UV Amethyst (Brazil)

Analytical Result Report
Sample id: 1501 (#1 powellite in quartz?)
Submitted by: Soul Body Gems
Date completed: 6-20-2025
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. 
Fig. 1:  Photograph of the specimens.  5.5 cm maximum dimension. On the right, under UV-A,B,C.
Fig.2: Backscattered electron image of an area of the specimen in Fig. 1.  
Fig. 3: Energy dispersive spectrum of spot 1 in Fig. 2. (quartz)
Fig. 4: Energy dispersive spectrum of spot 2 in Fig. 2. (quartz)
Table 1: Trace and minor elements in the specimen, in wt. %.
Summary of findings:  This is an interesting specimen (Fig. 1). The yellow, fluorescent bands are very striking (Fig. 1).
Chemically, the specimen is quartz (Fig. 2-4). 
A small carbon peak was noted (Figs. 3 and 4), the fluorescence is likely caused by small amounts of a hydrocarbon compound. 
The sample was crushed and pulverized for trace element analysis (Table 1). No molybdenum (Table 1) was discovered and thus powellite is not present.  MicroRaman only showed quartz and X-ray diffraction only shows quartz lines. If under high magnification, inclusions are not discernable, then the MicroRaman can’t help, either and X-ray diffraction is also of no help.  That leaves X-ray fluorescence with detection limits in the 5 ppm range.  Detection limit is NOT quantification limit.  50-60 ppm would be in the quantification limit but we could not detect molybdenum.  And it all hinges on that element.  it is not detectable.
Date:    6-20-2025                      Signature 

nd = not detected.

Analytical Result Report
Sample id: 1526 (10 amethyst specimens w fluorescence)
Submitted by: Soul Body Gems
Date completed: 10-7-2025
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.

Fig. 1: Photograph of the specimens. 9 cm maximum dimension.


Fig. 2: Photograph of the specimens under UV-A,B,C radiation.

Fig.3: Backscattered electron images of fluorescent areas of the specimens in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4: Energy dispersive spectra of spots of the 10 specimens in Figs. 3.


Fig. 5: Fig. 4: Example of an energy dispersive spectrum collected at 10 kV to show a small carbon ppeak.

Table 1: Minor and trace elements in the specimens (in wt. %)
Element
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Aluminum
0.44
0.38
0.48
0.42
0.51
0..45
0.46
0.37
0.40
0.42
Calcium
0.01
nd
0.02
0.01
nd
nd
0.04
0.01
0.04
0.06
Iron
0.34
0.23
0.27
0.36
0.11
0.27
0.44
0.46
0.23
0.38
Manganese
nd
nd
nd
0.02
nd
0.03
nd
nd
nd
nd
Molybdenum nd
nd
nd
nd
nd
nd
0.05
0.04
nd
nd
Titanium
0.04
0.05
0.03
0.04
0.06
0.03
0.05
0.03
0.02
0.02

Fig. 6: Photomicrographs taken with UV-A, B, C and visible light on (left image) and just UV (right image). Some fluid
inclusions are marked with a red arrow, note that the liquid in the inclusions does not fluoresce.

Summary of findings: These are interesting specimens (Fig. 1) with unusual fluorescence (Figs 2 and 6). They are of
course all quartz (Figs. 3 and 4). Table 1 shows minor and trace elements and only in a few were both calcium and
molybdenum present. However, carbon was noted in small amounts (Fig. 5) where 10 kV were used to enhance its
detection and only where it was essentially at the surface was it detected, that is on a freshly broken surface where UV
fluorescence was detected. Fig. 6 shows several photomicrographs under 2 types of illumination: UV-A, B, C and visible
light on (left iamge) and just UV (right image). What is striking is that the liquid in the fluid inclusions does not cause
fluorescence but there are small fractures and partially healed fractures from which the fluorescence emanates. But
they also appear to be like growth phantoms and they all are near the bases of the crystals. There must have been a
different time during crystal growth when micro fractures formed, then rehealed and some time around this process,
the fluorescent material was trapped and growth continued llargely undisturbed. In these specimens it appears some
organic material, likely a hydrocarbon where the fluorescence is present. A hydrocarbon is the most likelly explanatyion
for this batch of crystals and this has been observed in other locations as well.
Date: 10-7-2025 Signature