AGTA has announced that it is using a “Scanning Spectrophotometer” to
determine the difference between synthetic and natural quartz. Does
anyone know how this machine works? What does this machine measure
in the wavelengths that shows a difference between natural and
synthetic quartz? As far as I know there is no difference chemically
between natural and synthetic quartz. Is this a new development?
Gerry Galarneau
Gerry, a spectrophotometer beams light of a very narrow wavelength
through the object and meansures the transmission (or reflectance). A
scanning spectrophotometer is just one that does a number of usually
closely spaced wavelengths, in succession. They may do the entire
spectrum, or just a certain portion of it (such as ultraviolet).
I do not know for sure, but I would imagine that the synthetic quartz
is purer, and would not contain some of the natural contaminants you
would probably find in natural quartz. These contaminants would cause
it to show a different transmission in the particular wavelengths that
are characteristic of the contaminants.
Margaret
Here’s a link I found on the subject which describes how a
spectrophotometer works: http://www.colourware.co.uk/cpfaq/q3-10.htm
HTH
Dianne Karg
Toronto, Ontario
www.wrapturewirejewellery.on.ca