Difference between revisions of "Emerald"

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{{emerald}}
 
{{emerald}}
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<br />
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[[File:Beryl_Smaragd_DSCF0433.jpg|thumb|left|400px]]
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<br clear="left">
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==Diagnostics==
  
==Color==
+
The trained eye should have little trouble recognizing an emerald due to its silky rich green color. The main challenge, however, is distinguishing natural emerald from the various types of synthetic emerald.
  
Emerald is the Chromium bearing variety of [[Beryl]] with a "grass green" hue and a slight yellow or blue secondary hue. The purer the green, the finer the quality of the stone.<br />
+
===Color===
In 1960 H. Espig described the color of Emerald as: " .. warmen Grün einer Wiese im Frühling .." (warm green of a meadow in spring).
 
  
There are two other varieties of Beryl that are also green, [[Vanadium Beryl]] and [[Green Beryl]]. Vanadium Beryl is also known as "Vanadium-Emerald" and can exhibit colors like the Chromium bearing cousin but is usually much less included. "Green Beryl" however is a pale green Beryl that shows more resemblance with [[Aquamarine]] and is colored by Iron. One will hardly ever confuse Green Beryl with Emerald unless you are at the selling end of the market.
+
Emerald is the chromium-bearing variety of [[beryl]] with a "grass green" primary hue and a slight yellow or blue secondary hue. The purer the green, the finer the quality of the stone. In 1960, H. Espig described the color of emerald as " .. warmen Grün einer Wiese im Frühling .." (warm green of a meadow in spring).
  
[[Tsavorite]] Garnet is a gemstone that comes close to Emerald in color, but has a much "harder" color than the Chromium colored Emeralds.
+
There are two other varieties of beryl that are also green, [[Vanadium_Beryl|vanadium beryl]] and [[Green_Beryl|green beryl]]. Vanadium beryl is also known as "[[Vanadium_Beryl|vanadium emerald]]" and can exhibit colors like the chromium-bearing cousin, but is usually much less included. It should be noted that there are two schools of thought on whether the vanadium-colored emeralds are entitled to be called emerald.  "Green beryl" is a pale green beryl that shows more resemblance to [[aquamarine]] and is colored by iron. One will hardly ever confuse green beryl with emerald -- unless you are at the selling end of the market.
 
 
==Diagnostics==
 
  
The trained eye should have little trouble recognizing an Emerald due to its silky rich green color, the main challenge however is distinguishing natural Emerald from the various types of synthetic Emerald.
+
[[Tsavorite]] garnet is a gemstone that comes close to emerald in color, but has a much "harder" color than the chromium-colored emeralds.
  
 
===Magnification===
 
===Magnification===
  
Emerald is classed as a "type III" in the GIA clarity grading system. This means that stones are commonly included and these inclusions are mostly visible to the trained eye. Only few Emeralds are "eye clean".<br />
+
Emerald is classed as a "Type III" in the GIA clarity grading system. This means that these stones are commonly included, and the inclusions are mostly visible to the trained eye. Only a few emeralds are "eye clean".<br />
In general eye visible inclusions in Emerald are forgiven if they show good color and transparancy overall.
+
In general, eye-visible inclusions in emerald are forgiven if the stone shows good color and transparency overall.
  
With a 10x loupe or a microscope at low magnification typical inclusions are seen which often give vital clues about its origin, being it locality or natural/synthetic.
+
With a 10x loupe or a microscope at low magnification, typical inclusions are seen which often give vital clues about the stone's origin, being it locality or natural/synthetic.
  
===Optical and Physical Properties===
+
===Optical and physical properties===
  
The optical and physical properties of Emerald vary with location. Synthetic Emeralds usually have lower values.<br />
+
The optical and physical properties of emerald vary with location. Synthetic emeralds usually have lower values.<br />
n<sub>ω</sub> = 1.575 - 1.600, n<sub>ε</sub> = 1.566 - 1.588 for natural Emerald and n<sub>ε</sub> = 1.560, n<sub>ω</sub> = 1.565 for synthetic Emerald.<br />
+
n<sub>ω</sub> = 1.575 - 1.600, n<sub>ε</sub> = 1.566 - 1.588 for natural emerald and n<sub>ω</sub> = 1.560, n<sub>ε</sub> = 1.565 for synthetic emerald.<br />
Birefringence of natural Emerald ranges from 0.004 to 0.010, while synthetic Emerald will hardly ever go over 0.004.
+
Birefringence of natural emerald ranges from 0.004 to 0.010, while synthetic emerald will hardly ever go over 0.004.
  
The specific gravity of synthetic Emerald is slightly to distinctive lower than of the natural ones. Natural Emerals will sink more rapidly in a heavy liquid with SG = 2.65 (bromoform diluted with toluol).
+
The specific gravity of synthetic emerald is slightly to distinctively lower than that of natural stones. Natural emeralds will sink more rapidly in a heavy liquid of SG = 2.65 (bromoform diluted with toluol). Hydrothermal synthetics have a higher SG than flux melt synthetics. The hydrothermal synthetics can be seperated from natural emeralds by the lower birefringence.
  
  
Line 35: Line 36:
 
!Birefringence
 
!Birefringence
 
!Specific gravity
 
!Specific gravity
 +
 
|-
 
|-
 
| Australia  
 
| Australia  
Line 40: Line 42:
 
| 0.005 - 0.007  
 
| 0.005 - 0.007  
 
| 2.67 - 2.70
 
| 2.67 - 2.70
 +
|-
 +
| Austria
 +
| 1.591-1.584
 +
| 0.007
 +
| 2.72 - 2.76
 
|-
 
|-
 
| Brazil
 
| Brazil
Line 61: Line 68:
 
| 2.75 - 2.78
 
| 2.75 - 2.78
 
|-
 
|-
| South-Africa
+
| South Africa
 
| 1.586 - 1.593
 
| 1.586 - 1.593
 
| 0.007
 
| 0.007
Line 96: Line 103:
  
 
===Spectroscope===
 
===Spectroscope===
 +
[[Image:emerald_spectrum.gif|framed|left| Spectrum of fine emerald.]]<br clear="left" />
 +
 +
Natural chromium-bearing emeralds will usually show a distinct spectrum with a doublet in the red, two lines in the orange-red region and a weak band in the yellow part.<br />
 +
Synthetic emerald shows the same absorption pattern with the addition of a line in the blue (at 477nm). However, this line may also be seen in fine quality natural emerald.
  
Natural Chromium bearing Emeralds will usually show a distinct spectrum with a doublet in the red, two lines in the orange red region and a weak band in the yellow part.<br />
+
It should be noted that emerald is known to show different absorption spectra along the ordinary and the extraordinary vibrational directions.
Synthetic Emerald shows the same absorption pattern with the addition of a line in the blue (at 477nm), this line may however also be seen in fine quality natural Emerald.
 
  
 
===Chelsea Colour Filter===
 
===Chelsea Colour Filter===
  
Although the Chelsea Colour Filter was designed to discriminate between Emerald and its simulants in the 1930's it has lost that purpose with the arrival of synthetic Emeralds. It's primary use was to detect chromium in Columbian and Siberian Emeralds.<br />
+
The Chelsea Colour Filter was designed to discriminate between emerald and its simulants in the 1930's, primarily to detect chromium in Colombian and Siberian emeralds. Over the years, it lost that usefulness because of the arrival of synthetic emeralds. As synthetic emeralds are also colored by chromium, this tool is no longer very reliable. This is especially true now we know that vanadium and iron may also be an emerald's coloring agent as well.
As synthetic Emeralds are also colored by Chromium this tool is no longer very reliable, this is especially true now we know that Vandaium and Iron may also be coloring agents in Emerald aswell. The Chromium will cause a fluorescence in natural daylight, but the Iron content that is present in Emeralds from certain locations dulls or totally surpresses that. Hence there will be a different (not red) reaction to the Chelsea Filter.<br />
+
 
In the past it was suggested that if an Emerald would light up bright red under the CF, the stone would either be of Columbian origin or be synthetic. In other words, all synthetics will show up bright red due to rich Chromium content. This is no longer viable as Iron may be introduced into the synthezising process to mimic a more natural fluorescence reaction.
+
The chromium will cause a fluorescence in natural daylight, but the iron content that is present in emeralds from certain locations dulls or totally suppresses that. Hence, there will be a different (not red) reaction to the Chelsea Filter.<br />
 +
In the past it was suggested that if an emerald would light up bright red under the CF, the stone would either be of Colombian origin or be synthetic. In other words, all synthetics will show up bright red due to rich chromium content. This is no longer viable, as iron may be introduced into the synthesizing process to mimic a more natural fluorescence reaction.
  
 
The use of the "Emerald Filter" set may be useful as an addition to the Chelsea Colour Filter.
 
The use of the "Emerald Filter" set may be useful as an addition to the Chelsea Colour Filter.
Line 110: Line 121:
 
==Treatments==
 
==Treatments==
  
Enhancement of Emerald is regarded a routine to mask inclusions. About 90% of all Emeralds on the market have undergone some kind of treatment.<br />
+
Enhancement of emerald to mask inclusions is regarded as routine. About 90% of all emeralds on the market have undergone some kind of treatment.<br />
Most common enhancement is oiling, waxing or impregnation with materials that have a RI close to that or Emerald. Opticon is a brandname for a substance used to impregnate Emerald.
+
Most common enhancements are oiling, waxing or impregnation with materials that have a RI close to that of emerald. Opticon is a brand name for one substance used to impregnate emerald. In Columbia, cedarwood oil is utilized in the treatment process to minimize the appearance of fissures and other inclusions which impair the clarity of the emeralds.
 +
 
 +
==Phenomena==
 +
While very rare, cat's eye emeralds do exist.  Another phenomenon, found in Colombian emeralds, is the trapiche emerald which displays a six-armed, fixed star. This is not to be confused with [[Sheen#Asterism|asterism]].
 +
 
 +
[[Image:Trapiche emeraldme9.jpg|thumb|left|240px|A magnificent trapiche emerald.<br />Photo courtesy of Chaman Golecha, Gem Testing Laboratory, Jaipur]]
 +
<br clear="all" />
 +
 
 +
==Inclusion images==
 +
{|
 +
|-
 +
|[[Image:Colombian emerald 3 phase inclusions.jpg|thumb|left|240px|3 phase inclusions in a Colombian emerald.<br />Photo courtesy of John Huff, gemcollections]]
 +
|[[Image:3 phase inclusion colombia emerald.jpg|thumb|left|265px|3 phase inclusion in a Colombian emerald.<br />Photo courtesy of John Huff, gemcollections]]
 +
|-
 +
|}
 +
<br clear="all" />
 +
{|
 +
|-
 +
|[[Image:Emer_2_2phase.jpg|thumb|left|240px|2 and 3 phase inclusins in Colombian emerald.<br />Photo courtesy of Barbra Voltaire]]
 +
|[[Image:Emer_2_oil_biotite.jpg|thumb|left|240px|Yellow traces of oil from treatment; hexagonal biotite platelet; liquid feathers .<br />Photo courtesy of Barbra Voltaire]]
 +
|-
 +
|}
 +
[[Image:Alex_emerald.jpg|thumb|left|240px|Unusual inclusions of alexandrite viewed with incandescent light in an hexagonal cross section of an emerald crystal .<br /> Minas Gerais, Brazil<br />Photo courtesy of Barbra Voltaire]]
 +
 
 +
 
 +
<br clear="all" />
  
 
==Synthetics==
 
==Synthetics==
  
Emerald can be synthezised by different methods. The most in the market today are of hydrothermal and flux-melt origin.<br /.
+
Emerald can be synthesized by different methods. The most common synthetic emeralds on the market today are of hydrothermal and flux-melt origin. The coloring agents of synthetic emerald vary by manufacturer.<br />
The coloring agents of synthetic Emerald vary by manufactorer.<br />
+
{| {{table}} style="margin-left:0;"
{| {{table}}
+
! Manufacturer
|! Manufactorer
+
! Method
|! Method
+
! Coloring agent
|! Coloring agent
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
| Chatham
 
| Chatham
| Flux
+
| Flux melt
 
| Cr
 
| Cr
 
|-
 
|-
 
| Igmerald
 
| Igmerald
| Flux
+
| Flux melt
| Cr, Ni
+
| Cr, Ni (+ Fe)
 
|-  
 
|-  
 
|Gilson
 
|Gilson
 +
| Flux melt
 +
| Cr, Ni (+ V, Fe, Cu)
 +
|-
 +
|Biron
 
| Hydrothermal
 
| Hydrothermal
| Cr, Ni
+
| Cr and V
 
|}
 
|}
 +
<br clear="left" />
 +
[[Image:Hydro_emerald.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Synthetic hydrothermal emerald displaying flux patterns. <br /> Photo courtesy of Alberto Scarani]]
 +
<br clear="left" />
 +
 
==Imitations==
 
==Imitations==
  
Most simulants of Emerald, as Tsavorite and Glass, should be easily detected with the trained unaided eye. There are unfortunatly also doublets and triplet imitations on the market that may be similar in appearance to Emerald.
+
Most simulants of emerald, such as tsavorite and glass, should be easily detected with the unaided trained eye. There are unfortunately also doublet and triplet imitations on the market that may be similar in appearance to emerald.
 +
 
 +
== Ron Ringsrud Takes Us to the Emerald Mines of Colombia ==
 +
<videoflash>E6DBO0oPlb0</videoflash>
  
 
==Sources==
 
==Sources==
  
 
* ''Gems Their Sources, Descriptions and Identification'' 4th Edition (1990) - Robert Webster/ B.W. Anderson
 
* ''Gems Their Sources, Descriptions and Identification'' 4th Edition (1990) - Robert Webster/ B.W. Anderson
* ''Secrets of the Gem Trade'' (2003) - Richard W. Wise
+
* [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0972822380?ie=UTF8&tag=gemsandwhywelove&link_code=as3&camp=211189&creative=373489&creativeASIN=0972822380 Secrets of the Gem Trade, by Richard Wise]
* ''A Sudents' Guide to Spectroscopy'' (2003) - Colin H. Winter
+
* ''A Student's Guide to Spectroscopy'' (2003) - Colin H. Winter
 
* ''Gem Identification Made Easy'' 3rd edition (2006) - A.C. Bonanno/ Antoinette Matlins
 
* ''Gem Identification Made Easy'' 3rd edition (2006) - A.C. Bonanno/ Antoinette Matlins
 
* ''The colour of Igmerald ..'' - Dr. Karl Schmetzer/Dr. Lore Kiefert - The Journal of Gemmology, July 1998
 
* ''The colour of Igmerald ..'' - Dr. Karl Schmetzer/Dr. Lore Kiefert - The Journal of Gemmology, July 1998
 
==External Links==
 
 
* [http://chatham.com/comparison.html Scientific Comparising of Chatham Grown Fluxes]
 

Latest revision as of 16:37, 14 November 2012

Emerald
Chemical composition Be3Al2(SiO3)6 Beryllium aluminum silicate
Crystal system Hexagonal
Habit Prismatic
Cleavage Imperfect, basal
Fracture Conchoidal to uneven
Hardness 7.5 (brittle)
Optic nature Uniaxial -
Refractive index 1.566 - 1.600
Birefringence 0.004 - 0.010
Dispersion Low, 0.014
Specific gravity 2.67 - 2.78
Lustre Vitreous
Pleochroism Weak to distinct


Beryl Smaragd DSCF0433.jpg


Diagnostics

The trained eye should have little trouble recognizing an emerald due to its silky rich green color. The main challenge, however, is distinguishing natural emerald from the various types of synthetic emerald.

Color

Emerald is the chromium-bearing variety of beryl with a "grass green" primary hue and a slight yellow or blue secondary hue. The purer the green, the finer the quality of the stone. In 1960, H. Espig described the color of emerald as " .. warmen Grün einer Wiese im Frühling .." (warm green of a meadow in spring).

There are two other varieties of beryl that are also green, vanadium beryl and green beryl. Vanadium beryl is also known as "vanadium emerald" and can exhibit colors like the chromium-bearing cousin, but is usually much less included. It should be noted that there are two schools of thought on whether the vanadium-colored emeralds are entitled to be called emerald. "Green beryl" is a pale green beryl that shows more resemblance to aquamarine and is colored by iron. One will hardly ever confuse green beryl with emerald -- unless you are at the selling end of the market.

Tsavorite garnet is a gemstone that comes close to emerald in color, but has a much "harder" color than the chromium-colored emeralds.

Magnification

Emerald is classed as a "Type III" in the GIA clarity grading system. This means that these stones are commonly included, and the inclusions are mostly visible to the trained eye. Only a few emeralds are "eye clean".
In general, eye-visible inclusions in emerald are forgiven if the stone shows good color and transparency overall.

With a 10x loupe or a microscope at low magnification, typical inclusions are seen which often give vital clues about the stone's origin, being it locality or natural/synthetic.

Optical and physical properties

The optical and physical properties of emerald vary with location. Synthetic emeralds usually have lower values.
nω = 1.575 - 1.600, nε = 1.566 - 1.588 for natural emerald and nω = 1.560, nε = 1.565 for synthetic emerald.
Birefringence of natural emerald ranges from 0.004 to 0.010, while synthetic emerald will hardly ever go over 0.004.

The specific gravity of synthetic emerald is slightly to distinctively lower than that of natural stones. Natural emeralds will sink more rapidly in a heavy liquid of SG = 2.65 (bromoform diluted with toluol). Hydrothermal synthetics have a higher SG than flux melt synthetics. The hydrothermal synthetics can be seperated from natural emeralds by the lower birefringence.


Source Refractive Index Birefringence Specific gravity
Australia 1.570-1.579 0.005 - 0.007 2.67 - 2.70
Austria 1.591-1.584 0.007 2.72 - 2.76
Brazil 1.566 - 1.575 0.005 2.68 - 2.70
Colombia 1.568 - 1.586 0.006 2.69 - 2.71
India 1.585 - 1.593 0.007 2.73 - 2.74
Pakistan 1.588 - 1.600 0.007 2.75 - 2.78
South Africa 1.586 - 1.593 0.007 2.75
Tanzania 1.578 - 1.585 0.007 2.74
Zambia 1.580 - 1.590 0.004 - 0.010 2.71 -2.76
Zimbabwe 1.586 - 1.593 0.007 2.73 - 2.77
Hydrothermal synthetic 1.560 - 1.563 0.003 2.67 - 2.69
Flux synthetic 1.560 - 1.565 0.003 - 0.004 2.65 - 2.66

Spectroscope

Spectrum of fine emerald.

Natural chromium-bearing emeralds will usually show a distinct spectrum with a doublet in the red, two lines in the orange-red region and a weak band in the yellow part.
Synthetic emerald shows the same absorption pattern with the addition of a line in the blue (at 477nm). However, this line may also be seen in fine quality natural emerald.

It should be noted that emerald is known to show different absorption spectra along the ordinary and the extraordinary vibrational directions.

Chelsea Colour Filter

The Chelsea Colour Filter was designed to discriminate between emerald and its simulants in the 1930's, primarily to detect chromium in Colombian and Siberian emeralds. Over the years, it lost that usefulness because of the arrival of synthetic emeralds. As synthetic emeralds are also colored by chromium, this tool is no longer very reliable. This is especially true now we know that vanadium and iron may also be an emerald's coloring agent as well.

The chromium will cause a fluorescence in natural daylight, but the iron content that is present in emeralds from certain locations dulls or totally suppresses that. Hence, there will be a different (not red) reaction to the Chelsea Filter.
In the past it was suggested that if an emerald would light up bright red under the CF, the stone would either be of Colombian origin or be synthetic. In other words, all synthetics will show up bright red due to rich chromium content. This is no longer viable, as iron may be introduced into the synthesizing process to mimic a more natural fluorescence reaction.

The use of the "Emerald Filter" set may be useful as an addition to the Chelsea Colour Filter.

Treatments

Enhancement of emerald to mask inclusions is regarded as routine. About 90% of all emeralds on the market have undergone some kind of treatment.
Most common enhancements are oiling, waxing or impregnation with materials that have a RI close to that of emerald. Opticon is a brand name for one substance used to impregnate emerald. In Columbia, cedarwood oil is utilized in the treatment process to minimize the appearance of fissures and other inclusions which impair the clarity of the emeralds.

Phenomena

While very rare, cat's eye emeralds do exist. Another phenomenon, found in Colombian emeralds, is the trapiche emerald which displays a six-armed, fixed star. This is not to be confused with asterism.

A magnificent trapiche emerald.
Photo courtesy of Chaman Golecha, Gem Testing Laboratory, Jaipur


Inclusion images

3 phase inclusions in a Colombian emerald.
Photo courtesy of John Huff, gemcollections
3 phase inclusion in a Colombian emerald.
Photo courtesy of John Huff, gemcollections


2 and 3 phase inclusins in Colombian emerald.
Photo courtesy of Barbra Voltaire
Yellow traces of oil from treatment; hexagonal biotite platelet; liquid feathers .
Photo courtesy of Barbra Voltaire
Unusual inclusions of alexandrite viewed with incandescent light in an hexagonal cross section of an emerald crystal .
Minas Gerais, Brazil
Photo courtesy of Barbra Voltaire



Synthetics

Emerald can be synthesized by different methods. The most common synthetic emeralds on the market today are of hydrothermal and flux-melt origin. The coloring agents of synthetic emerald vary by manufacturer.

Manufacturer Method Coloring agent
Chatham Flux melt Cr
Igmerald Flux melt Cr, Ni (+ Fe)
Gilson Flux melt Cr, Ni (+ V, Fe, Cu)
Biron Hydrothermal Cr and V


Synthetic hydrothermal emerald displaying flux patterns.
Photo courtesy of Alberto Scarani


Imitations

Most simulants of emerald, such as tsavorite and glass, should be easily detected with the unaided trained eye. There are unfortunately also doublet and triplet imitations on the market that may be similar in appearance to emerald.

Ron Ringsrud Takes Us to the Emerald Mines of Colombia

<videoflash>E6DBO0oPlb0</videoflash>

Sources

  • Gems Their Sources, Descriptions and Identification 4th Edition (1990) - Robert Webster/ B.W. Anderson
  • Secrets of the Gem Trade, by Richard Wise
  • A Student's Guide to Spectroscopy (2003) - Colin H. Winter
  • Gem Identification Made Easy 3rd edition (2006) - A.C. Bonanno/ Antoinette Matlins
  • The colour of Igmerald .. - Dr. Karl Schmetzer/Dr. Lore Kiefert - The Journal of Gemmology, July 1998