GemResearch Swisslab (GRS) Specializing in Origin Determination of Fine Rubies and Sapphires

Natural Sapphire 1.42 cts.

Chart 3: Internationally first chemical analyses of the sapphires heated with new heating technique producing colorless rims.
Section across a heated sapphire showing a colorless rim analyzed by LA-ICP-MS. Selected chemical elements are graphically shown (in ppm). Note that no abrupt changes occur from the core towards the rim. The typical chemical elements of a natural sapphire are present (Ti,V, Mg, Fe, Ga), both in the core and the rim in similar ratios. No detection of additional light elements such as Boron (B), Beryllium (Be) and Lithium (Li) are found. A general decrease of all the element concentrations was clearly seen from the core to the colorless rim of the sapphire.