The author recently examined a 1.36 ct near-colorless, transparent scapolite gemstone containing an abundance of eye-visible vivid blue inclusions (see above). These spindle-shaped inclusions were identified as lazurite by Raman spectroscopy. Under microscopic observation, the well-defined symmetrical shapes, sharp boundaries, and intensely saturated blue color of the inclusions were readily observed due to the high clarity of the scapolite host. Lazurite within scapolite is rare and has been reported mainly from the Sar-e-Sang mines in Badakhshan, Afghanistan (S.W. Faryad, “Metamorphic conditions and fluid compositions of scapolite-bearing rocks from the lapis lazuli deposit at Sare Sang, Afghanistan,” Journal of Petrology, Vol. 43, No. 4, 2002, pp. 725–747).
Chinnaphat Buntem is a gemologist trainee at GIA in Bangkok.
The author recently examined a 1.36 ct near-colorless, transparent scapolite gemstone containing an abundance of eye-visible vivid blue inclusions (see above). These spindle-shaped inclusions were identified as lazurite by Raman spectroscopy. Under microscopic observation, the well-defined symmetrical shapes, sharp boundaries, and intensely saturated blue color of the inclusions were readily observed due to the high clarity of the scapolite host. Lazurite within scapolite is rare and has been reported mainly from the Sar-e-Sang mines in Badakhshan, Afghanistan (S.W. Faryad, “Metamorphic conditions and fluid compositions of scapolite-bearing rocks from the lapis lazuli deposit at Sare Sang, Afghanistan,” Journal of Petrology, Vol. 43, No. 4, 2002, pp. 725–747).
Chinnaphat Buntem is a gemologist trainee at GIA in Bangkok.
