Need some help <Follow Up Question>

USTiger

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Apr 30, 2006
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Vancouver - WA
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Re: Need some help

you can usually identify sapphires when you sift them from the other material. They are much heavier and will sink to the bottom. They have a weight very similar to iron.

Here is the only picture I could find.
 

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This is a great link with a lot of information

http://www.azom.com/details.asp?ArticleID=2117


Heat Treatment (this is from the website above)
Today, heat treatment is an integral part of the sapphire trade, with this process being widely practised and accepted throughout the world. In fact, the practice is so widespread that sapphires that are indicated not to have been heat treated are questioned. The use of heat treatment has been responsible for many of the lower-quality sapphires being sold for higher prices than would otherwise be possible, thus prolonging the economic life of many mines. Many of the New England sapphires possess a characteristic trait, which decreases their value, in the form of needle-like rutile (TiO2) precipitates, commonly known as silk.

Heat treatment involves two aspects of enhancement, these being colour modification and clarity improvement. Both shortcomings can be improved concurrently by high-temperature (~1600°C) reduction. The blue colour can be intensified and homogenised by reduction of Fe3+, solution of Ti4+, and the associated charge-transfer. The clarity is improved by reduction of the TiO2 to Ti2O3, the latter of which is more soluble in the Al2O3 lattice. The relevant reaction is:

4TiO2 + Fe203 + 3H2 --> 2Ti203 + 2FeO + 3H20
 

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TeddyB1967 said:
Your Welcome, ;) Did any of the info help? ???

Oops sorry .. yes it helped.. just have alot on my mind so i forgot to say thank you

again Thanks for the Info.

USTiger
 

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;D NP

I was just wondering if it helped or not so I could research more info if ya needed it.
I didnt realize there was so much work on "cleaning" rough stones to get the color of polished stones. It was interesting reading :)
 

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