MAGI Application note

Characterizing emerald types by chromium photoluminescence

Jan. 19. 2013 Mikko Åström & Alberto Scarani

Careful observation of exact chromium photoluminescence peak locations allows to make distinction or produces strong evidence in order to discriminate between natural and many synthetic emeralds. Additionally, natural emeralds can be characterized as geologically belonging to schist- or non-schist type.


Inessa Moroz, Michael Roth, Micheline Boudeulle and Gerard Panczer: Raman microspectroscopy and fluorescence of emeralds from various deposits. Journal of Raman Spectroscopy 31, 485–490 (2000)