• The Korean Journal of Malacology
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.157-164
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• 2012

The patterns in X-ray diffraction (XRD) spectroscopy provide useful clue at $29.4^{\circ}$ to discriminate two types of Akoya cultured pearl which occurs difference of surface luster. Using the optical microscope, we could be confirmed that the nareous layer of each sample consist of different crystal form. In Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) Spectroscopy analysis, the nareous layer of Akoya cultured pearls with poor luster shows some peaks at 712, 699, 1435, $1444cm^{-1}$ region and these peaks depend on the Calcite. But the nareous layer of pearls with excellent luster could not observed those peaks related with Calcite, we could observed Aragonite band at 699, $1085cm^{-1}$ region. Though this result, we know that the nareous layer of Akoya cultured pearls with excellent luster is mainly composed by Aragonite. Raman bands are also clearly demonstrated to occur difference of band intensity by difference of Aragonite content. In the Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) analysis, we found that the Akoya cultured pearl luster and surface condition is associated with internal structure.

• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.152-156
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• 2005

The cultivation of akoya pearls was carried out with bio bead nucleus prepared using the hydroxyapatite. The akoya pearls cultured with bio bead nucleus were shown the color of cream. The luster and orient effect created by an action of the light from nacre were magnificent. The result of XRD is found that the nacre is a calcium carbonate of aragonite form. From the result of SEM, it is found that layers of calcium carbonate and conchiolin are stratified. The properties of akoya pearls cultured with bio bead nucleus are same those of akoya pearl cultivated with bead nucleus made from washboard shell. Because of the bio bead nucleus developed in this study has such a high capacity in producing various sizes and shapes, it is very advantageous for the cultivation of akoya pearls.

• The Korean Journal of Malacology
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.243-251
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• 2008

Analyses of UV-Vis spectrum and reflectance are useful tools to identify pearls of which color was naturally made or chemically changed. Contents of some trace elements of pearls by using ED-XRF may give us the information that the pearls were originated from marine shells or freshwater shells, and may give us whether the pearls were chemically treated or not. Three types of chemically untreated pearls, freshwater cultured, Akoya cultured and Tahitian cultured, were treated with silver nitrate. UV-Vis absorbance spectrum of Ag was changed after treatment, and reflectance of pearls was decreased. Absorbance of natural black colored Tahitian cultured pearls at 400, 500 and 700 nm was observed. Natural black colored freshwater cultured pearls showed two characteristic absorption patterns in UV-Vis spectra at 380-400, 480-500 nm. Unlike naturally black colored Tahitian cultured pearls, the absorption spectrum at 700 nm could not be found from black freshwater cultured pearls. Manganese was not detected in the pearls from marine shells, and strontium content of the pearls from marine cultured shells was higher than that from freshwater cultured shells. According to ED-XRF analysis, Ag contents of silver nitrate treated pearls increased as more time passed, because silver ion invaded to nacre layer of the pearls. Since Ag content of the black pearls known as untreated ranged under 0.1%, analysis of Ag content may used to distinguish the black pearls are treated or not in marketplace.