Comparative study of the gemstone mineralogical characteristics of blue water jadeite from Guatemala and Myanmar

Abstract Tracing jadeite origin is crucial for market regulation and provenance research. Guatemalan jadeite production has increased steadily, and its blue water variety visually resembles that of Myanmar, posing identification challenges. In this study, blue water jadeite samples from both sources were analyzed via Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, laser Raman spectroscopy, X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), and micro-FTIR, thereby systematically comparing their gemological properties, mineral and chemical compositions, microstructures, and structural water contents. Macroscopically, Guatemalan jadeite exhibits gray–blue hues with white flocculent inclusions, whereas Myanmar jadeite exhibits more uniform coloration and a finer texture. Chemically, both comprise mainly jadeite, but Guatemalan jadeite is enriched in Fe, Ca, and Mg in green zones, with lower Cr contents, indicating that Fe plays a major role in shaping coloration. Micro-FTIR spectroscopy revealed that the average structural water content is significantly lower in Guatemalan jadeite (928.34 × 10 −6 ) than in Myanmar jadeite (2,508.26 × 10 −6 ). Structural water is homogeneously distributed in Guatemalan samples but highly heterogeneous in Myanmar samples, reflecting distinct mineralization backgrounds. Therefore, the content and distribution pattern of structural water can serve as key indicators for distinguishing blue water jadeite from the two sources.