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 Post subject: EDU - Hydrothermal synthetic emerald "Biron"
PostPosted: Sat Jul 14, 2012 8:05 pm 
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This synthetic beryl / synthetic emerald grown in Western Australia is synthesized by a hydrothermal process.
It contain vanadium as well as lesser amounts of chromium.
The Biron synthetic is inert to ultraviolet radiation, has a specific gravity of 2.68-2.71, and refractive indices of ε = 1.569 and ω = 1.573
Some typical inclusions that I have photographed:

Nail head spicules

60X ZEISS Stemi 2000C 1/8'' on Nikon D300, darkfield and fiber optics illuminator, 8 stacks


Image


Morphology of a nail head spicules

80X ZEISS Stemi 2000C 1/8'' on Nikon D300, Infrared inverted


Image


Veil-like inclusions and fingerprints

40X ZEISS Stemi 2000C 1/4'' on Nikon D300, darkfield


Image


Feathers

15X ZEISS Stemi 2000C 1/4'' on Nikon D300, darkfield


Image


Undulating growth pattern

15X ZEISS Stemi 2000C 1/4'' on Nikon D300, darkfield


Image


Undulating growth pattern

15X ZEISS Stemi 2000C 1/4'' on Nikon D300, darkfield


Image




Ciao
Paolino

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Last edited by Paolo Cerruti on Tue Jul 17, 2012 6:20 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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 Post subject: Re: Hydrothermal synthetic emerald "Biron"
PostPosted: Mon Jul 16, 2012 10:56 am 
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These photos look so sharp and clear. Thanks for posting them, Paolo!


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 Post subject: Re: Hydrothermal synthetic emerald "Biron"
PostPosted: Mon Jul 16, 2012 11:00 am 
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Fantastic photos, Paolo! =D>

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 Post subject: Re: Hydrothermal synthetic emerald "Biron"
PostPosted: Mon Jul 16, 2012 2:08 pm 
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Wow! Nice work, Paolo!

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 Post subject: Re: Hydrothermal synthetic emerald "Biron"
PostPosted: Mon Jul 16, 2012 4:00 pm 
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My, your pictures are ......astounding!
Terrific.


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 Post subject: Re: EDU - Hydrothermal synthetic emerald "Biron"
PostPosted: Tue Jul 17, 2012 6:35 pm 
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Thank you all! :oops:
I hope that those photos can help someone during his gemology studies.
I've added three new pics that concern the typical growth pattern of these hydrothermal emeralds.

Ciao
Paolino

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 Post subject: Re: EDU - Hydrothermal synthetic emerald "Biron"
PostPosted: Tue Jul 17, 2012 8:16 pm 
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Hi Paolo,
Have you studied any hydro emeralds from other sources? I'm curious to learn if you've seen the undulating growth pattern in emerald grown by other manufacturers. I have some material that was grown in Russia at the United Institute of Geology and Geophysics that shows what appears to be the same thing. The pattern certainly help distinguish it from natural emerald I've studied very quickly with only a loupe.

A gemological study done by Dr. Guennadi Boukine of Novosibirsk, Russia, mentions what he calls "optical inhomogeneity" in both the Russian emerald and the Biron, along with healed microcracks.. I wonder if the undulating growth pattern is what he had in mind with that term. Additional inclusions mentioned in the Biron are 2-phase inclusions, gold and phenakite. In the Russian stone he additionally found both 2 and 3-phase inclusions (surprise Chivor!), hematite and phenakite.

If you're interested in studying the Russian material I'll be happy to send you a stone or two on the condition that you post some images here.

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 Post subject: Re: EDU - Hydrothermal synthetic emerald "Biron"
PostPosted: Wed Jul 18, 2012 4:03 am 
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Fantastic pictures Paolo, congratulations! =D> =D> =D>

The picture #3 is my favorite, it's just spectacular but also very interesting, it looks very similar to veils in flux synthetic emeralds!

For the picture #2, "infrared inverted" - could you explain this technique?

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 Post subject: Re: EDU - Hydrothermal synthetic emerald "Biron"
PostPosted: Wed Jul 18, 2012 5:12 am 
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Egor Gavrilenko wrote:
it's just spectacular but also very interesting, it looks very similar to veils in flux synthetic emeralds!


yeah, to me also...........

but my fav is the 3 phase spicule...............very nice indeed! well DONE!!! =D> =D> =D> =D> =D>

ciao
albé

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 Post subject: Re: EDU - Hydrothermal synthetic emerald "Biron"
PostPosted: Wed Jul 18, 2012 5:19 am 
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Yes, veils of inclusions are possible in Biron, they are described and photographed in this classic article, not so nice and confusing though: http://gia.metapress.com/content/w627814r12342284/

Paolo, are you 1000% sure that stone is Biron too? Do it has that typical growth structures? Not too low RI? Fluorescence?

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 Post subject: Re: EDU - Hydrothermal synthetic emerald "Biron"
PostPosted: Thu Jul 19, 2012 7:44 am 
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ROM wrote:
Hi Paolo,
Have you studied any hydro emeralds from other sources?


Dear Rom I've seen some other hydrothermal emeralds with chevron, "hound's tooth structures" during my GIA courses.
But I didn't know the manufacturers of these synthetic stone.

paolocerruti wrote:
If you're interested in studying the Russian material I'll be happy to send you a stone or two on the condition that you post some images here.


Sure Rom, I'll very happy if you want send me your stones, you send me a PM so we arrange for the expedition ;-)

Egor Gavrilenko wrote:
For the picture #2, "infrared inverted" - could you explain this technique?


Hi Egor, thank you, the infra red inverted is a simple technique that expose the stone at infra red light and after it is inverted with photoshop filter to increase the contrast of the edge and to remove the background colour.

Egor Gavrilenko wrote:
Yes, veils of inclusions are possible in Biron, they are described and photographed in this classic article


Yes, veils inclusions are possible in Biron, even in photoatlas 1 they are mentioned.

Alberto wrote:
Paolo, are you 1000% sure that stone is Biron too? Do it has that typical growth structures? Not too low RI? Fluorescence?


They are inert at SWUV and LWUV fluorescence.
R.I is 1.569 and ω = 1.573 very low
I'm sure that these stones are Biron, my uncle bought it in Bangkok three years ago. He bought a one piece of rough synthetic crystal and he cut it in 15 stones

Ciao
Paolino

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"When the winds of change blow,
some people build walls and others build windmills"

www.paolocerruti.it


Last edited by Paolo Cerruti on Thu Jul 19, 2012 8:10 am, edited 1 time in total.

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 Post subject: Re: EDU - Hydrothermal synthetic emerald "Biron"
PostPosted: Thu Jul 19, 2012 7:59 am 
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Thanks for your explanation and for the additional confirmation, Paolo!
Your inclusions photos are great! Keep them coming!

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