Sapphire Beneath the Rich Black Soil of Muling, Northeastern China

Abstract

The rich black soil of Muling in northeastern China yields not only abundant crops but also glittering gem corundum. In this study, gemological quality and characteristics and provenance-related features of sapphire from Muling are first reported with comprehensive analytical results. Muling sapphire exhibits a wide spectrum of hue and saturation. Mineral inclusions (e.g., rutile, zircon, anorthite, and pyrope) as well as other distinctive internal features (e.g., polysynthetic twinning accompanied by intersecting tubes, iridescent hexagonal thin films, and angular color zoning) are identified by microscopic observation and Raman spectroscopy. Spectral features and trace element chemistry of the various colors of gem-quality Muling sapphire are analyzed by ultraviolet/visible/near-infrared spectroscopy and laser ablation–inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry. To assess the characteristics of Muling sapphire against well-known corundum sources worldwide, inclusion analysis and trace element discrimination diagrams are utilized. Analytical results indicate that Muling sapphire originated from a more diverse geological environment than typical magmatic or metamorphic origin. The Muling deposit shows great potential to produce fine gem-quality sapphire material.