Winter 1999, Volume 35, Issue 4

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Diopside Needles as Inclusions in Demantoid Garnet from Russia: A Raman Microspectrometric Study
Michael S. Krzemnicki

Straight, acicular, colorless solid inclusions in demantoid garnet from the Ural Mountains of Russia were investigated by laser Raman micro-spectrometry. These “needles,” which occur in association with “horsetail” inclusions (curved, fibrous chrysotile), were identified as diopside. This study also demonstrated that Raman analysis is a highly sensitive method for distinguishing even between isomorphous mineral inclusions in gems, that is, minerals with similar crystal structures but different chemical compositions. Photo by Henry A. Hänni, magnified 30x.

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