Raman Spectroscopy of Amphibole Inclusions in Emeralds

ABSTRACT Emeralds frequently contain inclusions, and their study can provide valuable clues on their geological origin. For the present study, 11 emeralds containing elongated amphibole inclusions from four geographic origins (three from Austria, one from Russia, two from Zambia and five from Zimbabwe) were investigated with an optical microscope and Raman spectroscopy. The inclusions have various sizes and shapes; curved inclusions are frequently observed in emeralds from Zimbabwe and in one sample from Zambia. Most inclusions are of actinolite; tremolite is observed in Austrian samples and cummingtonite in samples from Zimbabwe. These subtle differences in amphibole inclusions in emeralds could help identify emeralds from these mining regions.