Spinel from Mogok, Myanmar—A Detailed Inclusion Study by Raman Microspectroscopy and Scanning Electron Microscopy

Mineral inclusions within 100 gem-quality spinels from both primary marble and secondary alluvial mining sites within Myanmar's Mogok Valley were analysed using Raman microspectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (including backscattered-electron imaging and energy-dispersive spectroscopy)...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published inJournal of gemmology (1986) Vol. 36; no. 5; pp. 418 - 435
Main Authors Phyo, Myint Myat, Bieler, Eva, Franz, Leander, Balmer, Walter, Krzemnicki, Michael S.
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published London Gem-A, The Gemmological Association of Great Britain 01.01.2019
The Gemmological Association of Great Britain
Subjects
Calcite
Carbonates
Dolomite
Electron microscopes
Electron microscopy
Gemology
Gems
Hydroxides
Identification and classification
Iron oxides
Mining
Oxides
Precious stones
Properties
Raman spectroscopy
Scanning electron microscopy
Spinel group
Myanmar
Myanmar (Burma)
Online AccessGet full text

Cover

More Information
Summary:Mineral inclusions within 100 gem-quality spinels from both primary marble and secondary alluvial mining sites within Myanmar's Mogok Valley were analysed using Raman microspectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (including backscattered-electron imaging and energy-dispersive spectroscopy). The samples ranged from pink to red, orangey pink to orangey red, and grey to purplish grey. We identified a number of inclusions that are reported here for the first time in Mogok spinel: amphibole (presumably pargasite), anatase, baddeleyite, boehmite, brucite, chlorite, clinohumite, clinopyroxene, diaspore, geikielite, goethite, halite, marcasite, molybdenite, periclase and pyrrhotite. We also found several minerals that were previously known as inclusions in Mogok spinel, including anhydrite, apatite, carbonates (calcite, dolomite and magnesite), chondrodite, elemental sulphur, graphite, iron oxides or iron hydroxides, phlogopite and zircon. We further differentiated the occurrence of inclusions in spinel from different mining sites in Mogok to assess whether these mineral assemblages can enhance our understanding of the geological origin of these gems and whether the inclusions can help separate Mogok spinels from those of other marble-related deposits worldwide.
ISSN:1355-4565
2632-1718
DOI:10.15506/JoG.2019.36.5.418