Gemstone Spectra Comparison RD5 Purplish red gemstones 170308

DECLARATION OF COPYRIGHT RD5 PURPLISH RED GEMS

Reference Gem Image 400nm. Spectrum 700nm.

Corundum
Doublet
(Unpolarised)
RDF0651

Corundum
Doublet
(ω ray)
RDF0651

Corundum
Doublet (ε
ray) RDF0651

Corundum
Doublet
(Scattered light)
RDF0651

Garnet
RDF0323

Garnet RDF0039

Garnet RDF0121

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Gemstone Spectra Comparison RD5 Purplish red gemstones 170308

GGG
AH R153

Glass
RDF0085

Ruby
Thai untreated
(Unpolarised)
RDF0512

Ruby
Thai untreated
(ω ray)
RDF0512

Ruby
Thai untreated (ε
ray) RDF0512

Ruby
Thai untreated
(Scattered light)
RDF0512

Zircon
(ω ray)
RDF0817

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Gemstone Spectra Comparison RD5 Purplish red gemstones 170308

GEMLAB.UK SPECTRA DATABASE © John Harris Gemlab UK

Comparison Notes 700nm. Spectrum 400nm.
CORUNDUM DOUBLET (Unpolarised) Colour due to chromium. The
green sapphire crown plays little or no part in the main body colour of this stone, but can influence the absorption
spectrum. The synthetic ruby pavilion provides the chromium spectrum with the broad band in the green and a
weak fluorescing doublet in the deep red. The lines in the blue are weak and diffused probably due to a slight
absorption in this area because of the iron content in the green sapphire crown.

CORUNDUM DOUBLET (ω ray) When

viewed through the crown any dichroism is difficult to detect due to the different orientation of the optic axes in the
two sections of this composite stone. To see maximum contrast the stone must be viewed from the side as seen
here, in the deeper colour of the polarised o-ray. The resultant spectrum shows the usual broadening of the central
band to eliminate all green and a strengthening of the fluorescing doublet in the deep red. The lines in the blue
remain vague and violet is absorbed.

CORUNDUM DOUBLET (ε ray) While in the

same position the paler colour of the e-ray can be seen by a 90 degree rotation of the polarising filter, placed in front
of the slit or eyepiece of the spectroscope. In this case the band in the green has narrowed considerably and the
fluorescing doublet is less intense. Transmission of some green and blue has increased but the lines are again
vague. Violet is absorbed as in all chromium spectra.

CORUNDUM DOUBLET (Fluorescence spectrum)

Adjustment of the light path can pick up stray light scattered from within the stone. Intensity of this light is weak
compared to that which is directly transmitted. However any fluorescence lines can be detected as a contrast in the
red area. As is expected from the synthetic ruby pavilion of this doublet the fairly strong fluorescence lines are seen
in the doublet at 694/693nm. with the weaker ones at 668nm and 659nm.

GARNET. Colour due to iron- moderate. The iron

content in this garnet is sufficient to produce a pronounced almandine spectrum showing the main bands centred at
576nm; 527nm. and the dominant and strongest at 505nm. The line at 462nm. in the deep blue can be detected but
only faintly before absorption takes over about 447nm. This pattern is diagnostic for almandine garnet and the
strength to which it is seen is related to the R.I. which in this case is 1.760

GARNET. Colour due to iron - strong.

As the iron content increases so do the width and intensity of the absorption bands. This is most noticeable
when the bands at centred at 527nm. and 505nm. start to merge, as here, with only a very slight transmission
between them. There is a faint indication of a band at 617nm.in the orange and the line at 462nm. in the deep blue is
stronger. In this case the R.I. has now increased to 1.770.

GARNET. Colour due to iron - very strong.

The powerful absorption seen here is indicative of a high iron content. The band at 576nm. Is now about
20nm. wide and those at 527nm. and 505nm. have merged to give a block stretching almost 50nm. wide. The diffuse
band at 617nm. is a little more evident and the line at 462nm. is broader and stronger. As would be expected the R.I.
of this garnet is 1.784

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Gemstone Spectra Comparison RD5 Purplish red gemstones 170308

GADOLINIUM GALLIUM GARNET

This artificial material can be similar in appearance to ruby and garnet but the broad absorption is centred in
the green at 525nm. stretching over approximately 120nm. Red and orange are freely transmitted with a small
window of deep blue-violet before total absorption from 445nm. Further photographic exposure reveals that this
broad centre band comprises four strong absorption peaks at approximately 532nm; 527nm; 515nm; and 504nm.
which merge to form this dark area.

GLASS. Colour due to colloidal gold

The single broad band in the green area centred at 550nm. results in a colour representing a good imitation
ruby often referred to as "Ruby glass" This can sometimes be accompanied by several lines close by on the long
wave side due to rare earths as in section RD4 Ref. RDF0381-1

RUBY - THAI UNTREATED (Unpolarised) Colour due to chromium.

The spectrum of this rather dark purplish red ruby shows the typical broad absorption band in the
green area and the fluorescing doublet at 694/693nm. in the red associated with chromium. However, due to the high
iron content the fluorescing doublet is weak and the lines in the blue rather vague.

RUBY - THAI UNTREATED (ω ay)

When the o-ray is polarised via the pavilion facets the central absorption band broadens and the doublet in the
red fluoresces more strongly. However absorption in the deep blue-violet area increases, making it more difficult to
resolve the lines in the narrow blue window. This could be because of further absorption in this area due to the iron
content.

RUBY - THAI UNTREATED (ε ray)

The most noticeable difference in the e-ray is the considerably narrower centre absorption band. The
fluorescing doublet is again much weaker and although transmission in the green-blue area has increased, the
narrow lines are still difficult to see due to the greater absorption in the deep blue.

RUBY - THAI UNTREATED (Fluorescence spectrum)

The iron content has weakened the fluorescence considerably and any attempt to capture this in
scattered light is poor compared to a fine Burma or synthetic stone. Compare Ref. RDF0584 in section RD2

ZIRCON (ω ray) Colour due to uranium.

Red zircons generally do not show a strong pattern of absorption lines compared to some other colours
of zircon. Dichroism is weak and very little variation occurs with or without the use of a polarising filter in this
purplish red colour. The o-ray chosen here shows the dominant line at 653nm. at it's strongest, but the normally
strong line at 589nm. is but a weak smudge. Only vague images of the two lines at 484nm and 460 can be seen in
the blue. Some red zircons do not display any lines at all. See Ref. RDF0687 in section RD1.

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