Valeria Diella, Marco Cantaluppi, Rosangela Bocchio, Elena Possenti, Ilaria Adamo, Giancarlo Della Ventura, Lucia Mancini, Nicoletta Marinoni
{"title":"Characterization and comparison of natural and Zachery-treated turquoise: new data","authors":"Valeria Diella, Marco Cantaluppi, Rosangela Bocchio, Elena Possenti, Ilaria Adamo, Giancarlo Della Ventura, Lucia Mancini, Nicoletta Marinoni","doi":"10.1007/s00269-023-01241-w","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Turquoise is a well-known gemstone that has been used in artefacts across many cultures throughout history. However, due to its porosity it is often treated to enhance its color and beauty. One appreciated treatment is the patented Zachery process, although its details remain publicly undisclosed. Previous studies indicated that only a high K content distinguishes Zachery-treated from natural turquoises. In this study, natural and Zachery-treated turquoise samples from the famous Kingman mine, Arizona, USA, were analysed by means a multi-methodological approach, including standard gemological testing, electron microprobe (EMPA), scanning electron microscope with energy dispersive spectrometer (SEM–EDS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-Transform InfraRed (FTIR), non-destructive External Reflection-Fourier-Transform InfraRed (ER-FTIR) spectroscopy and X-ray computed microtomography (μCT). The results revealed new chemical–mineralogical and microstructural features that distinguish the Zackery-treated from the natural turquoise: higher specific gravity and lower porosity, associated with high and uneven concentrations of Cu, K and Na, the occurrence of tenorite (CuO), the presence and extension of reaction edges in the entire volume are distinctive of treated samples. Moreover, Cu-rich seeds and feldspar crystals may be interpreted as additional components used during the treatment. The hypothesis is that the Zachery treatment induces the re-crystallization of a new turquoise-like phase, which differs from the natural one from a chemical and microstructural point of view.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":20132,"journal":{"name":"Physics and Chemistry of Minerals","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.2000,"publicationDate":"2023-06-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Physics and Chemistry of Minerals","FirstCategoryId":"89","ListUrlMain":"https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00269-023-01241-w","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q4","JCRName":"MATERIALS SCIENCE, MULTIDISCIPLINARY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Turquoise is a well-known gemstone that has been used in artefacts across many cultures throughout history. However, due to its porosity it is often treated to enhance its color and beauty. One appreciated treatment is the patented Zachery process, although its details remain publicly undisclosed. Previous studies indicated that only a high K content distinguishes Zachery-treated from natural turquoises. In this study, natural and Zachery-treated turquoise samples from the famous Kingman mine, Arizona, USA, were analysed by means a multi-methodological approach, including standard gemological testing, electron microprobe (EMPA), scanning electron microscope with energy dispersive spectrometer (SEM–EDS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-Transform InfraRed (FTIR), non-destructive External Reflection-Fourier-Transform InfraRed (ER-FTIR) spectroscopy and X-ray computed microtomography (μCT). The results revealed new chemical–mineralogical and microstructural features that distinguish the Zackery-treated from the natural turquoise: higher specific gravity and lower porosity, associated with high and uneven concentrations of Cu, K and Na, the occurrence of tenorite (CuO), the presence and extension of reaction edges in the entire volume are distinctive of treated samples. Moreover, Cu-rich seeds and feldspar crystals may be interpreted as additional components used during the treatment. The hypothesis is that the Zachery treatment induces the re-crystallization of a new turquoise-like phase, which differs from the natural one from a chemical and microstructural point of view.
期刊介绍:
Physics and Chemistry of Minerals is an international journal devoted to publishing articles and short communications of physical or chemical studies on minerals or solids related to minerals. The aim of the journal is to support competent interdisciplinary work in mineralogy and physics or chemistry. Particular emphasis is placed on applications of modern techniques or new theories and models to interpret atomic structures and physical or chemical properties of minerals. Some subjects of interest are:
-Relationships between atomic structure and crystalline state (structures of various states, crystal energies, crystal growth, thermodynamic studies, phase transformations, solid solution, exsolution phenomena, etc.)
-General solid state spectroscopy (ultraviolet, visible, infrared, Raman, ESCA, luminescence, X-ray, electron paramagnetic resonance, nuclear magnetic resonance, gamma ray resonance, etc.)
-Experimental and theoretical analysis of chemical bonding in minerals (application of crystal field, molecular orbital, band theories, etc.)
-Physical properties (magnetic, mechanical, electric, optical, thermodynamic, etc.)
-Relations between thermal expansion, compressibility, elastic constants, and fundamental properties of atomic structure, particularly as applied to geophysical problems
-Electron microscopy in support of physical and chemical studies
-Computational methods in the study of the structure and properties of minerals
-Mineral surfaces (experimental methods, structure and properties)