(PRESS RELEASE) NEW YORK — Gemological Science International (GSI), a globally renowned laboratory, leading the trade in cutting-edge gemological research and education,has identified an unusual massive egg-shaped synthetic rock crystal quartz. Meenu Brijesh Vyas, Global Head Gemologist at GSI, states “synthetic gemstones are a scientific achievement, and a synthetic quartz is a part of US technological history. Quartz is used in the industry for applications, including high-temperature windows and in the solar and electronics industry. Gemologists were surprised to see a synthetic quartz specimen this large, used for a jewelry application.”
The discovery of the quartz was at GSI’s Jaipur lab. GSI opened its first office in India in 2006, and currently has offices in Mumbai, Surat, and Jaipur. Gemological Science International offers a variety of laboratory services for the industry, including sorting, diamond light analysis, laser inscription, 360-degree video imaging, grading, appraisals and more. Through the lab’s identification with all kind of treatment disclosure present within the stone they were able to identify this exciting find.
The synthesis of gem crystals began in the late 1800s for industrial applications. During 1970, the market saw an influx of matured gem-quality synthetic gemstones, with synthetic amethyst haunting the gem and jewelry market.
With various technologies introduced for the synthesis of gemstones, the hydrothermal method has been the closest process replicating that of nature, as it effectively replicates the natural conditions under which the crystal forms. Because of this, synthetic quartz looks very similar to its natural counterpart, making it difficult to separate.
Gemological Science International (GSI) Jaipur recently examined a massive, high clarity, colorless spheroid-shaped synthetic quartz, weighing 1588.00 grams and measuring 16.60 x 8.00 x 8.02 cm. The specimen was inert to both long and short-wave UV radiation. As colorless quartz crystals grown by the hydrothermal method sized up to 50 mm wide by 150 mm long are generally used in the electronic industry, the specimen was initially suspected to be natural due to the size alone. Due to the size of the specimen, identifying inclusions under a microscope was challenging. Upon orienting a fiber optic light source around the specimen, GSI visually observed a seed plate along the length dividing the specimen into two halves. On further observation, suspended breadcrumb-like particles were observed throughout the stone. For additional confirmation, Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) analysis was performed using a Shimadzu IRTracer-100 FTIR spectrometer with DRS-8000A, in diffused reflectance and resolution set at 4 cm–1. The scanning ranges were 7,000–500 cm–1. The IR spectrum of the specimen showed peaks at 3,581, 3,298, and 3,194 cm–1, which correspond to synthetic rock crystal quarts; these are not found in natural quartz. This specimen is an interesting example of large, high-clarity synthetic quartz for use in the gem and jewelry industry.
“Quartz is a prevalent part of the jewelry market and an accessible gemstone that occurs in a number of varieties based on its color,” says Vyas. “It comes in many forms and is a staple of the gem and jewelry industry as a standalone gemstone,and also a substitute for more expensive gemstones from diamond to jade. Quartz has an important place in history, and today, as consumer demand for unique gemstone choices and interest in crystals expands, quartz has become relevant once again.”
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GSI India has extensive research and education facilities and is consistently publishing lab notes and research articles. GSI India works very closely with a number of different equipment manufacturers, helping them to develop and update new and existing instruments. GSI is also heavily involved in color stone identification, especially in Jaipur.
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