallic minerals by the Raman spectrum. The hexagonal core is beryl, and the voids are primarily filled with CO₂ and N₂. HRXCT demonstrated a visualized distribution of these inclusions within the gem host by reconstructing a 3D illustration. Further calculation of the volume of inclusions regarding the host showed that the minerals take up 0.07%, void 0.03%, and the hexagonal core 8.25%. The combined application of Raman-Mapping and X-ray Micro Computed Tomography proved to be a very promising technique for tracing the gemstones by characterizing the unique inclusions (identification and morphology) within the gem host.