Preliminary Spectroscopic Observations of Marble-Hosted Rubies, Marginal Host Marbles, and Transition Zones Between Marbles and Rubies on Samples from Afghanistan, Myanmar, and Pakistan

This study focusses on the spectroscopic observation of marbles, rubies and the transition zone between ruby and its hosted marble that may distinguish the origin of ruby. Samples of ruby-bearing marble were obtained from Afghanistan, Myanmar, and Pakistan. Energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence was u...

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Main Authors: Chen Fan, Yung-Chin Ding, Wing-Tak Lui
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-11-01
Series:Crystals
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4352/14/11/985
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author Chen Fan
Yung-Chin Ding
Wing-Tak Lui
author_facet Chen Fan
Yung-Chin Ding
Wing-Tak Lui
author_sort Chen Fan
collection DOAJ
description This study focusses on the spectroscopic observation of marbles, rubies and the transition zone between ruby and its hosted marble that may distinguish the origin of ruby. Samples of ruby-bearing marble were obtained from Afghanistan, Myanmar, and Pakistan. Energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence was used to analyze the chemical compositions. Although the content of other elements in the marble varied with the origin, the Cl content was quite constant. A diagram of the trace elements Fe and Ga was used to determine the origins of the marble-hosted rubies. X-ray diffraction was used to verify the structure phases, where trioctahedral mica, plagioclase, quartz, and alkali feldspar were found in marbles. Ultraviolet–visible spectrophotometry was used for rubies, where a 659 nm fluoresce peak was found in the Myanmar ruby sample, which could make Myanmar ruby redder and more sought after. The bonding of elements and inclusions of the samples were analyzed using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and photoluminescence. A FTIR peak at 630 cm<sup>−1</sup> is found to be useful in judging the temperature of ruby formation. Scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy were used to analyze the variation of the transition zone, which revealed that the boundary was a gradation zone. Concentrations of Al<sub>2</sub>0<sub>3</sub> increased in this zone, but CaCO<sub>3</sub> concentrations decreased.
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spelling doaj-art-6122ea9f7d294cc7b3d05438a00b02e72025-08-20T02:28:08ZengMDPI AGCrystals2073-43522024-11-01141198510.3390/cryst14110985Preliminary Spectroscopic Observations of Marble-Hosted Rubies, Marginal Host Marbles, and Transition Zones Between Marbles and Rubies on Samples from Afghanistan, Myanmar, and PakistanChen Fan0Yung-Chin Ding1Wing-Tak Lui2Institute of Mineral Resources Engineering, National Taipei University of Technology, Taipei 10608, TaiwanInstitute of Mineral Resources Engineering, National Taipei University of Technology, Taipei 10608, TaiwanTaiwan Central Gem Laboratory, Taipei 10403, TaiwanThis study focusses on the spectroscopic observation of marbles, rubies and the transition zone between ruby and its hosted marble that may distinguish the origin of ruby. Samples of ruby-bearing marble were obtained from Afghanistan, Myanmar, and Pakistan. Energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence was used to analyze the chemical compositions. Although the content of other elements in the marble varied with the origin, the Cl content was quite constant. A diagram of the trace elements Fe and Ga was used to determine the origins of the marble-hosted rubies. X-ray diffraction was used to verify the structure phases, where trioctahedral mica, plagioclase, quartz, and alkali feldspar were found in marbles. Ultraviolet–visible spectrophotometry was used for rubies, where a 659 nm fluoresce peak was found in the Myanmar ruby sample, which could make Myanmar ruby redder and more sought after. The bonding of elements and inclusions of the samples were analyzed using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and photoluminescence. A FTIR peak at 630 cm<sup>−1</sup> is found to be useful in judging the temperature of ruby formation. Scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy were used to analyze the variation of the transition zone, which revealed that the boundary was a gradation zone. Concentrations of Al<sub>2</sub>0<sub>3</sub> increased in this zone, but CaCO<sub>3</sub> concentrations decreased.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4352/14/11/985element migrationgeographic origintransition zoneruby-bearing marble659 nm peak630 cm<sup>−1</sup> transmission peak
spellingShingle Chen Fan
Yung-Chin Ding
Wing-Tak Lui
Preliminary Spectroscopic Observations of Marble-Hosted Rubies, Marginal Host Marbles, and Transition Zones Between Marbles and Rubies on Samples from Afghanistan, Myanmar, and Pakistan
Crystals
element migration
geographic origin
transition zone
ruby-bearing marble
659 nm peak
630 cm<sup>−1</sup> transmission peak
title Preliminary Spectroscopic Observations of Marble-Hosted Rubies, Marginal Host Marbles, and Transition Zones Between Marbles and Rubies on Samples from Afghanistan, Myanmar, and Pakistan
title_full Preliminary Spectroscopic Observations of Marble-Hosted Rubies, Marginal Host Marbles, and Transition Zones Between Marbles and Rubies on Samples from Afghanistan, Myanmar, and Pakistan
title_fullStr Preliminary Spectroscopic Observations of Marble-Hosted Rubies, Marginal Host Marbles, and Transition Zones Between Marbles and Rubies on Samples from Afghanistan, Myanmar, and Pakistan
title_full_unstemmed Preliminary Spectroscopic Observations of Marble-Hosted Rubies, Marginal Host Marbles, and Transition Zones Between Marbles and Rubies on Samples from Afghanistan, Myanmar, and Pakistan
title_short Preliminary Spectroscopic Observations of Marble-Hosted Rubies, Marginal Host Marbles, and Transition Zones Between Marbles and Rubies on Samples from Afghanistan, Myanmar, and Pakistan
title_sort preliminary spectroscopic observations of marble hosted rubies marginal host marbles and transition zones between marbles and rubies on samples from afghanistan myanmar and pakistan
topic element migration
geographic origin
transition zone
ruby-bearing marble
659 nm peak
630 cm<sup>−1</sup> transmission peak
url https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4352/14/11/985
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