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NEWS & ARTICLES
Analytical tools.
Technology
Analytical tools used at Bellerophon | Gemlab
Microscope
Backbones of gemmology, the microscope enables gemologists to make an diagnostic regarding the genesis, absence, or indications of treatments, and origin determinations, by studying the inclusions under high magnification.
-Genesis
-Treatment detection
-Origin determination
Digital Microscope
The digital microscope enables gemologist to study a gemstone from anywhere in the world, and magnification power is greatly increased from a regular microscope, our Keyences VHX6000 enable us to observe inside a gemstone at 5,000x magnification.
Refractometer
The refractometer measures the extent of light refraction, as light passes through the gemstone from the air it will slow down and create refraction, the severity of the refraction will depend on the mineral composition, very useful information for identification.
-Identification
Specific gravity
Specific Gravity (SG) is the ratio of the weight of a substance to the weight of an equal volume of water. It measures the density of a mineral, based on the earth's gravity, which depends on the chemical composition and crystal structure of a gemstone, very valuable information for identification.
-Identification
Polariscope
The polariscope enables us to distinguish between isotropic and anisotropic transparent minerals.
-Identification
Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy
The FTIR spectrometer simultaneously collects high-resolution spectral data over a wide spectral range. Bellerophon uses it to obtain an infrared spectrum of absorption of a gemstone, Extremely important information for identification, treatments detection, and genesis.
-Identification
-Genesis of emerald for exemple
-Treatment detection such as low heat in corundum
-Origin determination
Raman Spectroscopy & Micro Spectrometry
Raman spectroscopy provides a structural fingerprint by which molecules can be identified. Raman spectroscopy relies upon the inelastic scattering of photons, knowns as Raman scattering. A source of monochromatic light, laser of 532nm, or 785nm interacts with molecular vibrations, phonons, or other excitations in the system, resulting in the energy of the laser photons being shifted up or down. The shift in energy gives information about the vibrational modes in the system.
-Identification
-Genesis of Quartz for exemple
-Treatment detection such as oil and resin
-Origin determination
Photoluminescence Spectroscopy
Photoluminescence spectroscopy, abbreviated as PL and the laser used such as PL313, PL532 is light emission from a gemstone after the absorption of photons. it is one of many forms of luminescence and is initiated by photoexcitation (photons that excite electrons to a higher energy level in an atom).
-Identification
-Genesis of Spinel for example
-Treatment detection
Energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence
In EDXRF spectroscopy, all of the elements in the gemstone are excited simultaneously, and an energy dispersive detector in combination with a multi-channel analyzer is used to simultaneously collect the fluorescence radiation emitted from the sample and then separate the different energies of the characteristic radiation from each of the different elements. it enables gemologists to know and quantify (semi-quantitatively) all elements present in samples from Sodium (Na) to Uranium (U).
-Genesis of corundum for example
-Treatment detection such as lead glass
-Origin determination
Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy
Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) is atomic emission spectroscopy that uses a high-energy laser pulse as the excitation source. The laser is focused to form a plasma, which atomizes and excites a small part of the gemstone.
Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) is considered as a quasi non destructive testing due to the fact that the laser ablate a microscopic part of your gemstone, creating an approx ~0.20 mm hole.
-Treatment detection for Beryllium diffusion in corundum
-Origin determination of emerald
Ultraviolet-visible near-infrared spectroscopy
UV-vis refers to the absorption in part of the ultraviolet and the full visible regions of the electromagnetic spectrum. It uses light in the visible range. The absorption in the visible range directly affects the perceived colour of the elements involved (chromophores).
-Origin determination
Ultraviolet and Visible Spectrophotometry and Imaging
Spectrophotometry is a branch of electromagnetic spectroscopy concerned with the quantitative measurement of the reflection or transmission properties of a material as a function of wavelength.
The absorption of light is due to the interaction of light with the electronic and vibrational modes of molecules. Each type of molecule has an individual set of energy levels associated with the makeup of its chemical bonds and nuclei and thus will absorb light of specific wavelengths, or energies, resulting in unique spectral properties. This is based upon its specific and distinct makeup.
-Origin determination
-Genesis
-Colour Grading
-Treatments
