Pink to Purple Sapphires from Ilakaka, Madagascar: Insights to Separate Unheated from Heated Samples

The present study is focused on the analysis of zircon inclusions found in pink to purple sapphires from Ilakaka (Madagascar) with an optical microscope, Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR), and micro-Raman spectroscopy in order to update previous knowledge and find insights to separate heated from unheated samples. In total, 157 zircon inclusions in 15 unheated samples and 74 zircon inclusions in 6 heated samples are analysed using micro-Raman spectroscopy with standardised parameters. The full width at half maximum (FWHM) of the main Raman band due to anti-symmetric stretching vibration ?(3) of the SiO4 tetrahedron in the zircon structure has been carefully measured. In the unheated samples, it ranges from 6.26 to 21.73 cm(-1) with an average of 10.74 cm(-1), a median of 10.04 cm(-1), and a standard deviation of 2.84 cm(-1). On the other hand, it is lower in the heated samples, ranging from 4.83 to 14.97 cm(-1) with an average of 7.23 cm(-1), median of 7.06 cm(-1), and standard deviation of 1.63 cm(-1). In our unheated samples, the FWHM was rarely below 7 cm(-1). In our heated samples, the FWHM was rarely above 12 cm(-1) but mostly below 8 cm(-1), with a variation restricted to less than 3 cm(-1) in the same sample. The present work will hopefully further contribute to more accurately identifying the low-temperature heat treatment of pink sapphires from Ilakaka, Madagascar.

Automated summary

This study analyzes zircon inclusions in pink to purple sapphires from Ilakaka, Madagascar using an optical microscope, FTIR, and micro-Raman spectroscopy to update knowledge and differentiate heated and unheated samples. The FWHM of the main Raman band of zircon is measured, ranging from 6.26 to 21.73 cm(-1) in unheated samples and 4.83 to 14.97 cm(-1) in heated samples. The study provides insights into accurately identifying low-temperature heat treatment in pink sapphires from Ilakaka.