Gemological and Chemical Composition Characteristics of Basalt-Hosted Rubies from Thailand

doi:10.19657/j.geoscience.1000-8527.2021.143

Abstract

Abstract:

We analyze the basalt-hosted ruby from Thailand to explore the gemological, chemical and spectral characteristics of ruby, by using gemological conventional instruments, EPMA, LA-ICP-MS, UV-Vis spectrophotometer, FTIR, Raman spectrometer and other testing methods. We then compare our data with the ruby from Myanmar and Mozambique, and identify the characteristics of different deposit origins. The results show that the Thai rubies have dark color, and they are mostly of medium-weak red fluorescence under UV-long wave and inert under UV-short wave. Internal inclusions are plentiful, with various forms of solid and fluid inclusions and twin-crystals. The rubies contain mainly Al₂O₃, with trace elements including Cr, Fe, Ti, Mg, V, Ga, Si, and Ni, and are characterized by high Fe, high Mg and low Ga contents. The UV-Vis absorption spectral data show Cr and Fe, and the Cr-related fluorescence peak is weak. The infrared spectral test result shows ruby. There are six vibration peaks in Raman spectrum, which display high coincidence with the standard corundum Raman spectrum. The ruby origin can be identified by the ruby appearance, fluorescence, solid inclusions, and fluid inclusions. Contents of Cr, Fe, Mg, Ga, V, and Ti have obvious origin inheritance. The UV-Vis spectra of rubies from different origins have slightly different absorption peaks.

Key words: ruby, spectral characteristic, chemical composition, Thailand

CLC Number:

P619.28

LI Enqi, ZHANG Yufei, XU Bo. Gemological and Chemical Composition Characteristics of Basalt-Hosted Rubies from Thailand[J]. Geoscience, 2023, 37(02): 486-499.

Figures/Tables 21

Fig.1 Tectonostratigraphy and basalt distribution map of Thailand (modified after Li et al.[4])

Fig.2 Basalt distribution map of Chanthaburi area (modified after Promwongnan et al.[5])

Fig.3 Ruby samples in this study

Fig.4 Appearance characteristics of ruby samples

Table 1 Species and morphology of common inclusions in Thai rubies

矿物类型	矿物种类
硅酸盐	锆石	四方双锥状、柱状
	石榴石	暗红棕色浑圆状
	透辉石	无色圆形或椭球形晶体,有时可见双晶
	矽线石	半自形晶体,具有假六方结晶习性
	斜长石	无色透明的它形-半自形粒状
	霞石	球状透明晶体
	假蓝宝石	假三方习性,板状,具多色性
	硅酸盐熔体	球状半透明
硫酸盐	硬石膏	球状或浑圆状晶体
磷酸盐	磷灰石	六方柱状或板状,微黄色、具六边形断面
氧化物	尖晶石	等轴习性自形晶体
	刚玉	三方自形晶体
	石英	三方自形或浑圆晶体
	金红石	针状或板状
氢氧化物	水铝矿 (一水软铝石)	针状或管状,呈灰白色、细长针状或管状,沿聚片双晶出溶
硫化物	磁黄铁矿	近六方到圆形的不透明矿物

Fig.5 Inclusions in Thai rubies

Fig.6 Characteristic inclusions of Thai ruby samples

Table 2 EPMA major element oxide compositions of Thai rubies (%)

样品号	Al₂O₃	Cr₂O₃	MgO	FeO	TiO₂	V₂O₃	Ga₂O₃	总量
RU-1-8	100.138	0.074	0.009	0.330	0.030	0.008		100.589
RU-1-1	99.498	0.169	0.024	0.414	0.023	0.005		100.133
RU-1-4	99.272	0.226	0.017	0.449	0.017	0.011	0.008	100.000
RU-2-6	99.101	0.484	0.020	0.571	0.013	0.018	0.016	100.223
RU-2-8	99.132	0.404	0.024	0.382	0.009	0.003	0.001	99.955

Fig.7 Fe vs. Cr classification diagram

Fig.8 (FeO-MgO-V2O3-Cr2O3) vs. (FeO+TiO2+Ga2O3) classification diagram for Thai rubies (modified after Palke et al.[7])

Table 3 LA-ICP-MS analysis of chemical compositions of Thai rubies (10-6)

样品号	Mg	Si	P	S	K	Ca	Ti	V
RU-1-1	194.65	688.44	38.36	563.96		14.28	142.68	12.69
RU-1-4	162.67	670.73	10.04	366.57		2.55	127.99	12.79
RU-1-8	107.63	890.90	37.75	497.87	1.51	1.00	206.65	13.84
RU-2-6	171.86	772.02	48.74	424.39	3.26	10.30	165.20	21.92
RU-2-8	195.32	756.49	21.60	373.26	2.11	20.21	114.68	7.32
样品号	Cr	Fe	Co	Ni	Cu	Zn	Ga	Ge
RU-1-1	947.95	3841.13	0.06	8.13	0.20	0.06	26.88	1.52
RU-1-4	1462.71	4491.95	0.09	7.51	0.22		29.17
RU-1-8	506.65	3268.75	0.21	6.42			27.38
RU-2-6	3177.46	5843.97		8.26		0.87	28.50	0.15
RU-2-8	2621.11	3919.53		10.37			29.25

Fig.9 Fe/Ti vs. Cr/Ga classification diagram of Thai rubies (modified after Palke et al.[7])

Fig.10 UV-Vis absorption spectra of Thai rubies

Fig.11 Infrared transmission spectra of Thai rubies

Fig.12 Micro-Raman spectra of Thai rubies

Table 4 Raman displacement (cm-1) and vibration modes of rubies

[AlO₆]	弯曲振动		伸缩振动
[AlO₆]	$A 1 g$	E_g	$A 1 g$	E_g
文献[9]	418	378	645	578
		432		751
		451
本次研究	418	380		577
		432		751
		450

Table 4 Raman displacement (cm-1) and vibration modes of rubies

[AlO₆]	弯曲振动		伸缩振动
[AlO₆]	$A 1 g$	E_g	$A 1 g$	E_g
文献[9]	418	378	645	578
		432		751
		451
本次研究	418	380		577
		432		751
		450

Table 5 Origin of major ruby deposits in the world

矿床类型		产状	构造背景	伴生矿物	矿床产地
岩浆型	玄武岩型	新生代碱性玄武岩中	环太平洋构造带的深断裂附近	锆石、辉石、尖晶石、橄榄石、石榴石、钛铁矿、磁铁矿等	泰国占他武里^[5], Bo Rai^[14]
					柬埔寨Pailin^[12]
					越南南部玄武岩区^[15]
					澳大利亚Barrington^[16], Macquarie^[6]
					中国穆棱^[6,12]
					马达加斯加Antsirabe-Antanifotsy^[17]
变质型	大理岩型	钙质结晶大理岩中	造山带区域变质岩系的大理岩夹层或大理岩与片麻岩的接触部位	方解石、钙长石、云母、含铬钙质角闪石、榍石、绿帘石等,镁质含量较高的岩石中出现较多尖晶石	缅甸Mogok^[18], Mong Hsu^[19-20]
					越南Luc Yen^[21-22]
					中国元江^[12]
					阿富汗Jegdalek^[23-24]
					巴基斯坦Hunza, Kashmir^[12]
					尼泊尔Chumar, Ruyil^[25]
					俄罗斯Ural Mountains^[26]
					坦桑尼亚Morogoro^[27], Mahenge^[6]
					塔吉克斯坦Turakuloma, Badakhshan^[6]
					肯尼亚West Pokot^[6]
	脱硅伟晶岩型	正长伟晶岩、花岗伟晶岩中,脱硅伟晶岩切割超镁铁质岩或大理岩	变质岩或沉积岩区的岩浆活动地带,岩浆或热液侵入超基性岩中,在接触交代部位发生脱硅富铝交代作用	斜长石、金云母、绢云母、电气石等	坦桑尼亚Umba^[12]
					肯尼亚Mangari^[28]
					越南Quy Chau^[6]
					俄罗斯Polar Urals^[6]
					印度南部^[6,12]
	交代变质岩型	交代变质的镁铁质-超镁铁质岩石	镁铁质-超镁铁质岩石经流体-岩石相互作用和交代作用		马达加斯加Andilamena^[6]
					澳大利亚Hartz Mountain^[6]
					美国North Carolina^[6]
	镁铁质-超镁铁质岩型	变质的角闪岩-麻粒岩等镁铁质-超镁铁质变质岩中	与超镁铁质岩相邻的脱硅铝质片岩或片麻岩发生变质作用	斜长石、角闪石、绿帘石、云母、电气石、蓝晶石	坦桑尼亚Winza^[29]
					马达加斯加Vatomandry^[30]
					马拉维Chimwadzulu Hill^[6]
					莫桑比克Montepuez^[31]
					肯尼亚Baringo^[6]
					斯里兰卡Ratnapura^[32]
		铬云母岩中			津巴布韦O’Briens^[6]
		铬云母岩中			南非Barberton^[6]
		黝帘石岩中		黝帘石	坦桑尼亚Longido^[6]

Table 5 Origin of major ruby deposits in the world

矿床类型		产状	构造背景	伴生矿物	矿床产地
岩浆型	玄武岩型	新生代碱性玄武岩中	环太平洋构造带的深断裂附近	锆石、辉石、尖晶石、橄榄石、石榴石、钛铁矿、磁铁矿等	泰国占他武里^[5], Bo Rai^[14]
					柬埔寨Pailin^[12]
					越南南部玄武岩区^[15]
					澳大利亚Barrington^[16], Macquarie^[6]
					中国穆棱^[6,12]
					马达加斯加Antsirabe-Antanifotsy^[17]
变质型	大理岩型	钙质结晶大理岩中	造山带区域变质岩系的大理岩夹层或大理岩与片麻岩的接触部位	方解石、钙长石、云母、含铬钙质角闪石、榍石、绿帘石等,镁质含量较高的岩石中出现较多尖晶石	缅甸Mogok^[18], Mong Hsu^[19-20]
					越南Luc Yen^[21-22]
					中国元江^[12]
					阿富汗Jegdalek^[23-24]
					巴基斯坦Hunza, Kashmir^[12]
					尼泊尔Chumar, Ruyil^[25]
					俄罗斯Ural Mountains^[26]
					坦桑尼亚Morogoro^[27], Mahenge^[6]
					塔吉克斯坦Turakuloma, Badakhshan^[6]
					肯尼亚West Pokot^[6]
	脱硅伟晶岩型	正长伟晶岩、花岗伟晶岩中,脱硅伟晶岩切割超镁铁质岩或大理岩	变质岩或沉积岩区的岩浆活动地带,岩浆或热液侵入超基性岩中,在接触交代部位发生脱硅富铝交代作用	斜长石、金云母、绢云母、电气石等	坦桑尼亚Umba^[12]
					肯尼亚Mangari^[28]
					越南Quy Chau^[6]
					俄罗斯Polar Urals^[6]
					印度南部^[6,12]
	交代变质岩型	交代变质的镁铁质-超镁铁质岩石	镁铁质-超镁铁质岩石经流体-岩石相互作用和交代作用		马达加斯加Andilamena^[6]
					澳大利亚Hartz Mountain^[6]
					美国North Carolina^[6]
	镁铁质-超镁铁质岩型	变质的角闪岩-麻粒岩等镁铁质-超镁铁质变质岩中	与超镁铁质岩相邻的脱硅铝质片岩或片麻岩发生变质作用	斜长石、角闪石、绿帘石、云母、电气石、蓝晶石	坦桑尼亚Winza^[29]
					马达加斯加Vatomandry^[30]
					马拉维Chimwadzulu Hill^[6]
					莫桑比克Montepuez^[31]
					肯尼亚Baringo^[6]
					斯里兰卡Ratnapura^[32]
		铬云母岩中			津巴布韦O’Briens^[6]
		铬云母岩中			南非Barberton^[6]
		黝帘石岩中		黝帘石	坦桑尼亚Longido^[6]

Table 6 Solid inclusions in rubies from Thailand, Burma and Mozambique

类型		泰国	缅甸	莫桑比克
硅酸盐	锆石			√^[13]
	石榴石	√^[5,36]
	榍石		√^[13,36]
	橄榄石		√^[13]
	透辉石	√^[5]
	角闪石族		√^[36]	√^[1,31]
	矽线石	√^[5]
	斜长石	√^[5,36]
	霞石	√^[5]
	假蓝宝石	√^[5]
	白云母		√^[19]	√^[1,31]
	硅酸盐熔体	√^[5]
碳酸盐	方解石		√^[1,36]
碳酸盐	白云石		√^[13,36]
硫酸盐	硬石膏	√^[5]
磷酸盐	磷灰石	√^[5,36]	√^[13,6]	√^[13]
氧化物	尖晶石	√^[5]	√^[13,36]
	石英	√^[5]
	金红石		√^[1,13,36]	√^[13]
氢氧化物	水铝矿	√^[36,37]		√^[13]
硫化物	磁黄铁矿	√^[5,36]		√^[1]
	闪锌矿		√^[36]
	黄铜矿			√^[31]
氟化物	萤石		√^[1]

Table 7 Trace element contents in rubies from Thailand, Burma and Mozambique (10-6)

产地	数值类型	Cr	Fe	V	Ti	Ga	Mg
缅甸	范围	780~5404	53~370	97~670	36~442	27~120	16~216
	中位数	2105	100	242	68	59	47
	平均值	2506	123	275	106	64	55
莫桑比克	范围	638~2990	1562~5632	2~7	13~146	21~34	20~71
	中位数	1487	2745	4	43	26	37
	平均值	1707	2732	4	50	27	38
泰国	范围	507~3177	3269~5844	7~22	92~165	27~29	108~195
	中位数	1463	3919	13	114	29	172
	平均值	1743	4273	14	121	28	166

Fig.13 Fe, Mg, Ga and V classification diagrams of rubies from Thailand, Burma and Mozambique (Thailand data from this study, Burma and Mozambique data from Guo et al.[34])

Fig.14 UV-Vis spectral comparison of rubies from Thailand, Burma and Mozambique (Thailand data from this study, Burma and Mozambique data from Guo et al.[34])

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