GEMMOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF A TYPE OF SYNTHETIC ROCK CRYSTAL CONTAINING TUBE-LIKE INCLUSIONS

The gemmological characteristics and spectra of a type of rock crystal containing tube like inclusions appearing in market in recent years are studied. The results show that the rock crystals grow on a seed crystal Z (0001) under the temperature between 280°C and 338°C. The rock crystal with rich tube like inclusions should be a product of the early stage of growth. The occurrence of the rock crystal indicates the possibility of producing rock crystal cat's eye. The synthetic rock crystals of any colour have an absorption peak at 3584cm^-1 in the infrared spectra. The other distinguishing characteristics include a relative lower density, oriented triangle tube like inclusions with a trianglar cross section or two phase tapered gas liquid inclusions and breadcrumb like inclusions, etc. The oriented tube like gas liquid inclusions can be regarded as a common identifying characteristics of the synthetic rock crystal.