Feature Gems & Gemology, Fall 2005, Volume 41, No. 3

Inclusions in Transparent Gem Rhodonite from Broken Hill, New South Wales, Australia

Paul W. Millsteed, Terrence P. Mernagh, and Vincent Otieno-Alego, Dudley C. Creagh

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Solid, vapor, and fluid inclusions in transparent gem rhodonite crystals from Broken Hill, New South Wales, Australia, have been identified for the first time using Raman spectroscopy and gemological/petrographic techniques. Among the solid inclusions are sphalerite, galena, quartz, and fluorite. The rhodonite also contained hollow needle-like tubes and negative rhodonite crystals. Three-phase inclusions were found to contain a saline liquid, a gaseous mixture of nitrogen (N2) and methane (CH4), and ilmenite crystals.