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Application Note: Characterization and Identification of Garnet
Spectroscopy Methods for the Gemology Industry
Spectroscopy has been long used in the gemology industry for characterization and identification, with nearly every known spectroscopic method playing a critical role. Transmission provides insight into gemstone clarity, reflectance provides colorimetric data, fluorescence & absorption are excellent at detecting bulk defects, and Raman & laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) provides molecular and atomic composition.
This application note aims to show how easy it is to perform spectral analysis of garnets by comparing spessartine garnets from different geographic regions. While all these stones have the same base chemical structure, slight differences in impurities result in the vastly different appearances