Synthetic emeralds grown hydrothermally in an alkali-free, chlorine-bearing solution have been manufactured in Guilin, China, since 1987. Diagnostic microscopic features include growth and color zoning as well as oriented needle-like tubes and cone-shaped voids ("nailhead spicules") that are typically associated with small chrysoberyl crystals. Also distinctive is the presence of chlorine in this iron- and alkali-free hydrothermal synthetic emerald. In addition, spectroscopic properties in the mid- and near-infrared are useful to characterize this new Chinese product; features in the 2500-3100 cm-1 range (also found in other chlorine-bearing synthetic emeralds) help distinguish it from natural emeralds. © 1997 Gemological Institute of America.
CITATION STYLE
Schmetzer, K., Kiefert, L., Bernhardt, H. J., & Beili, Z. (1997). Characterization of Chinese hydrothermal synthetic emerald. Gems and Gemology, 33(4), 276–291. https://doi.org/10.5741/GEMS.33.4.276
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