A New Type of Emerald from Afghanistan’s Panjshir Valley
A New Type of Emerald from Afghanistan’s Panjshir Valley. Published in Journal of Gemmology, 2021, 37 (5), 474-495.
Vanadium-rich Ruby from Mogok, Myanmar
Mogok-type rubies are known to contain small but distinct amounts of vanadium (often in the range of 0.015 – 0.025 wt% V2O3), but are commonly highly dominated by chromium (approximately by a factor of 20-100 x) responsible for their often attractive and saturated red colour and strong fluorescence. In some c
Colourless Chrysoberyl from Mogok
first published in Facette 22 (February 2016) Chrysoberyl is found in various colours, mostly yellow to green and brown due to iron, light green to bluish green (vanadium) or as the colour-changing variety alexandrite (due to chromium). In rare cases, chrysoberyl is also found in colourless and chemically rath
Paraiba Research Update: An elemental Analysis of Paraiba Tourmaline from Brazil
At the SSEF, origin determination of Paraiba tourmalines is based on years of experience researching collection samples from SSEF and Prof. Hänni collections, donated and loaned samples from clients, as well as knowledge from scientific literature. However, the mining area and depth of the material have been i
Blue cobalt spinel from Vietnam
by Dr. M.S. Krzemnicki, first published in Facette 21 (February 2014) In 2013, Ms. Carina Hanser from the University Freiburg im Breisgau in Germany successfully completed her bachelor thesis on cobalt-spinel from Vietnam. Under the supervision of Dr Krzemnicki, Prof de Capitani (University Basel) and Prof
Didy Rubies
by Dr. M.S. Krzemnicki, first published in Facette 21 (February 2014) Since 2012, a new gem find near Didy (Madagscar) has produced some sapphires and rubies of outstanding size and quality (Pardieu et al. 2012, Peretti and Hahn 2012). This material originates from a remote area in the jungle south of the
Spinel from Mahenge (Tanzania) and its Heat Treatment
first published in Facette 22 (February 2016) In 2007, the discovery of a huge pinkish-red spinel crystal of 52 kg in the carstic marbles at Ipangko south of Mahenge (Tanzania) resulted in a sudden supply of spinels (up to 100 cts) of a vibrant pinkish-red colour, which immediately mesmerized the market.Ap
Colourless Diopside from Kenya and Canada
first published in Facette 22 (February 2016) Diopside, a calcium magnesium clinopyroxene (MgCaSi2O6), an end-member of the diopside-hedenbergite series (pyroxene) is a rather rare gem species in the trade. Commonly found in greenish brown stones (mostly due to iron content) to dark brown cabochons with an obl
Historic Sapphire of Catherine the Great
SSEF had the pleasure to add to this eclectic (data) collection the famous sapphire of Catherine the Great, a historic gem from Ceylon (Sri Lanka) of exceptional quality and beauty.
Multi-Element Correlation Analysis of Cu-bearing Tourmaline using LA-ICP-Time-Of-Flight-MS
Multi-Element Correlation Analysis of Cu-bearing Tourmaline using LA-ICP-Time-Of-Flight-MS. EGU General Assembly 2021, online, 19–30 Apr 2021, EGU21-16170, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu21-16170, 2021.