Post subject: Re: AGL Identifies Irradiated Colombian Emeralds
Posted: Wed Jan 04, 2012 11:44 am
Site Admin
Joined: Fri May 12, 2006 11:24 am Posts: 7523 Location: Rome, Italy
Hello Christopher and thank you for posting the lab alert, another emerald treatment we should take into consideration, a good way to start the new year....... happy new year to you too! ciao alberto
Post subject: Re: AGL Identifies Irradiated Colombian Emeralds
Posted: Thu Jan 05, 2012 1:22 am
Gemology Online Veteran
Joined: Thu Feb 22, 2007 10:23 am Posts: 923 Location: NYC
the stability of the treatment is interesting, as no one heat emerald jewelries or use them mounted for repairs with jeweler’s torch the color stability should depend mostly on light and heat from the light (sun, Halogen bulbs, ...)
@ Barbra, add Geiger counter to your shopping list next time you're going to buy gemological tools
Or you can borrow mine Bought a russian unit to check thorium and uranium minerals so I would not start cutting some stupid stuff without precautions when getting parcels of mixed rough.
Post subject: Re: AGL Identifies Irradiated Colombian Emeralds
Posted: Sat Jan 07, 2012 12:05 am
Gemology Online Veteran
Joined: Sat Jul 11, 2009 10:29 am Posts: 928 Location: USA
I heard rumors about irradiated Emeralds for a few months now, but never from a reliable source! Thank you Christopher! Great to finally know! The rumors I heard were in relation to Pakistani material.
Cobalt-60 nor E-Beam would show on Geiger counter. So it is not always a sure fire method of testing. But still a tool every Gemologist, or even Rockhound, should have!
Post subject: Re: AGL Identifies Irradiated Colombian Emeralds
Posted: Mon Jan 09, 2012 3:09 pm
Valued Contributor
Joined: Thu Aug 20, 2009 10:36 am Posts: 118 Location: New York
Hello Rick,
The short answer to your question is "yes". I run spectra on all emeralds we are sent for testing. This is not an additional test for me, but a standard one. Prior to my arrival at AGL in December of 2006 I cannot say whether AGL tested all emeralds for irradiation, but since then it is a policy. I have run the necessary spectra on all emeralds I test for many years.... Since the early 90's.
Just for the general fyi, when it comes to the ID and enhancement services of our lab, there is no difference in the testing procedures for the two types of services: the laminated full-page version (what we call our Prestige report) and the credit card sized version (what we call our GemBrief report). The larger format will go into more details, such as quantification of certain types of treatment, the identification of filler substances and country-of-origin, as well as others, but when it comes to the pure identification and enhancement aspect of our services, we follow due diligence without exception.
Post subject: Re: AGL Identifies Irradiated Colombian Emeralds
Posted: Mon Jan 09, 2012 3:28 pm
Platinum Member
Joined: Fri Feb 24, 2006 1:20 am Posts: 2756 Location: Southern California, U.S.A.
Thanks Chris. Your press release gave me the impression the discovery of emerald color enhancement by irradiation was quite recent. I had GemBriefs done on some emeralds last June and wondered if the reports reflected irradiation testing or if I should re-submit them. I can sell them with confidence now.
Post subject: Re: AGL Identifies Irradiated Colombian Emeralds
Posted: Mon Jan 09, 2012 3:40 pm
Active Member
Joined: Fri Nov 04, 2011 11:47 pm Posts: 96
Christopher:
Thank you for the report. One follow up question - since the samples you tested which were irradiated were also resin filled, can one conclude that oiled or otherwise untreated emeralds are likely to be safer from irradiation?
Post subject: Re: AGL Identifies Irradiated Colombian Emeralds
Posted: Mon Jan 09, 2012 4:10 pm
Valued Contributor
Joined: Thu Aug 20, 2009 10:36 am Posts: 118 Location: New York
Hello Minx,
The clarity enhancement using a resin/polymer-type filler is separate from the irradiation issue. I would not presume one way or another based on the identity of a filler.
For Rick, what was "new" and prompted the release was that this represented the first time a series of stones had been submitted by members of the trade in a very short time period. The issue of an irradiated emerald prior to this in my personal experience was a one-off here and there, separated by years.
That being said, I don't want to suggest to the industry that this is now rampant or wide spread. My release was to raise awareness and I even included the information for how to detect it, so that the trade doesn't get too excited and they should even be comforted by the fact that it is detectable.
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