EARTHSC 2M03 Lecture Notes - Pokémon Ruby And Sapphire, Gemology, Aluminium Oxide
22 Mar 2013
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Document Summary
Gemstone stimulants can in general be readily identified as their physical constants differ from those of the gemstone they imitate. Synthetic versions of diamond, ruby, sapphire, emerald, quartz, and alexandrite pose a difficult problem, as their constants are very close to those of the natural stone. Other identification procedures are taken for these stones including, growth lines, colour zoning, and features called inclusions, all of which can be used to help separate the natural from the synthetic gemstone. Curved lines of growth and curved colour zoning are commonly seen only in coloured synthetic. They are due to the intermittent fall of droplets of molten alumina onto the boule"s upper surface, and to the greater volatility of some of the colouring oxides compared to alumina. As an indicator of natural origin, straight colour zoning (usually following the pattern of the lateral crystal axes) can be seen in many natural stones, including quartz, ruby, sapphire and emerald.
