GEM KNOWLEDGE · LABORATORY NOTES
Green Rutile — Incorrect Label
This sphere sold as Green Rutile with Sunstone contains green areas that are likely amphibole, not rutile. A few tiny titanium-oxide specks may be rutile or a related species, but they do not make the green areas rutile. The report did not identify sunstone.
Report: Sample 10506, completed February 26, 2024. These findings apply to the specimen analyzed.
Report images © Soul Body Gems, Alexander Falster and the Maine Mineral & Gem Museum. Please acknowledge all three when referring to these results.
Understanding the report figures
Use this guide alongside the written findings and the original report transcript. It explains the purpose of each analytical figure and preserves the laboratory’s own figure labels. The interpretations apply to the tested specimen; signals alone do not establish the identity of every similar-looking stone.
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Electron microscope image: This view shows small-scale regions selected for analysis. Its brightness contrast helps distinguish regions with different compositions; it is not a photograph of their natural colors. Numbered spots connect this view to the analyses listed in the report.
Laboratory figure caption: Fig.2: Backscattered electron image of an area of the specimen.
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Elemental spectrum: The peaks record characteristic X-ray signals from elements in the analyzed spot or area. This is an analysis of that location, not automatically of the entire specimen. Any mineral identification or uncertainty named in the laboratory caption is retained below.
Laboratory figure caption: Fig. 3: Energy dispersive spectrum of spot 1 in Fig. 2 (quartz)
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Elemental spectrum: The peaks record characteristic X-ray signals from elements in the analyzed spot or area. This is an analysis of that location, not automatically of the entire specimen. Any mineral identification or uncertainty named in the laboratory caption is retained below.
Laboratory figure caption: Fig. 4: Energy dispersive spectrum of spot 2 in Fig. 2 (pyribole)
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Elemental spectrum: The peaks record characteristic X-ray signals from elements in the analyzed spot or area. This is an analysis of that location, not automatically of the entire specimen. Any mineral identification or uncertainty named in the laboratory caption is retained below.
Laboratory figure caption: Fig. 5: Energy dispersive spectrum of spot 3 in Fig. 2 (potassium feldspar)
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Electron microscope image: This view shows small-scale regions selected for analysis. Its brightness contrast helps distinguish regions with different compositions; it is not a photograph of their natural colors. Numbered spots connect this view to the analyses listed in the report.
Laboratory figure caption: Fig. 6: Backscattered electron image of another area of the specimen.
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Elemental spectrum: The peaks record characteristic X-ray signals from elements in the analyzed spot or area. This is an analysis of that location, not automatically of the entire specimen. Any mineral identification or uncertainty named in the laboratory caption is retained below.
Laboratory figure caption: Fig. 7: Energy dispersive spectrum of spot 1 in Fig. 6 (magnetite or hematite…)
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Elemental spectrum: The peaks record characteristic X-ray signals from elements in the analyzed spot or area. This is an analysis of that location, not automatically of the entire specimen. Any mineral identification or uncertainty named in the laboratory caption is retained below.
Laboratory figure caption: Fig. 8: Energy dispersive spectrum of spot 5 in Fig. 6 (apatite)
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Elemental spectrum: The peaks record characteristic X-ray signals from elements in the analyzed spot or area. This is an analysis of that location, not automatically of the entire specimen. Any mineral identification or uncertainty named in the laboratory caption is retained below.
Laboratory figure caption: Fig. 9: Energy dispersive spectrum of spot 6 in Fig. 6 (titanium oxide such as rutile)
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Elemental spectrum: The peaks record characteristic X-ray signals from elements in the analyzed spot or area. This is an analysis of that location, not automatically of the entire specimen. Any mineral identification or uncertainty named in the laboratory caption is retained below.
Laboratory figure caption: Fig. 10: Energy dispersive spectrum of spot 7 in Fig. 6 (albite)
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Element map: This map shows where the named elements occur within the analyzed area. Its colors represent the laboratory’s selected element channels, rather than the specimen’s visible colors. The caption below preserves any color key or distribution noted by the laboratory.
Laboratory figure caption: Fig. 5: X-ray maps of the area shown in Fig. 6. Left image: Calcium: blue, sodium: yellow, potassium: pink. Right image: iron: green, titanium: orange. Note only a few specks of titanium oxide are present.
Read the original laboratory report as text
The following text and tables are transcribed from the original laboratory document. Figure captions identify the report images; the laboratory interpretations and limitations are preserved.
Laboratory report 1
Analytical Result Report Sample id: 10506 (recent package #3) Submitted by: Soul Body Gems Date completed: 2-26-2024 Operating conditions: An AMRAY 1830 SEM operated at 25 kV acceleration potential, 24 mm working distance, 0 degrees sample tilt, coated with 250 Å carbon, and also using the attached XRF unit operated at 30 kV. A BRUKER Titan X-ray fluorescence spectrometer was also used and operated for 30 seconds at 50, 25, and 10 kV. Fig. 1: Photograph of the specimen. Approximately 45 mm maximum dimension. Fig.2: Backscattered electron image of an area of the specimen. Fig. 3: Energy dispersive spectrum of spot 1 in Fig. 2 (quartz) Fig. 4: Energy dispersive spectrum of spot 2 in Fig. 2 (pyribole) Fig. 5: Energy dispersive spectrum of spot 3 in Fig. 2 (potassium feldspar) Fig. 6: Backscattered electron image of another area of the specimen. Fig. 7: Energy dispersive spectrum of spot 1 in Fig. 6 (magnetite or hematite…) Fig. 8: Energy dispersive spectrum of spot 5 in Fig. 6 (apatite) Fig. 9: Energy dispersive spectrum of spot 6 in Fig. 6 (titanium oxide such as rutile) Fig. 10: Energy dispersive spectrum of spot 7 in Fig. 6 (albite) Fig. 5: X-ray maps of the area shown in Fig. 6. Left image: Calcium: blue, sodium: yellow, potassium: pink. Right image: iron: green, titanium: orange. Note only a few specks of titanium oxide are present. Table 1: minor and trace elements in the potassium feldspar. (in wt. %) Barium 2.80 Iron 0.16 Manganese 0.04 Sodium 0.32 Titanium 0.01 Summary of findings: This specimen (Fig. 1) very interesting. It is composed of: quartz (Figs. 2 and 3), a pyribole (Figs. 2 and 4), the dark green areas, it is likely an amphibole like hornblende, a potassium feldspar (Figs. 2 and 5), this potassium feldspar is barium-rich (Table 1), an iron oxide such as magnetite or hematite (Figs. 6 and 7), apatite (Figs. 6 and 8), a titanium oxide (Figs 6 and 9) and albite (Figs. 6 and 9). The green areas are not rutile even though very small amounts of rutile, or another titanium oxide species are present. Date: February 26, 2024 Signature