• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.55-59
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• 2011

Mong Hsu rubies from Myanmar include typically the dark core and blue patch but most of the previous research has merely focused on the dark core. This work is aimed to understanding clearly the characteristic of the dark core and blue patch of Mong Hsu rubies. It was found from the FTIR analysis that the dark core and blue patch region showed the absorption peaks of boehmite ($1986\;cm^{-1}$), diaspore ($2115\;cm^{-1}$) and water ($3400{\sim}3900\;cm^{-1}$) but the absorption peaks of O-H stretching ($3309\;cm^{-1}$ and $3078\;cm^{-1}$) were found only in blue patch region. The UV-VIS-NIR analysis of the dark core region revealed the stronger absorption of $Cr^{3+}$ at 405 and 554 nm compared to the blue patch region. In range of 600~800 nm, the UV absorption characteristic at 659, 675 and 693 nm assigned to $Cr^{3+}$ of core group samples is distinct from that of blue patch. The SEM-EDS examinations disclosed the existence of lots of micro-cracks and pores in the core regions compared to blue patch region.

• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.7-11
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• 2022

Recently, Hanmi Gemological Institute & Laboratory (HGI) had an opportunity to examine 5 transparent synthetic moissanite. The round brilliants ranged from 0.93 to 0.96 ct and had a colorless, pink, yellow, blue, and red color. Advanced testing results, including Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) and Raman spectroscopy, identified all the specimens as synthetic moissanite. Under the microscope, all samples except the colorless were confirmed to be a synthetic moissanite coated with a colored film. EDXRF chemical analysis detected very weak X-ray fluorescence peak characteristics of Ca, Ti, and Co in the colored samples. These features were not detected in the colorless sample. Raman spectroscopy investigation was unable to detect the 1332 cm^-1 (produced by sp³ bonding of carbon atoms) or the ~1550 cm^-1 (produced by graphite-related sp² bonding) peak in the colorless sample. The SEM image of the colorless sample showed no indication of a coating. The TEM image of the colorless sample revealed the presence of a 3~8 nm thick layer on the moissanite. Moreover, from the corresponding STEM Z-contrast image combined with the energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) line profiles and EDX elemental maps, this layer was estimated to be carbon, silicon and oxygen.

• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.130-134
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• 2009

A new long persistent phosphors of $CaZrO_3$ was synthesized at high temperature with weak reduction atmosphere by a traditional solid state reaction method. Photoluminescence spectra analysis showed that the $CaZrO_3$ doped with $Tb^{3+}$ emitted green-yellow emission caused by the energy level transition from the $^5D_3$ and $^5D_4$ to $^7F_1{\sim}^7F_6$. The main emission spectra of 542 nm peak by the $^5D_4{\rightarrow}^7F_5$ transition was revealed through synthesizing at high temperature in $N_2$ gas atmosphere. The afterglow emission spectra of $CaZrO_3:Tb^{3+}$ long persistent phosphores arise at 546 nm peak of narrow range. After the 254 nm ultraviolet light excitation source was switched off, the green-yellow long persistent phosphor can be observed which could last for 8 h in the limit of light perception of dark-adapted human eyes ($0.32\;mcd/m^2$).

• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.90-94
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• 2009

Mong Hsu rubies from Myanmar were heat treated in oxidizing(oxygen) atmosphere at $1650^{\circ}C$ for 1 hour. The investigations of the micro-structural defects in the samples before and after heat treatment have been carried out by the variety of analysis techniques of FTIR, UV-VIS-NIR and SEM-EDS. It was found that after heat treatment the dark blue cores region were disappeared and turned to orange red color with the presence of the dense cloudy brownish colored tiny particles in and near former blue zoning. As-received ruby samples only revealed the presence of FTIR absorption peaks of diaspore, boehmite and O-H stretching, at 1986, 2115 and $3078/3319\;cm^{-1}$ respectively. The UV-VIS-NIR absorption of as-received and heat treated ruby samples similarly showed peaks at 405, 554 and 693 nm associated with $Cr^{3+}$, but for the same samples, the absorption peak of heat-treated ruby samples at 693 nm was somewhat stronger than that of the untreated ruby samples. Especially the presence of $Cr^{3+}$ peaks at 659 and 675 nm was found obviously in as-received ruby samples only. The SEM-EDS investigation disclosed the micro-porous defect structures commonly related to the core regions of the untreated ruby samples, which after heat treatment in an oxidizing environment those defect features have been dissolved into the host phase resulting in the lightening or disappearance of the dark coloration of ruby core.

• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.240-243
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• 2006

The significant color enhancement in low quality Australian natural sapphire has been achieved by a hydrothermal method. The optimal conditions for the color enhancement of Australian natural sapphire were as follows; hydrothermal reaction temperature: $320{\sim}350^{\circ}C$, duration : 3 days, hydrothermal solvent: 2 M NaOH solution. After the hydrothermal treatment, Australian natural sapphires of transparent colors were obtained, and their grades were found to be improved from commercial to middle/top grade by value chart analysis.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.18 no.4 s.46
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• pp.313-323
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• 2005

XRD, XRF, EPMA, FT-IR, and SEM-CL studies were carried out in order to characterize gemological features of corundum from Tanzania. Fluorescence reaction of the Tanzanian corundum to short and long wave ultraviolet rays was weakly detected. Inclusions in Tanzanian corundum are divided into five types, Type I is fluid-rich inclusion, Type II is gas-rich inclusion, Type III is liquid $CO_{2}$ inclusion, Type IV is solid-rich inclusion, and Type V is a mixture of fluid and solid inclusion and daughter minerals. SEM-CL images show twin structure with growth texture, microphenocryst of spinel solid inclusions, massive and growth texture. Ruby and sapphire from Tanzania are distinctly distinguished by concentrations of Fe and Cr, and plotted in the particular field at $Al_{2}O_{3}/100-Cr_{2}O_{3}-Fe_{2}O_{3}$ diagram. According to FT-IR analysis, all corundum specimens from Tanzania showed the similar patterns, and absorption peaks of $455.09\~459.23\;cm^{-1},\;603.15\~611.71\;cm^{-1},\;1509.00\~1655.05\;cm^{-1}\;and\;3436.41\~3468.87\;cm^{-1}$. These distinctive characteristics mentioned above can be used to identify the locality and source of corundum stones from Tanzania.

• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.181-188
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• 2006

Rutile single crystals grown by skull melting method were cut parallel and perpendicular to growth axis, and both sides of the cut wafers (${\phi}5.5mmx1.0mm$) were then polished to be mirror surfaces. The black wafers were changed into pale yellow color by annealing in air at 1200 and $1300^{\circ}C$ for $3{\sim}15\;and\;10{\sim}50$ hours, respectively. After annealing, structural and optical properties were examined by specific gravity (S.G), SEM-electron backscattered pattern (SEM-EBSP), X-ray diffraction (XRD), FT-IR transmittance spectra, laser Raman spectroscopy (LRS), photoluminescence (PL) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). These results are analyzed increase of weight in air, decrease of weight in water and specific gravity, shown secondary phase of needle shape, diffusion of oxygen ion and increase of $Ti^{3+}$. From the above results, we suggest that the skull melting method grown rutile single crystals contain defect centers such as $O_v,\;Ti^{3+},\;O_v-Ti^{3+}$ interstitials and $F^+-H^+$.

• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.145-151
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• 2005

Color enhancement of African rubies with dark red was carried out by the heat treatment and the hydrothermal treatment method respectively. The heat treatment method brought about an adverse effect causing the color to be deteriorated. However, the hydrothermal treatment method enhanced its color and clarity. The hydrothermal treatment conditions for color enhancement of them were as follows: solvent: 0.9M $Na_2CO_3-1M\;K_2CO_3$, temperature: $450^{\circ}C$, duration: 48 hrs, filling: $30\%$, pressure: 375 atm. As the results of characteristics for African rubies obtained under these conditions, it was known that the amount of $Cr^{3+},\;Fe^{3+},\;Ti^{4+}$ was reduced after the hydrothermal treatment from the ICP/MS and XRF analyses. Also, it was found that the red color from the colorimeter analyses was getting lighter. These results were consistent with the PL analysis showing that the intensity of the luminescence peak generated by the electron transition of $Cr^{3+}$ ion became lower after the hydrothermal treatment compared with the non-treated rubies.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.20 no.2 s.52
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• pp.91-96
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• 2007

Notable characteristics are found between diamond types and observed optical properties from the analysis of natural diamonds in market as a gem mineral. All of the diamond samples observed are classified into type Ia, which can be subdivided type IaA containing only A aggregates, type IaB containing only B aggregates, and type IaAB containing both A aggregates and B aggregates in detail. As B aggregates more relatively increase than A aggregates. It is possible to find out that an increase of N3 center, an enhancement of blue fluorescence reaction, and an intensification of irregularity in the strain pattern. Because the property change of diamond mentioned above are consistent with optical phenomenon caused by dislocation and with N3 center produced by changes of nitrogen aggregation process from A aggregate to B aggregate. There is a close relation between diamond type and optical properties.

• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.95-100
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• 2006

Synthesis of the non-swelling property micas was carried out by hydrothermal method. In order to artificially induce the diffusion of ions, a rotating system was attached to the hydrothermal apparatus and by adding 0.7 mm zircon beads, synthesis of the non-swelling property micas could be performed in a low temperature area. The hydrothermal conditions for the preparation of micas were a reaction temperature of $260^{\circ}C$, for 72 hrs, using $1K_2O,\;1Al(OH)_3,\;4Mg(OH)_2\;and\;6SiO_2$ as the starting materials and a 8M-KOH solution as the hydrothermal solvent. The micas obtained under these conditions were a plate shape with a size of $2.89{\mu}m$ and showed a whiteness of over 97 %. Also, through the FT-IR analysis, because the absorption peak of the $Mg_3OH$ vibration was observed at approximately $3700cm^{-1}$, it could be known that it was phlogopite of non-swelling property showing the chemical composition of $KMg_3AlSi_3O_{10}(OH)_2$. This result was very consistent with the EDS analysis where O (41.34 %), Mg (3.88 %), Al (11.45 %), Si (17.62 %) and K (25.71%) elements were detected.