rubies

In this study, the oxygen isotope (δ18O) composition of pink to red gem-quality rubies from Paranesti, Greece was investigated using in-situ secondary ionization mass spectrometry (SIMS) and laser-fluorination techniques. Paranesti rubies have a narrow range of δ18O values between ~0 and +1‰ and represent one of only a few cases worldwide where δ18O signatures can be used to distinguish them from other localities. SIMS analyses from this study and previous work by the authors suggests that the rubies formed under metamorphic/metasomatic conditions involving deeply penetrating meteoric waters along major crustal structures associated with the Nestos Shear Zone. SIMS analyses also revealed slight variations in δ18O composition for two outcrops located just ~500 m apart: PAR-1 with a mean value of 1.0‰ ± 0.42‰ and PAR-5 with a mean value of 0.14‰ ± 0.24‰. This work adds to the growing use of in-situ methods to determine the origin of gem-quality corundum and re-confirms its usefulness ...

A new analytical procedure has been developed to measure oxygen isotopic ratios and, more generally, stable isotopic ratios in microparticles with a few % precision. This procedure uses ion microprobe quantitative imaging with a scanning microbeam. In this mode, ion images are acquired on the electron multiplier. Image processing allows extraction of areas of interest from the whole image and computation of isotopic ratios in the selected areas. The accuracy of this method has been tested for the analysis of the 18O/16O ratio in quartz and magnetite reference samples powdered to a grain size of 2‐5 μm. A detailed study of the instrumental mass fractionation allowed an understanding of differences between classical spot analysis and scanning ion imaging, and showed that fractionation effects were related to grain topography for microparticle analysis, and to image processing or to secondary optical settings for ion imaging. The precision obtained for the measurement of ä18O was 3% fo...

Much of Wyoming is underlain by Archean cratonic basement rocks and cratonized Proterozoic rocks that provide favorable geological environments for a variety of gemstonesnotably diamond, iolite, ruby, sapphire, garnet, kyanite, andalusite, sillimanite, labradorite, jewelry grade gold, platinum and palladium nuggets, emerald, aquamarine, helidor, tourmaline, spinel, clinozoisite, zoisite, apatite, jasper, specularite, etc. Thick Phanerozoic sedimentary rock successions with lesser Tertiary volcanic rock cover large portions of the basement terrain. Some of these Phanerozoic rocks provide favorable hosts for other gemstones including opal, placer diamond, placer gold, placer platinum, placer ruby, jasper, agate, emerald, varisite, etc. I dedicate this paper in memory of a friend and former colleague at the Wyoming State Geological Survey who greatly advanced the State"s knowledge in industrial minerals and decorative stones. Ray E. Harris former Industrial Minerals and Uranium Geologist prematurely passed awayhis passing was so unnecessary.

Corundum primary deposits in Greece occur in four locations: Paranesti in Drama and Gorgona in Xanthi, both belonging to the wider Rhodope Massif, as well as, Ikaria island and Kinidaros in Naxos island, both belonging to Attic-Cycladic Massif. Eight samples were examined with spectroscopic methods (FTIR, UV-Vis, EDXRF) in order to better characterize these four primary deposits: two pink sapphires from Paranesti, a pink and a blue sapphire from Gorgona, two blue sapphires from Ikaria and three blue sapphires from Kinidaros. Under the microscope, all samples present characteristics linked to post-crystallization deformation, decreasing their gem quality. The FTIR absorption spectra of all samples present in different relative intensities, bands of boehmite, diaspore, goethite, mica and/or chlorite inclusions and CO2 in fluid inclusions. Boehmite and diaspore inclusions are most likely epigenetic. In the UV-Vis spectra, the pink color of the samples is linked with Cr3+ absorptions an...

In this study, the oxygen isotope (δ18O) composition of pink to red gem-quality rubies from Paranesti, Greece was investigated using in-situ secondary ionization mass spectrometry (SIMS) and laser-fluorination techniques. Paranesti rubies have a narrow range of δ18O values between ~0 and +1‰ and represent one of only a few cases worldwide where δ18O signatures can be used to distinguish them from other localities. SIMS analyses from this study and previous work by the authors suggests that the rubies formed under metamorphic/metasomatic conditions involving deeply penetrating meteoric waters along major crustal structures associated with the Nestos Shear Zone. SIMS analyses also revealed slight variations in δ18O composition for two outcrops located just ~500 m apart: PAR-1 with a mean value of 1.0‰ ± 0.42‰ and PAR-5 with a mean value of 0.14‰ ± 0.24‰. This work adds to the growing use of in-situ methods to determine the origin of gem-quality corundum and re-confirms its usefulness ...

In this study, the oxygen isotope (δ 18 O) composition of pink to red gem-quality rubies from Paranesti, Greece was investigated using in-situ secondary ionization mass spectrometry (SIMS) and laser-fluorination techniques. Paranesti rubies have a narrow range of δ 18 O values betweeñ 0 and +1 and represent one of only a few cases worldwide where δ 18 O signatures can be used to distinguish them from other localities. SIMS analyses from this study and previous work by the authors suggests that the rubies formed under metamorphic/metasomatic conditions involving deeply penetrating meteoric waters along major crustal structures associated with the Nestos Shear Zone. SIMS analyses also revealed slight variations in δ 18 O composition for two outcrops located just~500 m apart: PAR-1 with a mean value of 1.0 ± 0.42 and PAR-5 with a mean value of 0.14 ± 0.24. This work adds to the growing use of in-situ methods to determine the origin of gem-quality corundum and reconfirms its usefulness in geographic "fingerprinting".