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Many more pseudomorphs are nucleated from the azurite matrix interface than nucleated from the azurite crystal surface. In conclusion, the analysis of these pseudomorph illustrations suggests the following: Azurite can continue to grow on azurite while malachite pseudomorphs are growing within. The four azurite crack surfaces have conchoidal fractures on one surface, complete coverage of new secondary azurite on a second surface, and two vertical surfaces with mixed conchoidal areas and new azurite. The governing reaction for malachite growth is: Two azurites plus one water yields three malachites plus carbon dioxide. [Extracted from the article]

Most of the micromineral inclusions generated by the RMR process in Schickler apatite appear to be REE minerals; an example EDS spectrum of a typical REE inclusion is shown in figure 2. The I T i I O i I T i modules within these minerals can be used to derive many mineral properties by first principles, e.g., habit, cleavage angles, and symmetry/polytypism (fig. 1). Among other minerals, striking red-brown apatite crystals, to 10+ cm, can be found hosted within the dissociated calcite-fluorite carbonatite matrix. However, the diversity of these modular rock-forming minerals results in complexity in terms of the crystal structures and crystal chemistries of this mineral family. [Extracted from the article]

Copyright of Americanía. Revista de Estudios Latinoamericanos is the property of Revista Americania - Universidad Pablo de Olavide and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This paper analyzes and identifies the binders used in the jewel settings of the Baodian and Diexie belts excavated from the tomb of Murongzhi in Wuwei, Gansu, China. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) indicated the presence of protein in the binder samples. The result of gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC‐MS) shows that samples from both contained hydroxyproline, a characteristic amino acid for animal glue. Principal component analysis was performed on one of the samples, and it was concluded that the binder was a mixture of hide glue and egg glue. Further analysis using scanning electron microscopy with energy‐dispersive X‐ray (SEM‐EDX) and laser Raman spectroscopy (Raman) found that a red particulate matter visually identified in the binder was cinnabar, which was apparently added to binder in order to modify the color of the jewels. This study provides a basis for the conservation and restoration of future finds of elite jewelry. It also shows how imperial jewelry was made during the Tang Dynasty. Finally, the analysis of these heraldic belts provides a key insight the life and role of an exiled prince in the Tang court. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper identifies documented collections of red-sulphur gem casts by Christian Dehn (1696–1770) that have survived unrecognized in three British country houses: Burton Constable in Yorkshire, Burghley House in Lincolnshire, and Mountstuart on the Isle of Bute in Scotland. All three collections resulted from Grand Tours to Italy, where, in Rome, Dehn's workshop supplied bespoke collections of casts representing engraved gemstones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Zeitschrift für Ägyptische Sprache und Altertumskunde is the property of De Gruyter and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This paper provides a detailed technological characterization of the Roman opus sectile glasses (second century AD) coming from the renowned Gorga collection. Nine glass samples corresponding to imitations of the porfido verde antico, cipollino rosso, rosso antico, giallo antico, diaspro nero e giallo, semesanto and agate/alabaster stones were studied. The aim of this study was twofold: (i) archaeometric, i.e., to provide valuable data on the production, raw materials and techniques of these refined Roman glasses that mimic precious stones and (ii) methodological, i.e., to highlight the good performance of combining polished thin sections and local probe measurements for the study of glassy microstructures. Based on the nature of the flux used, the glasses from the samples were classified as either natron-type or mixed-type (natron/plant ash). The latter stem from remelted glasses and contain relict grains of wollastonite that were not found in the pure natron samples. Relict wollastonite crystals appear to be a proficient petrographic marker to spot recycled glasses along with the commonly used chemical fingerprints. Different production and colouring techniques were identified, even for a given type of imitated stone. Metallic Cu, Ca antimonates and Pb-Fe antimonates were the three opacifiers used for the opaque glasses. Based on the crystal morphologies, metallic Cu and Ca antimoniates were possibly synthesized in situ simultaneously with the glass, whilst the Pb-Fe antimonates were prepared ex situ. The working temperatures for these glasses were estimated within the 900–1100 °C range based on the presence and known thermal stability of some identified crystal phases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Mineral Resources Management / Gospodarka Surowcami Mineralnymi is the property of Mineral & Energy Economy Research Institute of the Polish Academy of Sciences and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Cordierite is a violet-blue gem mineral primarily composed of magnesium aluminum silicate. This study employed three samples of Mg-cordierite and conducted tests on their gemological characteristics, spectroscopic features, and chemical composition using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Raman spectroscopy, ultraviolet spectrophotometry, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and electron microprobe. The study also explored and analyzed the polychroism and coloration mechanisms of the samples. The results indicate that the lattice vibrations of the Mg-cordierite samples differ along the directions parallel to the a, b, and c crystallographic axes, leading to certain variations in spectral characteristics among these directions. The article provides experimental evidence for the reasons for the polychroism of cordierite in different crystal axes, which is of great significance in the quality evaluation of cordierite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PHOTO (COLOR): RMS Program Cover by Susan Robinson THE THIRTY-SEVENTH TECHNICAL SESSION of the Rochester Mineralogical Symposium was cancelled this year due to the COVID-19 virus. By experimenting with the addition of mica of varying thickness to the optical path when viewing a flattened gahnite and garnet in crossed polars, we found that the observed interference figure was the result of the mica even when exceedingly thin. Multiple flattened almandine crystals have also been extracted from muscovite books from Avondale, Pennsylvania. White included the results of optical analyses performed by our research group on a flattened gahnite, which showed that the crystal exhibited a distinctly biaxial interference figure despite being an isometric mineral. [Extracted from the article]

Miracle tales are didactic stories related to Buddhist figures, objects, and places that describe supernormal occurrences brought about by acts of great piety and fervent devotion. They present the audience with concrete examples of the workings of karma, while simultaneously setting verifiable historical precedents in a bid to prove the religious efficacy of Buddhism in China. These were also historiographical works, providing a wealth of detail regarding not only religious life and belief in China, but also local lore, politics, architectural trends, and much more. This paper will focus on a text called the Ji shenzhou sanbao gantong lu 集神州三寶感通錄 (T2106), a collection of miracle tales compiled by the seventh-century scholar-monk, Daoxuan 道宣 (596–667 CE). This text is a collection of narratives drawn from literary and epigraphy sources, as well as orally transmitted stories. As a Buddhist figurehead and as the author of many seminal historiographical works, Daoxuan played a central role in the overall localization of this tradition in China. Bearing this in mind, this paper seeks to interpret the "collective images" presented in Daoxuan's collection of miracle tales, those representations of the miraculous and the supernormal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores inauthenticity in the context of the Gems TV shopping channel using existential phenomenology. Objectively, subjectively and performatively Gems TV fails to convincingly stage a sense of authenticity. This is a televisual format featuring clearcut commercialism, obscure gemstones and opaque verification. Insincere screen performances are not only entertaining, but shoddiness and unpredictability of programming provides backstage glimpses that paradoxically stimulate fantasies of authenticity. Moments of intrapersonal and interpersonal connection arise around viewing. Accordingly, research into the neglected side of the authenticity-inauthenticity dialectic demonstrates that the latter may be a miasma of meanings as complex, contradictory and evocative as the former. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, characterization and discrimination of some silicate gems (gemstones and low-gem quality varieties) from ancient Egyptian mines have been performed for the first time adopting molecular and elemental spectroscopic techniques. The selected gem groups are peridot, beryl/emerald, amazonite, and amethyst. In this sense, characterization of the genuine Egyptian gems and the importance of mineralogical and chemical signatures in a historical context as well as the scope of geoheritage can be achieved for the first time. Laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) analysis has been found to be an effective method for the discrimination among different gems groups where a characterizing element for each group in a specific spectral window has been found. Raman and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy spectra have proven to be fingerprints with the ability to distinguish future alteration of the gemstone depending on the molecular vibrational spectroscopy. FTIR provides the functional group that can absorb the infrared radiation and be responsible for the coloring of the gemstones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This note focuses on recent discussions on gemstone amulets from Late Antiquity through insights offered in two contributions to the volume Textual Amulets from Antiquity to Early Modern Times: The Shape of Words (Theis and Vitellozzi 2022). After a general presentation of the volume, I turn to the first two chapters, penned each by one of the volume's editors. Paolo Vitellozzi's paper examines the evolution of the textuality of magical gems in light of speech act theories and taxonomies elaborated in earlier secondary literature. Vitellozzi also analyses the complex interaction of medium (the gemstone), text and image in the course of this evolutionary process, showing how writing progressively assumed magical efficacy. In the following paper, Christoffer Theis analyses a specific category of magical gems, namely those which represent divinities with multiple heads. Theis' observations implicitly complement Vitellozzi's conclusions on the textuality of gemstone amulets. In the final paragraphs of this note, I briefly comment on Christian amulets and isopsephisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brittany MacRostie is a Denver-area artist who not only creates paintings of mineral art, but also experiments and uses many different media. Although MacRostie generally uses watercolor for her mineral paintings, she enjoys bringing minerals into some of the other artforms she has experimented with, including ink, digital illustration, woodburning, and needle felting. [Extracted from the article]

When the ginseng collector is also a mineral collector, new exposures of interesting minerals occasionally turn up. This has led to a long and fruitful collaboration between amateur collectors and professional mineralogists who have described more than four hundred different mineral species and sixty-six new or type-locality minerals from this small quarry in Quebec. The minerals found at this exposure are distinct from those found a mere 90 meters south at the Wollastonite Skarn (WSK), the classic mineral occurrence at Rose Road. The mineral specimens recovered in the years that followed the discovery of the PDM have conveyed a fascinating and complex paragenesis involving numerous different types of pseudomorphs and mineral textures. [Extracted from the article]

Topaz is a kind of mineral with variable composition and a common gemstone variety. Because of its wide distribution and rich colors, it has attracted the attention of scholars around the world. In this paper, the composition, spectral, and gemological characteristics of yellow topaz were systematically characterized, and the dark inclusions inside the samples were discussed and analyzed. The results show that the yellow topaz has a glassy luster, transparent, with a refractive index of 1.609–1.617 and a birefringence of 0.008. The topaz sample has columnar crystal shape and a typical rhomboid cross section. The infrared spectral characteristic absorption peaks of yellow topaz mainly appear near 3649, 3426, 950, 628, 550, and 457 cm−1. The characteristic absorption peaks for Raman spectra are mainly at 937, 404, and 267 cm−1. The UV-vis spectra of all samples only had strong absorption bands in the range of 200–300 nm. The results of XRF and EMPA showed that the contents of Al2O3 and SiO2 in the samples were 52.79 (wt%) and 29.55 (wt%), respectively, and it was reasonable to speculate that the chromogenic element of the yellow color was iron. The inclusions in yellow topaz samples are mainly fluid inclusions, healing cracks, and albite. This paper has enriched the gemological characteristics of topaz and can provide theoretical data for the research and marketization of topaz. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Archeologia Medievale: Cultura Materiale, Insediamenti, Territorio is the property of All'Insegna del Giglio s.a.s. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Espacio, Tiempo y Forma. Serie VII, Historia del Arte is the property of Editorial UNED and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The article focuses on the release of new mineral proposals approved by the IMA Commission on New Minerals, Nomenclature, and Classification (CNMNC), detailing their chemical compositions, structures, and type localities. It highlights the approval of several new minerals, including rundqvistite-(Ce), tantalaeschynite-(Ce), karlleuite, yamhamelachite, and others, each with unique characteristics and type localities across various regions of the world.

The global demand for jewellery and precious stones has contributed to the recent growth in gemstone mining and its industry. While this trend is expected to soar in the coming years, a proper assessment of the environmental effects of gemstone mining is required to prevent further ecosystem degradation. This study assessed the impact of mining on the soil and water at the Ofiki gemstone mining site in southwestern Nigeria. Soil and water samples were collected from the mining site and the adjoining undisturbed areas. The physicochemical properties of the samples were analysed using standard procedures, and the results were compared with the World Health Organization (WHO) and other standard threshold limits. The results indicated that mining at the site caused a substantial loss of soil organic matter, nitrogen and potassium necessary for plant growth. Furthermore, the soil around the mining site was highly acidic, with low macronutrient concentrations in and around the site. Additionally, surface water at the mining site was highly acidic, with phosphate and iron concentrations exceeding WHO permissible limits. However, other physicochemical properties of the water samples in and around the mining site were within WHO permissible limits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Sultan Qaboos University Journal for Science is the property of Sultan Qaboos University and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Spinel is a precious stone with a long history. In ancient societies spinel was considered to be an imitation of ruby. With the depletion of ruby mineral resources, gem—grade spinel has attracted more and more attention from consumers. In the last decade, as the popularity of spinel in the global colored gem market continues to rise, plenty of domestic and foreign jewelry brands have launched spinel based jewelry. This study takes spinels from Burma, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, and Tanzania as its research objects and performs a series of tests to obtain their gemological characteristics, spectral characteristics, and chemical composition, with the aim of comparing the differences between spinels with different colors from different areas and exploring the chromogenic mechanism of spinels. Only Burmese red spinels have a typical Cr spectrum. The types of inclusions and the contents of trace elements are the main differences between spinels from the four areas. Burmese spinel is characterized by an octahedral negative crystal filled with dolomite or a mixture of dolomite and calcite. Magnesite is present in Sri Lankan spinels, and dolomite is present in Tanzanian spinel. Dislocation systems and the presence of titanite and talc inclusions are strongly indicative features of Vietnamese spinel. Sri Lankan spinel is characterized by abundant gas–liquid inclusions, such as the beaded healing fissure. The trace element contents of the four areas are different. Burmese spinel is poor in Fe and Zn (Fe: 135.68–3925 ppm; Zn: 338.58–1312 ppm), while Burmese red spinel is rich in Cr (up to 7387 ppm). Vietnamese spinel is rich in Fe (3669.63–19,425 ppm) and poor in Ti content (<89 ppm), while Tanzanian spinel is rich in Zn (5129.96–7008 ppm). High content of Cr + V can lead to the red color in spinel, and the contents of Cr and V change obviously with color. Spinels appear red when Cr content is higher than V, while spinels appear orange when V content is higher than Cr. The red, pink, and orange spinels are colored by Cr3+ and V3+, showing a wide absorption band centered at 400 nm and 550 nm. Fe plays a dominant role in purple spinels. The purple spinel is colored by Fe3+ and Fe2+. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Featuring subtle lithological alterations in the host rocks and containing colossal gemstone crystals, the scheelite deposit at Xuebaoding in the Pingwu region of Sichuan Province exhibits characteristics typical of a vein-like hydrothermal-type deposit. The scheelite from the Xuebaoding region is renowned for its high saturation of color, perfect crystal shape, and pure color. In this study, its crystal structure and mineralogical, geochemical, and in situ Sr-Nd isotope characteristics are all systematically characterized. Our objective is to determine the source of ore-forming materials, the timing of the mineralization, and the chemical composition of scheelite, including major elements, trace elements, and rare earths elements (REE). The scheelite samples were analyzed with a variety of methods such as polarizing microscopy, X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (XRF), electron probing, and laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS). In addition, conventional gemological tests were performed using instruments including gemstone microscopes, GI-UVB ultraviolet fluorescent lamps, grating spectroscopy, etc. The results demonstrate that scheelite exhibits a high refractive index, excellent crystallinity, and a granular structure. Clear color bands and ring structures are observed within the minerals, accompanied by interference colors of light blue, blue, and yellow. Additionally, the mineral components are relatively concentrated, with muscovite and illite serving as accessory minerals. Furthermore, the chemical composition of scheelite reveals a WO3/CaO mass ratio that approaches or exceeds the ideal value. Moreover, it exhibits a wide range of variations in total rare earth element (∑REE) content, which is characterized by an enrichment of light rare earths (LREE), significant negative Eu anomalies, and insignificant Ce anomalies. In addition, the metallogenic formation of scheelite can be estimated to have occurred during the Toarcian stage in the Lower Jurassic Epoch period, approximately 183 Ma. The study further revealed that A-type granite serves as the genesis type of scheelite, with most of the ore-forming materials originating from the upper crust and a few derived from younger crustal sources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Cathedral of Valencia, Spain, has preserved the so-called Holy Chalice of the Last Supper since 1437. It consists of a foot, a gold stem, and an upper cup carved in agate stone. Based on a pious tradition, this cup is supposed to be the one used by Jesus of Nazareth to institute the Eucharist. According to an archeological study published in 1960, this agate bowl was crafted around the 2nd–1st centuries BC, but people visiting this famous relic often wonder about its authenticity and about the evidence supporting it as a Hellenistic–Roman cup. Attempting to clarify this concern, a photographical characterization of the agate cup is presented and discussed. The main conclusions are the following: (i) The typology of the bowl is common to classical tableware, but the wall thickness, shape of the rim, and foot are typical of gemstone cups from the Hellenistic–Roman period. (ii) This cup would have been extremely valuable, which agrees with the location of the Cenacle in the aristocratic neighborhood of Jerusalem. This case study highlights the importance of further investigating the dating of historical objects as a key issue to support their authenticity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports on the history and use of man-made crystals for jewelry in a contemporary context. The cross-disciplinary contextual review traces human fascination with gemstones back centuries, and covers key developments in their "imitation." The infiltration of these man-made crystals in the market sparked the development of the discipline of gemology, through which they are often painted in a negative light. With innovations in the growth of man-made crystals revolutionizing other industries (engineering, technology, etc.), and their distinction from mined crystals increasingly more challenging, the paper reports on the terminology prescribed to the industry to describe man-made and mined crystals. These descriptions, which include "natural" and "real" versus "synthetic," are interrogated in relation to key texts and a need for the identification of an alternative terminology is proposed. The jewelry industry remains apprehensive about the influx of man-made crystals, and only a small number of man-made crystal suppliers are growing crystals for the purpose of creative exploration beyond the imitation of mined crystals for jewelry. Through the review of artifacts, where man-made crystals have been used, their ability to enable creativity is highlighted, and their further future creative possibilities explored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ibri's book is not meant to be an introduction to Peirce nor in any explicit sense a systematic confrontation of Peirce's philosophical project with alternative approaches to its central themes. By Ivo Assad Ibri Semiotics and Pragmatism: Theoretical Interfaces Springer, 2022, xxvii + 341 pp., incl. index In the chapter on "The Heuristic Power of Agapism in Peirce's Philosophy" in his recent book, I Semiotics and Pragmatism: Theoretical Interfaces i , Ivo Ibri points out that access to Peirce's work requires something on the part of the reader that is "not readily available in everyone's spirit: a sense of poetry, an aesthetic sensitivity that will, ultimately, become the sharpest and strongest tool to penetrate the deepest meaning of his philosophy" (116). As to Peirce's categories, Ibri writes: "Understanding them distinctly, within two philosophical realms, namely, the phenomenological and ontological planes, provide a master key to consider the entire system of doctrines that shapes Peirce's philosophy" (268). [Extracted from the article]

This document is an editorial for a special issue on gem characterization. The issue includes 14 articles written by around 50 researchers from different institutions and continents. The articles cover topics such as luminescence spectroscopy, gem treatments, and origin determination. The studies provide insights into the characteristics of various gems and aim to contribute to a better understanding of gemmology. [Extracted from the article]

Owing to the high market values of natural sunstones in Oregon, a kind of artificially diffused red feldspar exhibited at the Tucson Exhibition at the beginning of this century, whose color origin is the same as that of natural sunstone (copper nanoparticles). However, the details of the artificial diffusion process are less disclosed, there is no systematic method to obtain such gemstones. In this paper, we developed the high-temperature copper diffusion process for the surface recoloring of faceted labradorites, which are partly buried in the diffusant. By optimizing the experimental parameters of high-temperature copper diffusion, we successfully recolored the faceted labradorites to red and light red. The gemological and spectroscopic characteristics of the recolored faceted labradorite were further characterized. The red and light-red faceted labradorites exhibited the unique surface plasmon resonance absorption peaks of copper nanoparticles near 580 nm, which is the origin of red color. The typical inclusions formed in the faceted labradorite is in the shape of "fire cloud". The interface of red and light-red faceted labradorite that is in contact with the diffusant is less contaminated, we believe that the contamination could be further reduced or eliminated by optimizing the high-temperature copper diffusion process. The way that the sample is in contact with the diffusant partly is versatile and promising in the surface treatment of materials that have already been processed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Minerals and metals are crucial raw materials for industries and a major source of development for the country. In India there has been a pronounced growth in the exploration for minerals both in terms of quantity and value. To further enhance the growth rate and remove any bottleneck, the government has taken several legislative reforms through more transparency and non-discretion by way of first-come, first-served basis in the allocation of mineral concessions, through Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) (MMDR) Amendment Act, 2015. Recently, MMDR Act, 1957 has been amended through the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2021 vide notification dated 28.03.2021 for improving ease of doing mineral production and business in the country and help increase Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Exploration of energy-critical minerals, fertilizer minerals, precious metals and stones, strategic minerals and deep-seated minerals which are otherwise difficult to access and for which the country is mainly dependent on imports, needs to be prioritized. Enhanced exploration and mining can significantly reduce India's import dependence on mineral and metals and help economic growth. For comparison, only 10% of obvious geological potential (OGP) area of India has been explored while Australia has explored more than 90% of its area. In this paper, some of these legislative reforms and challenges to provide an impetus to mineral exploration are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Featured Application: Based on the data and analytical methodologies reported here, this review can be used as a reference for Green Stones identification and characterization protocols. Moreover, due to the multidisciplinary approach discussed, it can also be considered as an example useful for similar applications. The present review aims to discuss the importance of a multidisciplinary approach in cultural heritage and archaeometry investigations. The analytical methods used to identify and characterize "Green Stones" are discussed as an example. In the present paper, the term Green Stones is applied but not limited to jade materials, which have considerable importance in cultural heritage studies. In fact, archaeological samples made in Green Stones have been discovered worldwide, with many dating back to the Neolithic Age. Moreover, these materials represent an interesting analytical challenge, starting with their nomenclature and, in most cases, the nature of their polycrystalline samples and their heterogeneity. Indeed, after a brief introduction about the advantages of the non-destructive analytical techniques commonly used for gemstones and cultural heritage samples analyses, the limits of the same have been discussed on the basis of Green Stones applicability. Finally, a multidisciplinary methodology for Green Stones identification and full characterization, which considers materials' heterogeneity and information, has been proposed and based on different references. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Taj Mahal is the finest example of Mughal architecture. It has its place among the seven Wonders of the age. A dream in marble, A noble tribute to Indian womanhood, built by Mughal Emperor Shahjahan in memory of his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal. In Taj Mahal, fusion of Persian, Indian and Islamic art and architectural elements can be seen in excellent form. World's best architects, Masson, workers and inlay workers approximately 20,000 in number, worked for twenty years regularly and finally, in 1653, it was ready for the public. Its architecture, garden, pitradura work, red sandstone buildings of MehmanKhana, mosque are eternal testament of the aesthetic and scientific accomplishment of Shahjahan's golden age. Taj Mahal was conceptualized not only as a mausoleum but also a dream of Mumtaz Mahal and Shahjahan which came true in the form of marble on the earth. It's an evidence of the aesthetic sense and taste of Shahjahan. In the present paper Researcher has tried to show not only the beauty of the Taj Mahal's architecture but also it's aesthetic aspects. Historical background of site, its gardens, fountains, elements, the cost of the precious stones used in the Taj Mahal are all detailed after thorough research. Views of great personalities about the intricacies of Mausoleum also find place in the paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An extremely rare, long-lost, monotypic endemic, Indian liverwort, Sewardiella tuberifera Kash. has recently been recollected after a gap of over three-and-a-half decades from an altogether new location, the Mukteshwar region (2,171 m) of Nainital district in the Kumaun Himalaya, Uttarakhand. The remarkable rediscovery of this monotypic, endemic Himalayan liverwort is a significant finding for the world's bryological treasure. Along with other rare Himalayan monotypic endemics such as Aitchisoniella himalayensis Kash. and Stephensoniella brevipedunculata Kash., the currently located sporiferous population of Sewardiella was discovered persisting in small, dispersed, sparse patches with 5-30 individuals. The currently spotted collection site is being considered a 'bryological hotspot'. As the area develops as a popular ecotourism destination, the original habitat of these hepatics in a lime stone-dominated, south-west facing, unstable sloppy site at Mukteshwar is under constant pressure from several developmental activities. Hence, serious conservation steps are needed to protect this hotspot supporting Himalayan bryophyte jewels. To ensure long term perpetuation and conservation of redlisted hepatic taxa, an attempt is being made to translocate part of the population to ecologically and climatically identical safer site, including a developing 'moss garden' at Lingadhar (Nainital). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The material characterization of nineteenth-century artifacts is of great interest, due both to the breakthrough technological advances and to the unprecedented spread of forgeries of antiquities which took place in that period. However, this type of artifacts has been largely overlooked in the past. In this paper we present the compositional analysis of gold jewels by the Castellani, one of the most important families of goldsmiths in nineteenth-century Europe. The use of a portable micro-XRF spectrometer, specifically developed for jewellery analysis at the Centro Nacional de Aceleradores (Seville), allowed us to analyse, in a completely non-invasive way, the alloys, joining techniques and surface treatments of the jewels of the Castellani collection at the National Etruscan Museum of Villa Giulia in Rome. The addition to the spectrometer of a second X-rays detector with a zinc filter allowed us to check the possible presence of low amounts of cadmium, a metal added to gold soldering only from the nineteenth century and often used in authenticity studies. Moreover, the relative intensities of the Au X-ray lines were studied in order to check non-invasively the presence of surface enrichments in gold. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This paper aims to examine customized NiTi jewels with functional properties fabricated through four-dimensional (4D)-printing. Design/methodology/approach: Two opened rings are fabricated through selective laser melting starting from 55.2Ni-Ti (wt.%) micrometric powder. After the additive process the two rings present the one-way shape memory effect (OWSME). A specific training is accomplished on one of the two printed rings to promote the two-way shape memory effect (TWSME). Both the samples, namely, the rings, respectively, presenting the OWSME and TWSME property, follow a series of post-processing routes to improve the surface finish. Furthermore, a thermal treatment at high temperature is used to create a thin colored oxide layer on the sample surface. Findings: Results show that the change of shape owing to the OWSME and TWSME properties allows the customized 4D-printed rings to be adaptable to environmental changes such as load and temperature variations. This adaptability improves comfort and fit of the jewels. Originality/value: To the best of the authors' knowledge, in this work, first cases of additively manufactured NiTi jewels are reported to propose innovative solutions in the design and processing industry of jewels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The colour-bearing elements can be essential to the mineral composition (idiochromatic minerals) or they can just play an occasional role as impurities (allochromatic minerals), along with other sporadic sources of colour, such as colour centres associated with structural defects. Colour is one of the most eye-catching properties of some minerals and rocks. Colour matching functions were used to calculate the colour parameters influencing garnet colour-changing under different light sources. The features that are extracted from the images were the colours (histograms of the colour coordinates of the pixels defined in a given colour space) and texture analyses operators. [Extracted from the article]

In the Delanta-Dawunt district of Ethiopia's northern eastern Amhara region, twenty-one different environmental samples (gemstones) were gathered. This is one of the opal-mining (gemstone) locations in Ethiopia. We divided the 21 obtained samples into seven groups. The study's major goals were to quantify the activity concentration of gemstones (opals) and examine the health implications. For 226Ra, the activity concentration ranged from 11.97 ± 2.46 to 62.44 ± 14.99 Bq kg−1, 25.69 ± 3.69 to 137.84 ± 13.23 Bq kg−1 for 232Th, and 184.84 ± 3.59 to 968.56 ± 18.16 Bq kg−1 for 40K. 226Ra, 232Th, and 40K were found to have mean radioactivity concentrations of 29.84 ± 6.53, 68.44 ± 18.94, and 390.87 ± 6.09 Bq kg−1, respectively. Radium equivalent activity (Raeq), absorbed dose, annual effective dose equivalent, external and internal radiation hazard (Hex and Hin) index, and activity utilisation index have mean values of 151.68 19.46 Bq kg−1, 72.19 8.48 nGy h−1, 0.07 0.01mSv y−1, 0.43, 0.51, 0.57 0.08, and 0.29 0.03. 232Th has higher specific activity than the global average, while 40K has the same. Meanwhile, the absorbed dose is higher than the world's means value. The average value of excess life cancer risk found in this study is the same as the world's average value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Cathedral of Valencia has kept an important relic since 1437: the Holy Chalice of the Last Supper. It consists of an agate cup, a gold stem, and a gemstone foot. According to a pious tradition, this cup is the one used by Jesus of Nazareth to institute the Eucharist. Tourists visiting Valencia Cathedral often doubt its authenticity. There are certain queries that pilgrims wonder about, some of which have not been studied in depth. For example: What is known about the family who owned the chalice? Why would Jesus use a gemstone cup instead of one made of glass, silver, or gold? Aimed at clarifying these concerns, the research methodology was essentially centered on a review of the literature. The main conclusions are the following: (i) The Cenacle belonged to a rich disciple of Jesus, who would have lent him a valuable cup of blessing. Quite likely, it was the family of Saint Mark, who had a close link with Saint Peter. (ii) It is unlikely that Jesus used a cup made of glass because this material was relatively affordable. By contrast, gemstone vessels were highly appreciated. This case study highlights the importance of promoting historic and scientific studies about Christian artworks as a pre-requisite to foster heritage tourism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Critically reviewing historiographical approaches that analyzed Kepler's astrology in terms of a clash between nature and culture, she suggests playfulness instead as a key to understanding Kepler's astrological pursuits. The last essay in this rich collection by William Blair sets Kepler's treatise of the "New Star" in the context of modern astronomy and the ways current telescopic observation reveals the secrets of "Kepler's supernova remnant." This collection of essays successfully places Kepler's treatise I De stella nova i in various intellectual contexts and clarifies its central role in shaping early modern astronomy. [Extracted from the article]

One spodumene crystal exceeded 11 meters in length, and crystals in excess of 2 meters in length are common. It is spodumene-rich with more than 50 percent spodumene in some of the upper portions of the pegmatite. These spodumene and montebrasite crystals are comparable in size to the famous crystals from the Etta and Hugo pegmatites in South Dakota, where 14-meter spodumene crystals and 7-meter amblygonite (likely montebrasite) occur (Rickwood [1]). [Extracted from the article]