G’day; there has been some recent correspondence here on the fakery
and enhancement of I would like to draw the attention
of all Orchidians to a very erudite - and technical - article in a
very recent copy of The New Scientist; Dated May 22nd 2004. p26.
The article is entitled “From Rocks To Riches” and writes in detail
how and why some colourless crystals like corundum are found
coloured, (sapphire, ruby, padparadsher etc) how those colours are
being enhanced, changed and artificially produced. It gives
details of matters like diffusion enhancement, heat treatment etc.,
and methods of detection. A very worthwhile read for all professional
jewellers and people wanting to know much more about valuable - and
otherwise -
New Scientist is a British publication, but I get the Australia/New
Zealand version You may be able to find it in their archives website;
http://archive.newscientist.com You may find copies in large
bookstores, just as ours sometimes carry "Scientific American’
New Scientist -Uk Edition
http://www.ganoksin.com/jewelry-books/us/product/B00006KPU2.htm
Cheers for now,
JohnB of Mapua, Nelson NZ