GEM KNOWLEDGE · LABORATORY NOTES
Lions Gate Quartz
© Soul Body Gems
Lions Gate Quartz is the trade name used for this material from India in the Soul Body Gems collection. The tested polished egg combines quartz with metallic sulfide minerals.
What the testing found
- The nonmetallic portion is quartz.
- The main metallic mineral is pyrite, confirmed using reflected-light optics.
- A smaller amount of chalcopyrite is also present.
- Element mapping shows the distribution of these three identified minerals.
Why the metallic minerals matter
The report distinguishes pyrite from pyrrhotite and chalcopyrite from bornite using their compositions. Although the spectrum caption initially allows pyrite or marcasite, the final identification confirms pyrite through reflected-light examination.
Locality: India, according to Soul Body Gems sourcing records. Geographic origin was not independently determined by this laboratory analysis.
View the original test results
Sample 10490, completed January 31, 2024. Select a page to enlarge it.
These results are the property of Soul Body Gems, Alexander Falster, and the Maine Mineral & Gem Museum. Any mention requires full acknowledgment.
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 (pyrite or marcasite)
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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 (chalcopyrite)
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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 4 in Fig. 2 (quartz)
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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. 6: X-ray map of the area shown in Fig. 6. Silicon: red, iron: green, copper: blue.
Read the complete report as text
Analytical Result Report
Sample id: 10490 (w batch #5)
Submitted by: Soul Body Gems
Date completed: 1-31-2024
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 65 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 (pyrite or marcasite)
Fig. 4: Energy dispersive spectrum of spot 2 in Fig. 2 (chalcopyrite)
Fig. 5: Energy dispersive spectrum of spot 4 in Fig. 2 (quartz)
Fig. 6: X-ray map of the area shown in Fig. 6. Silicon: red, iron: green, copper: blue.
Table 1: minor and trace elements in the sulfides. (in wt. %)
pyrite
chalcopyrite
lead
nd
0.05
manganese
0.04
0.02
zinc
0.11
0.22
Summary of findings: This specimen (Fig. 1) is very intriguing. The metallic material is composed of pyrite (Figs. 2 and 3) and a smaller amount of chalcopyrite (Figs. 2 and 4). The nonmetallic part is quartz (Figs. 2 and 5). Pyrite was confirmed by reflected light optics. Pyrrhotite contains more iron than pyrite and would have been easily distinguished. Chalcopyrite could be distinguished from bornite by the composition, bornite contains a lot more copper. Trace elements in the sulfides are shown in Table 1. And X-ray map shows the distribution of the 3 species identified.
Date: January 31, 2024 Signature
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: 10490 (w batch #5)
Submitted by: Soul Body Gems
Date completed: 1-31-2024
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 65 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 (pyrite or marcasite)
Fig. 4: Energy dispersive spectrum of spot 2 in Fig. 2 (chalcopyrite)
Fig. 5: Energy dispersive spectrum of spot 4 in Fig. 2 (quartz)
Fig. 6: X-ray map of the area shown in Fig. 6. Silicon: red, iron: green, copper: blue.
Table 1: minor and trace elements in the sulfides. (in wt. %)
| pyrite | chalcopyrite | |
|---|---|---|
| lead | nd | 0.05 |
| manganese | 0.04 | 0.02 |
| zinc | 0.11 | 0.22 |
Summary of findings: This specimen (Fig. 1) is very intriguing. The metallic material is composed of pyrite (Figs. 2 and 3) and a smaller amount of chalcopyrite (Figs. 2 and 4). The nonmetallic part is quartz (Figs. 2 and 5). Pyrite was confirmed by reflected light optics. Pyrrhotite contains more iron than pyrite and would have been easily distinguished. Chalcopyrite could be distinguished from bornite by the composition, bornite contains a lot more copper. Trace elements in the sulfides are shown in Table 1. And X-ray map shows the distribution of the 3 species identified.
Date: January 31, 2024 Signature