The Progress of In-Situ Study of Mineralogy and Gemmology

A special issue of Crystals (ISSN 2073-4352). This special issue belongs to the section "Mineralogical Crystallography and Biomineralization".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 July 2024) | Viewed by 5835

Special Issue Editors

School of Gemmology, State Key Laboratory of Geological Processes and Mineral Resources, China University of Geosciences, Beijing, China
Interests: mineralogy; gemmology; ore deposits; geochemistry
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Guest Editor
School of Gemology, China University of Geosciences, Beijing 100083, China
Interests: luminescence materials; crystal structure; gemology; color origin and evaluation of gemstones
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Gemstones is the general term used to refer to both natural gems, minerals and manufactured products. Gems and minerals can be divided into single-crystal gemstones, polycrystal gemstones, amorphous jades, organic materials and manufactured products, etc. Gems and minerals are rich in color, variety and quality, so it is of great significance to explore the gemological, color mechanism, spectral characteristics, chemical composition and crystal structure of gem minerals. This Special Issue aims to enrich the gemological and mineralogical library, and to comprehensively update the information on gems and minerals from around the world.

This Special Issue is the second round of the previous Special Issue entitled "In-Situ Study of Mineralogy, Gemology and Progress in Gemology". We invite scholars from around the world to submit their studies on gemstones and related minerals. The topics of interest for the Special Issue mainly include, but are not limited to, the following: 1) The spectroscopic study of gems and minerals; 2) the mineralogical characteristics of gems and minerals; 3) the geographic and provenance determination of gems and minerals; 4) the synthesis and enhancement of gems and minerals; and 5) the indicative significance of inclusions in gems and minerals.

Prof. Dr. Bo Xu
Prof. Dr. Ying Guo
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • gemology
  • origin
  • isotopes
  • spectrum
  • microanalysis
  • beryl
  • gold

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

16 pages, 9738 KiB  
Article
Spectral Characteristics of Nitrogen-Doped CVD Synthetic Diamonds and the Origin of Surface Blue Fluorescence
by Yu Zhang, Guanghai Shi and Zixuan Xie
Crystals 2024, 14(9), 804; https://doi.org/10.3390/cryst14090804 - 11 Sep 2024
Viewed by 395
Abstract
In recent years, many studies have been published on CVD diamond growth, but the reason for the irregular blue surface fluorescence of CVD diamond under ultra-deep UV radiation (i.e., under DiamondView) is still unclear. Here, a batch of as-grown and LPHT-annealed CVD synthetic [...] Read more.
In recent years, many studies have been published on CVD diamond growth, but the reason for the irregular blue surface fluorescence of CVD diamond under ultra-deep UV radiation (i.e., under DiamondView) is still unclear. Here, a batch of as-grown and LPHT-annealed CVD synthetic diamond samples from a Chinese company in Zhejiang were analyzed for the various spectral (infrared (IR), UV–visible absorption, Raman, and photoluminescence (PL)) characteristics to explore the origin of surface blue fluorescence. The results show that the samples are nitrogen-doped type IIa CVD synthetic diamonds. Spectral peaks of the earlier CVD products, e.g., 3123 cm−1 (NVH0) (IR absorption spectrum) and 596/597 nm (PL emission spectrum), are absent in these samples, while the peaks at 736.5/736.8 nm (SiV) in the UV or PL spectra are less common. PL spectra and DiamondView fluorescence indicate that the samples have generally strong luminescence peaks at 637 nm in the NV center, 575 nm in the NV0 center, and other luminescence peaks caused by nitrogen-related defects. The as-grown samples observed under DiamondView show orange-red fluorescence accompanied by striations due to step-flow growth, and blue fluorescence appears as irregular threads or bundles on the surface. The LPHT-annealed sample shows weaker fluorescence with localized patches of green fluorescence contributed by weak H3 centers. The micro-IR spectra suggest that the unique blue fluorescence in the CVD diamond may be related to the dislocations caused by sp3-CH2 due to the incomplete dehydrogenation of hydrocarbon groups in the raw material. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Progress of In-Situ Study of Mineralogy and Gemmology)
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19 pages, 7801 KiB  
Article
Gemological and Chemical Characterization of Gem-Grade Peridot from Yiqisong, Jilin Province
by Jina Li, Yi Zhao and Bo Xu
Crystals 2024, 14(8), 689; https://doi.org/10.3390/cryst14080689 - 27 Jul 2024
Viewed by 698
Abstract
Peridot has a long history and is deeply loved by people for its unique olive-green color. The Yiqisong peridot deposit in Jilin Province is a newly discovered peridot deposit that still deserves systematic research. In this study, gemological and chemical analyses of thirty-three [...] Read more.
Peridot has a long history and is deeply loved by people for its unique olive-green color. The Yiqisong peridot deposit in Jilin Province is a newly discovered peridot deposit that still deserves systematic research. In this study, gemological and chemical analyses of thirty-three Yiqisong peridot samples were carried out to investigate the gemological characteristics, as well as the mantle properties and formation conditions of the Yiqisong. In addition, we identified gemological differences in peridot between Yiqisong, Tanzania, and Arizona. The Yiqisong peridot samples have typical peridot gemological characteristics. The UV–visible spectrum indicated that Fe is the chromogenic element. The infrared spectra and Raman spectra of different samples are consistent, which indicates that the Yiqisong peridot belongs to forsterite. The contents of Ni and V in Yiqisong peridot are generally low, distinguishing it from peridot found in Tanzania and Arizona. The major and trace elements of samples show that the Yiqisong peridot is derived from the spinel lherzolite xenoliths with the P–T formation conditions of 813–1087 °C and 21–22 kbar. The Yisqisong peridot samples have relatively high Fo values (up to 91.6), supporting their origin from a moderate refractory lithosphere mantle. Therefore, this study provides gemological, mineralogical, and chemical evidence that fills the research gap in peridot deposit studies and lays the foundation for follow-up investigations of gem-grade peridot deposits. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Progress of In-Situ Study of Mineralogy and Gemmology)
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11 pages, 3606 KiB  
Article
Toledoite, TiFeSi, a New Mineral from Inclusions in Corundum Xenocrysts from Mount Carmel, Israel
by Chi Ma, Fernando Cámara, Luca Bindi and William L. Griffin
Crystals 2024, 14(1), 96; https://doi.org/10.3390/cryst14010096 - 21 Jan 2024
Viewed by 1222
Abstract
During our nanomineralogical investigation of melt inclusions in corundum xenocrysts from the Mount Carmel area, Israel, seven new oxide and alloy minerals have been discovered since 2021. Herein, we report toledoite (TiFeSi; IMA 2022-036), a new alloy mineral. Toledoite occurs as irregular crystals [...] Read more.
During our nanomineralogical investigation of melt inclusions in corundum xenocrysts from the Mount Carmel area, Israel, seven new oxide and alloy minerals have been discovered since 2021. Herein, we report toledoite (TiFeSi; IMA 2022-036), a new alloy mineral. Toledoite occurs as irregular crystals 2–16 μm in size, with gupeiite (Fe3Si), jingsuiite (TiB2), ziroite (ZrO2), osbornite (TiN), xifengite (Fe5Si3), and naquite (FeSi) in corundum Grain WG1124E-1. Toledoite has an empirical formula (Ti0.83Cr0.07Mn0.06V0.02)(Fe0.96Mn0.04)(Si0.99P0.04) and an orthorhombic Ima2 TiFeSi-type structure with the following cell parameters: a = 7.00(1) Å, b = 10.83(1) Å, c = 6.29(1) Å, V = 477(1) Å3, Z = 12. Toledoite is a high-temperature alloy phase, formed under extremely reduced conditions in melt pockets in corundum xenocrysts derived from the upper mantle beneath Mount Carmel in Israel. The name was given in honor of Vered Toledo, of Shefa Gems Ltd. for her support and for providing corundum xenocrysts from the Mount Carmel region for this investigation of new minerals. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Progress of In-Situ Study of Mineralogy and Gemmology)
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9 pages, 3079 KiB  
Article
Griffinite, Al2TiO5: A New Oxide Mineral from Inclusions in Corundum Xenocrysts from the Mount Carmel Area, Israel
by Chi Ma, Fernando Cámara, Vered Toledo and Luca Bindi
Crystals 2023, 13(10), 1427; https://doi.org/10.3390/cryst13101427 - 26 Sep 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1298
Abstract
Griffinite (IMA 2021-110), ideally Al2TiO5, is a new mineral from inclusions in corundum xenocrysts from the Mount Carmel area, Israel. It occurs as subhedral crystals, ~1–4 μm in size, together with Zr-rich rutile within a corundum grain. In this [...] Read more.
Griffinite (IMA 2021-110), ideally Al2TiO5, is a new mineral from inclusions in corundum xenocrysts from the Mount Carmel area, Israel. It occurs as subhedral crystals, ~1–4 μm in size, together with Zr-rich rutile within a corundum grain. In this study, a mean of eight electron probe microanalyses gave TiO2 44.41 (24), Al2O3 55.13 (18), FeO 0.47 (5), and MgO 0.37 (2), totaling 100.38 wt%, which corresponded, on the basis of a total of five oxygen atoms, to (Al1.97Mg0.02Fe0.01)Ti1.01O5. Electron back-scatter diffraction studies revealed that griffinite is orthorhombic and in the space group Cmcm, with a = 3.58 (2) Å, b = 9.44 (1) Å, c = 9.65 (1) Å, and V = 326 (2) Å3 with Z = 4. The six strongest calculated powder diffraction lines [d in Å (I/I0) (hkl)] are 3.347 (100) (110); 2.658 (90) (023); 4.720 (77) (020); 1.903 (57) (043); 1.790 (55) (200); and 1.688 (44) (134). In the crystal structure, Al3+ and Ti4+ are disordered into two distinct distorted octahedra, which form edge-sharing double chains. Griffinite is a high-temperature oxide mineral, formed in melt pockets in corundum-aggregate xenoliths derived from the upper mantle beneath Mount Carmel, Israel. The new mineral is named after William L. Griffin, a geologist at Macquarie University, Australia. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Progress of In-Situ Study of Mineralogy and Gemmology)
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9 pages, 12037 KiB  
Article
Cortesognoite, CaV2Si2O7(OH)2·H2O, a New Mineral from the Molinello Manganese Mine, Graveglia Valley, Italy
by Chi Ma, Cristina Carbone and Donato Belmonte
Crystals 2023, 13(9), 1295; https://doi.org/10.3390/cryst13091295 - 23 Aug 2023
Viewed by 1400
Abstract
Cortesognoite (IMA 2014-029), CaV2Si2O7(OH)2·H2O, is a new vanadium silicate mineral that occurs within V-bearing lawsonite in association with vanadiocarpholite, chalcocite, quartz, minor poppiite, roscoelite, vanadomalayaite and volborthite in a silicified wood hosted in [...] Read more.
Cortesognoite (IMA 2014-029), CaV2Si2O7(OH)2·H2O, is a new vanadium silicate mineral that occurs within V-bearing lawsonite in association with vanadiocarpholite, chalcocite, quartz, minor poppiite, roscoelite, vanadomalayaite and volborthite in a silicified wood hosted in Mn-ore-bearing metacherts from the Molinello manganese mine in the Graveglia Valley, Northern Apennines, Liguria, Italy. The mean chemical composition of type cortesognoite by electron probe microanalysis is (wt%) SiO2 34.33, V2O3 31.38, CaO 15.80, Al2O3 7.69, MnO 0.14, FeO 0.09, MgO 0.06, TiO2 0.02 and H2O 10.29, totaling 99.80, giving rise to an empirical formula of (Ca0.99Mn0.01)(V1.47Al0.53Mg0.01)Si2.00O7(OH)2·H2O. The end-member formula is CaV2Si2O7(OH)2·H2O. Cortesognoite has the Cmcm lawsonite structure with a = 5.85(1) Å, b = 8.79(1) Å, c = 13.13(1) Å, V = 675(1) Å3 and Z = 4 as revealed by electron back-scatter diffraction. The calculated density using the measured composition is 3.44 g/cm3. Cortesognoite is a secondary alteration phase, formed with V-bearing lawsonite by multi-stage hydrothermal processes that occurred in the silicified fossil wood. The mineral name is in honor of Luciano Cortesogno, professor of petrography at University of Genova, Italy. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Progress of In-Situ Study of Mineralogy and Gemmology)
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