Gem topaz from the Schneckenstein crag, Saxony, Germany

Autor(en)
M. Zeug, L. Nasdala, C. Chanmuang N., C. Hauzenberger
Abstrakt

Yellow topaz from the Schneckenstein crag in Saxony, Germany, is a famous and historically important gemstone. Surprisingly, mineralogical studies of the material are comparably scarce and have focused mainly on crystal forms and trace element geochemistry. The present study provides a mineral-chemical and spectroscopic characterization of Schneckenstein topaz and its inclusions taking into consideration past and current research results. Particular emphasis lies on the photoluminescence (PL) behavior of the material. Schneckenstein topaz appears inert under common long-wave (~365 nm) and short-wave (~254 nm) UV light sources. In contrast, excitation wavelengths in the 400–440 nm range are much more efficient in exciting pinkish red emission that is assigned to trace levels (10–40 ppm) of Cr3+ incorporated at the six-coordinated Al3+ site.

Organisation(en)
Institut für Mineralogie und Kristallographie
Externe Organisation(en)
Karl-Franzens-Universität Graz
Journal
Gems & Gemology
Band
58
Seiten
2-17
Anzahl der Seiten
16
ISSN
0016-626X
DOI
https://doi.org/10.5741/GEMS.58.1.2
Publikationsdatum
03-2022
Peer-reviewed
Ja
ÖFOS 2012
104026 Spektroskopie, 105116 Mineralogie, 105113 Kristallographie
Schlagwörter
ASJC Scopus Sachgebiete
Geochemistry and Petrology
Link zum Portal
https://ucrisportal.univie.ac.at/de/publications/5067ee87-2377-4387-b2c4-89db59f743b6