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7.GEM TESTING INSTRUMENTS -3

The document provides an overview of gem testing instruments, specifically focusing on the spectroscope and methods for determining specific gravity. It explains how light interacts with gemstones to produce color and outlines the principles of selective absorption and fluorescence. Additionally, it details the procedures for testing specific gravity using hydrostatic weighting and heavy liquid methods, along with necessary precautions.

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6 views

7.GEM TESTING INSTRUMENTS -3

The document provides an overview of gem testing instruments, specifically focusing on the spectroscope and methods for determining specific gravity. It explains how light interacts with gemstones to produce color and outlines the principles of selective absorption and fluorescence. Additionally, it details the procedures for testing specific gravity using hydrostatic weighting and heavy liquid methods, along with necessary precautions.

Uploaded by

isithkesara23
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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ER2631 - Elementary gemmology

GEM TESTING INSTRUMENTS -3

Spectroscope
It is a portable instrument which is used for testing Gems.

The colour is an effect observed when the light interacts with the object.

Following things can occur.

Totally reflected - Opeque, white stone


Totally absorbed -Opeque ,Black stone
Totally transmitted - Transparent ,Colourless
Partially reflected and partially absorbed -Opeque, Coloured stone
Partially transmitted and partially absorbed -Transparent , Coloured stone

A gem stone interacts with white light


• Some certain wave lengths are absorbed. (selective absorption)
• Some are reflected or transmitted. (These rays give colour to the gem)

It is caused by the presence of one or more Transition elements (Ti, V, Cr, Mn , Fe, Co, Ni, Cu)
,rare earth elements and radio-active elements in Gems.
The same transition element may produce different colors in different gemstones.
When the white light passes through the stone it is spread in to its spectral colours. It is known as
the spectrum. Due to selective absorption, these absorbed wavelengths will appear as dark lines
or bands. The spectroscope is based on this principle.
In some cases, instead of absorbing certain wavelengths, stone will emit light at some
wavelengths.

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They appear in light and are called ‘fluorescent lines’ and the spectrum is then called ‘Emmision
spectrum’

Transition Elements-

• Presence as impurities - Allochromatic (other coloured) and the phenomenon is called


Allochromatism
eg. Cr in ruby ,Ti and Fe in Blue sapphire

• Presence as part of its basic chemical formula - Idiochromatic (self coloured) and the
phenomenon is called idiochromatism.
eg. Mn in Rhodochrosite, Fe in Peridot

Elements Allochromatic Idiochromatic


Cr Ruby,Emerald,Red Uvarovite garnet
spinel,Demantoid
garnet,Tsavorite,Jadeite,Alexandrite,
Chrome diopside, Pink topaz
Fe Blue sapphire, Aquamarine, Sinhalite,Peridot, Almandine garnet
Tourmaline, Enstatite

Mn Rose quartz,Morganite,Andalusite Rhodochrosite,Rhodonite,Spessartite


garnet

V Synthetic colour changing sapphire, -


Violet sapphire

Cu Diopside Malachite, Chrysocolla,Azurite,


Turquoise
Ti-
Ti Blue sapphire, Tanzanite -

Co Cobalt spinel, Synthetic blue spinel -

Ni Chrysoprase, Synthetic green and -


yellow sapphire

There are two types of spectroscopes.

• Prism Spectroscope - Spectrum is produced by set of prisms (a compound prism)


with differing refractive indices.

• Diffraction Grating Spectroscope - Spectrum is produced by a diffraction


grating.

2
Prism -
• Produce pure and bright spectrum.
• Spectrum is not evenly distributed. Red is compressed, violet is spread out. When the
spectrum is spread out, difficult to see faint lines.

Diffraction grating -
• Spectrum is evenly distributed.
• Whole Spectrum is in focus.
• Simple construction and hence Inexpensive.
• Spectrum is diluted due to overlapping.

Testing Procedure
• The stone is to be tested, can be held in different ways.
• Opeque stones -under reflected light
• Feceted and transparent - the stone is placed table facet down and observed under
reflected light.
• Dark stones -best viewed through the transmitted light.
• In prism spectroscope- Start with slit closed & gradually open. Finer lines will not be
seen if the slit is fully open. If the stone is dark, the slit can be opened fully.
• Observe the stone along the largest dimension.
• Rotate the stone while observing.
• Move head back and forth to observe better

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4
Specific Gravity
Density
It is the mass per unit volume of a substance; it is measured as the weight of a material compared
with its volume
Density = weight
volume

3
Eg: 20 g = 4 g/cm
3
5 cm
Specific Gravity

It is the ratio of the weight of a substance to the weight of an equal volume of water
SG = weight of the substance
weight of an equal volume of water

Specific gravity test can be carried out by following methods.

These methods are based on Archimedes principle.

1. Hydrostatic weighting method


2. Heavy liquid method

Hydrostatic weighting method


When an object is fully immersed in water, it receives an upward thrust. It reduces the weight of
the stone when it is in water.

That is equal to the weight of water displaced when the stone is fully immersed in water.
SG = Weight of the substance
Weight of an equal volume of water
SG = Weight of the stone in air
Weight of water displaced
SG = Weight of the stone in air
Weight of the stone in air - weight of the stone in water

5
Weighting Instruments
1. Spring balance - measure larger specimens 10 carats upwards of carvings and large rough
materials.
2. Two pan balance- for smaller specimens 1 carat upwards.
3. Single pan balance - 1 carat upward.

Spring Balance Method

Use for large specimens.


Suppose, the weight of the crystal in air is
192.0 g and weight in water is 144.0 g
The up-thrust (weight loss) = 192- 144=48

SG = weight in air/up-thrust
= 192/48 = 4 (Probably corundum)

Single pan Balance Method


• First weigh the stone normal way. Record the result (A).
• Take a beaker two thirds full of distilled water, and place it on the bridge.
• Insert the stone cage so that it is totally immersed but not touching the beaker.
• Reset the balance to zero.
• Second insert the stone into the cage without spilling water, immerse and weigh (B).
B = weight of stone in water
A – B =weight of equal volume of water
SG = A
A-B

Precautions to be taken
• Specimen should be clean and free from
grease.
• Stone must be free of air bubbles. Tap water contains a certain amount of dissolved
gasses which may form bubbles and attach to the specimen.

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• Permeable gems will absorb water. Some may damage by water. Use another method to
get SG.
• Hydrostatic weighing method is done for stones of 1 or 2 Cts. Error for small stones is
high. Small stones need a more accurate balance.

Heavy Liquid Method


This method is used to determine the SG by comparing the density of gemstones to that of
selected liquids of different density.

• Several heavy liquids are used.


• These are poisonous and corrosive.
• These are sensitive to temperature and they may be slight variations in density according
to changes in temperature.
Monobromonaphthelene - 1.49
Bromoform diluted with Monobromonaphthelene to 2.65
Bromoform - 2.86
Methelene iodide diluted with Monobromonaphthelene to 3.05
Methelene iodide - 3.33
Clerici solution - 4.00

Preparation of heavy liquids using an indicator


• Solution are made with SG 2.65 and 3.05 by diluting Bromoform or
Monobromonahthlene or Methelene iodide.
• Use quartz (2.65) and tourmaline (3.05) as indicator minerals.

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• Place a piece of quartz in Bromoform(2.86) and add Monobromonahthlene(1.49) and stir
until stone starts suspending in the liquid.
• Then the SG of the liquid is equal to that of the stone.
• Do the same with Methelene iodide (3.33)
• Methelene iodide and tourmaline to produce liquid of 3.05 SG

Testing Procedure
• Clean the stone with alcohol and wipe properly
• Place the stone in the highest SG liquid . Clerci solution is usually avoided as it is toxic.
• Say we use MI (3.33). If the stone sinks, the SG of stone is higher than 3.3
• If the stone suspends, SG of stone is equal to 3.33
• If the stone floats, SG of the stone is lower than 3.33
• Remove the stone carefully , wipe, wash with alcohol, wipe again, then place in the next
SG liquid. ie 3.05
• Repeat the procedure until the stone starts floating.
• Express SG as SG of the stone is between 3.03 and 3.33

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