Summer 2007

Polymer-Impregnated Turquoise

Kyaw Soe Moe, Thomas M. Moses, and Paul Johnson

A large "Persian" turquoise cabochon was impregnated with a material that was also present in cavities on its base. Raman spectroscopy identified the filler as a UV-hardened polymer. Although such polymers have been seen as fillers in other gems, especially emerald, this is the first time the GIA Laboratory has seen turquoise treated with this material.

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