Gemology, Mineralogy, and Spectroscopy of an Attractive Tremolitized Diopside Anorthosite Gem Material from the Philippines: A New Type of Material with Similarities to Dushan Jade

Abstract

In recent years, a new type of material called Philippines “Dushan jade” has appeared in the gemstone market in China. This new type of material, very similar in appearance and physical properties to Dushan jade, an important ancient jade with a long history in China, is causing confusion in the market and poses identification difficulties. Microscopy, electron probe microanalysis, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, Raman microprobe spectroscopy, and ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy were used to study the gemology, mineralogy, and spectroscopy of rock samples from the Philippines in order to differentiate them from Dushan jade. The studies showed that Philippines rock is composed mainly of anorthite and minor amounts of diopside, tremolite, uvarovite, titanite, chromite, zoisite, prehnite, thomsonite-Ca, and chlorite, among which uvarovite, diopside, and tremolite are the main color causing minerals. The origin of the color is related to the electronic transitions involving Cr3+, Fe2+, Fe3+, and charge transfer between the ions. The paragenetic mineral formation sequence of Philippines rock can be divided into three stages: (1) the magmatic stage: anorthite phenocryst, diopside, chromite, and titanite are formed first in the magma; (2) the metamorphic stage: anorthite phenocryst undergo fracture and recrystallization; the early fluid intrusion transforms diopside into tremolite forming uvarovite-grossular-andradite solid-solution around the anorthite and chromite; and (3) the late hydrothermal stage: the late hydrothermal solution fills in fractures with prehnite, thomsonite-Ca, and zoisite being formed. From the comparison studies, it was established that Philippines rock and Dushan jade are two completely different type of material. Philippines rock should be called “tremolitized diopside anorthosite”.