“Floating Flower” Inclusions in Aventurine Quartz Bangle
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While gemologists use data to identify a gem, consumers can only judge the identity of an object by its appearance, which may lead to differences of opinion in the market. The identification of the material is not difficult for labs, but the present case is a good example of the misunderstandings that can happen outside of a gem lab. A recent submission highlighted this situation. A difference of opinion between a seller and buyer over the identity of a bangle resulted from the appearance created by “floating flower” features (akin to falling blossoms) visible with the unaided eye. One party believed the features were more consistent with icy jadeite jade, while the other thought they were more in keeping with albite. Analysis in our laboratory proved neither was correct.
fashioned from aventurine quartz. Peaks observed in the FTIR spectra (main peaks at 1176,
1089, and 480 cm–1) and Raman spectra (main peak at 463 cm–1) did not match those expected
for albite or jadeite jade. FTIR and Raman spectra of aventurine quartz were collected from the
client’s sample; spectra of albite and jadeite jade were from the author’s database.
The object weighed approximately 37 g and measured 72 × 10 mm, and it appeared semitransparent to transparent with a white bodycolor incorporating light green to green inclusions (right photo in figure 1). A spot RI of around 1.54 was obtained, together with an SG of approximately 2.66. Both excluded jadeite jade as a candidate, but albite was still an option. Further examination by FTIR absorbance and Raman spectroscopy (785 nm laser) ruled out albite and confirmed the material was aventurine quartz (figure 2). Typically, aventurine quartz is not as transparent as the material from which the bangle was fashioned, and this contributed to the misidentification as “jadeite jade,” especially given the presence of the green “floating flower” inclusions.
Further examination of the disorderly green mineral inclusions (figure 3, left) using a Chelsea filter revealed a distinct red color under strong daylight illumination—characteristic of fuchsite mica (figure 3, right).
In the past, clients have mistaken highly translucent albite containing “floating flower” inclusions as jadeite jade, and vice versa. This particular case proves that the same misidentification may apply to examples of highly translucent aventurine quartz containing inclusions often observed in jadeite jade and albite.
