Identification Method for Producing Area of Blue Sapphire from Changle, Shandong Province

Blue sapphires from different origins have the same main chemical composition. However, due to the differences of geochemical environment in producing areas, the types and contents of trace elements contained in sapphire are different. The content and species of trace elements in blue sapphire from Changle, Shandong Province were quantitatively measured by laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS). Compared with blue sapphires from other producing areas, it is found that blue sapphires from Changle, Shandong Province contain higher Ga and V elements, and the content range of blue sapphires from other producing areas is quite different. Therefore, high Ga and V content can be used as the trace element characteristics of blue sapphire from Changle, Shandong Province, which is different from blue sapphires from other producing areas.