GIA’s Winter 2022 Gems & Gemology (G&G) issue is now available to provide new content about innovative gemological techniques, studies and discoveries. This issue documents heating experiments on Burmese rubies, the use of strong fluorescence to identify copper diffusion treatment of feldspar and the characterization of a new treatment to improve the color and luster of turquoise.
Digital versions of this and every issue of G&G since 1934 are available at no cost on GIA’s website at GIA.edu/gems-gemology.
Winter 2022 G&G feature articles:
• A Canary in the Ruby Mine: Low-Temperature Heat Treatment Experiments on Burmese Ruby
E. Billie Hughes and Wim Vertriest
Documents heating experiments conducted on Burmese rubies to find useful indicators of heat treatment at temperatures below 1200°C.
• Fluorescence Characteristics of Two Copper-Diffused Plagioclase Feldspars: Labradorite and Andesine
Qingchao Zhou, Chengsi Wang, and Andy H. Shen
Examines the use of strong fluorescence near 394 nm under 320 nm excitation as a potential means of identifying copper diffusion treatment of feldspar.
• Composition and Spectral Characteristics of Porcelain-Treated Turquoise
Liying Huang, Quanli Chen, Yan Li, Zuowei Yin, Fengshun Xu, Xinxin Gao, and Yang Du
Characterizes turquoise treated with an inorganic additive that dramatically improves the luster and color of low- and medium-quality material.
• Never Stop Innovating: Gem Artist Chi Huynh
Tao Hsu, Artitaya Homkrajae, and Kevin Schumacher
Profiles a groundbreaking gem artist on a quest to bring new concepts, techniques, and products to the industry.
G&G’s regular features – Lab Notes, Micro-World and Gem News International – continue to highlight interesting gemological findings worldwide. And be sure to see how gems formed in magmatic environments can offer insights into the geological processes that shaped our world in the Colored Stones Unearthed section.
Stay ahead of gemological news and join the conversations on GIA’s Gems & Gemology Facebook group, with an online community of more than 30,000 members: facebook.com/groups/giagemsgemology.
Additional research articles are available at GIA.edu/gia-news-research.
