LIBS Gemstone Analysis

August 12 celebrates International Diamond Day to bring more attention to one of the most precious gemstones. Diamonds are valued for their beauty, rarity, and exceptional hardness. Since diamonds are the hardest minerals, they have a wider range of uses than embellishments. These beloved rocks are used as abrasives in cutting discs and drilling tools.

Due to their unique characteristics in industry and their connotation with beauty and wealth in fashion, the demand for diamonds is constantly increasing. Hence, many falsifications occur on the market, often so well-disguised that it is nearly impossible for experts to distinguish between the original and its fake.

AtomTrace LIBS instruments enable gemstone authentication. Besides the elemental composition analysis to know what elements the precious stone contains, our LIBS devices also ensure the quality and originality of the gemstone. Due to their ability to quickly detect even light elements, our LIBS instruments precisely identify beryllium. Adding beryllium modifies the color of the gemstone and hence produces unnoticed falsifications. Detection of this element, thus, enables more efficient quality control of authentic gems. Unlike other analytical techniques, AtomTrace LIBS machines also conduct this analysis fast and without damaging the precious sample.