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Gemstone Identification and Characterization: Advances, Technologies and Analytical Challenges in...
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Gemstone Identification and Characterization: Advances, Technologies and Analytical Challenges in the Modern Gemstone Trade

A special issue of Minerals (ISSN 2075-163X). This special issue belongs to the section "Crystallography and Physical Chemistry of Minerals & Nanominerals".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 May 2026 | Viewed by 3912

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Maya Musa

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy
Interests: gemstones; cultural heritage; amber; pearls; archaeometry; material characterization; minerals; diagnostic methods and protocols; non-invasive techniques
Dr. Maria Pia Riccardi

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy
Interests: cultural heritage; archaeometry; geoanthropology; georesources; sustainable supply chains; sustainable development goals
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Mr. Fabio D’Amico

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
HRD Antwerp, 2018 Antwerp, Belgium
Interests: new techniques for the identification of synthetic and treated gems; advanced approaches in the analysis of mounted gems; gemstone traceability; the environmental impact of gemstone mining and sustainable solutions; the synthetic gemstone market and consumer perceptions; ethics and gemology: fair trade certification for the precious stone trade; price dynamics in the gemstone and diamond markets; advancements in HPHT and CVD diamond synthesis: market implications

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The gem and gemstone trade has had an indissoluble link with the evolution of human society since the Paleolithic period. Through the millennia, humans have learned where to find higher-quality gem materials, how to drill, carve, cut and treat them, and how to create synthetic and artificial materials to obtain rarer and more beautiful and durable gemstones. In the last few decades, new and interesting sources of gemstones for the trade have been discovered, and new treatments and synthesis techniques have been developed. Based on the exponential economic investments in gemstone technologies and interest in the trade, these advancements have occurred over a very short time scale. Thus, due to the rapid evolution of modern gemstone manipulation methods, international gemological laboratories, which identify and grade gem materials, cannot perform the appropriate diagnostics without a suitable background in scientific research and technology and the support of researchers and research institutes; whether a diamond or coloured stone, every possible case of synthesis or treatment must be correctly identified and reported using the proper nomenclature. Several protocols and diagnostic methodologies have been developed for this purpose, involving high-tech applications and research.

This Special Issue aims to present the latest research on gemstone characterization and grading and the identification of a material’s origin and possible treatments; case studies and new provenances for gemstone materials will also be discussed. We particularly welcome submissions concerning high-tech applications for the identification of the gemological, geochemical and spectroscopic characteristics of gem materials and innovative new techniques (such as the use of machine learning algorithms, Artificial Intelligence, etc.).

We look forward to receiving your valuable contributions.

Dr. Maya Musa
Dr. Maria Pia Riccardi
Mr. Fabio D’Amico
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Minerals is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • proof of origin
  • laboratory-grown diamond
  • inclusions
  • treatments
  • nomenclature
  • Artificial Intelligence

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

17 pages, 10562 KB  
Article
Mineralogical and Spectroscopic Investigation of Turquoise from Dunhuang, Gansu
by Duo Xu, Zhengyu Zhou, Qi Chen, Jiaqing Lin, Ming Yan and Yarong Sun
Minerals 2025, 15(11), 1199; https://doi.org/10.3390/min15111199 - 14 Nov 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1049
Abstract
A recently discovered turquoise deposit in the Fangshankou area of Dunhuang, Gansu Province, has been relatively understudied compared to turquoise from other sources due to its short mining history. Currently, no relevant research literature on this deposit has been identified. Therefore, a systematic [...] Read more.
A recently discovered turquoise deposit in the Fangshankou area of Dunhuang, Gansu Province, has been relatively understudied compared to turquoise from other sources due to its short mining history. Currently, no relevant research literature on this deposit has been identified. Therefore, a systematic mineralogical and spectroscopic study of Dunhuang turquoise samples was conducted using conventional gemological testing methods, combined with techniques such as X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), electron probe microanalysis (EPMA), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), laser Raman spectroscopy, ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis), and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) mapping. The test results indicate that the turquoise samples from this area have a density ranging from 2.40 to 2.77 g/cm3 and a refractive index between 1.59 and 1.65. The samples generally exhibit a cryptocrystalline structure, with some displaying spherulitic radial and radial fibrous structures. The texture is relatively dense and hard, with particle diameters less than 10 μm. Chemically, the turquoise samples from this region are characterized by high Fe and Si content and relatively low Cu content. Samples contain, in addition to the turquoise mineral, other minerals such as quartz, goethite and alunite, etc. The oxide content ranges are as follows: w(P2O5) between 23.83% and 33.66%, w(Al2O3) between 26.47% and 33.36%, w(CuO) between 5.26% and 7.91%, w(FeO) between 2.46% and 4.11%, and w(SiO2) between 0.97% and 10.75%. In the infrared absorption spectra of Dunhuang turquoise, the bands at 3510 cm−1 and 3464 cm−1 are attributed to ν(OH)− stretching vibrations, while the bands near 3308 cm−1 and 3098 cm−1 are assigned to ν(M-H2O) stretching vibrations. The infrared absorption bands near 1110 cm−1 and 1058 cm−1 are due to v[PO4]3− stretching vibrations, and the bands near 651 cm−1, 575 cm−1, and 485 cm−1 are attributed to δ[PO4]3− bending vibrations. A clear correlation exists between the Raman spectral features and the infrared spectra of this turquoise. The hue and chroma of the turquoise from this area are primarily influenced by the mass fractions of Fe3+, Cu2+, and Fe2+, as well as their bonding modes with water molecules. The ultraviolet-visible spectra are attributed to O2−–Fe3+ charge transfer, the 6A1–4Eg + 4A1 transition of Fe3+ ions (D5 configuration) in hydrated iron ions [Fe(H2O)6]3+, and the spin-allowed 2Eg–2T2g transition of Cu2+ ions in hydrated copper ions [Cu(H2O)4]2+. Associated minerals include goethite, alunite, jarosite, and quartz. Fine-grained quartz often exists as secondary micron-sized independent mineral phases, which have a certain impact on the quality of the turquoise. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Gemstone Identification and Characterization: Advances, Technologies and Analytical Challenges in the Modern Gemstone Trade)
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24 pages, 4102 KB  
Article
Traceability of Diamonds Using UV-VIS-NIR Spectroscopy
by David Giurgiu, Ion Smaranda, Adelina Udrescu and Mihaela Baibarac
Minerals 2025, 15(10), 1091; https://doi.org/10.3390/min15101091 - 20 Oct 2025
Viewed by 2255
Abstract
Diamond traceability has been a major challenge for the gemological industry in recent decades. In this context, this paper presents new studies using UV-VIS-NIR spectroscopy to identify the traceability and geographical origin of diamonds. The aim of the work is to identify characteristic [...] Read more.
Diamond traceability has been a major challenge for the gemological industry in recent decades. In this context, this paper presents new studies using UV-VIS-NIR spectroscopy to identify the traceability and geographical origin of diamonds. The aim of the work is to identify characteristic centers of fancy-color diamonds collected from Cullinan Mine, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and the geographical regions with unknown origin. Depending on the origin of the diamonds, the UV-VIS-NIR spectra can be differentiated as follows: (i) the diamonds collected from Cullinan Mine show absorption bands assigned to N10, NV0, NV−, N3V0, N4V2, and N4V centers, which are accompanied by a vibronic structure localized between 415 and 394 nm (2.987–3.147 eV) and (ii) the diamonds from DRC show absorption bands attributed to N10, NV−, N3V0, N1+, and NVH centers. Using Raman spectroscopy, nitrogen concentration values of diamonds collected from the Cullinan mines and DRC between 41 and 185 ppm and 204–336 ppm, respectively, were reported. We prove that the simultaneous applicability of UV-VIS-NIR spectroscopy and Raman scattering as comparative tools for assessing diamond provenance can be a valuable strategy for an initial attribution of diamonds with unknown geographical origin, knowing the optical features of diamonds collected from Cullinan Mine and DRC. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Gemstone Identification and Characterization: Advances, Technologies and Analytical Challenges in the Modern Gemstone Trade)
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