Spectroscopy and Microscopy of Corundum from Primary Deposits Found in Greece

Corundum primary deposits in Greece occur in four locations: Paranesti in Drama and Gorgona in Xanthi, both belonging to the wider Rhodope Massif, as well as, Ikaria island and Kinidaros in Naxos island, both belonging to Attic-Cycladic Massif. Eight samples were examined with spectroscopic methods (FTIR, UV-Vis, EDXRF) in order to better characterize these four primary deposits: two pink sapphires from Paranesti, a pink and a blue sapphire from Gorgona, two blue sapphires from Ikaria and three blue sapphires from Kinidaros. Under the microscope, all samples present characteristics linked to post-crystallization deformation, decreasing their gem quality. The FTIR absorption spectra of all samples present in different relative intensities, bands of boehmite, diaspore, goethite, mica and/or chlorite inclusions and CO2 in fluid inclusions. Boehmite and diaspore inclusions are most likely epigenetic. In the UV-Vis spectra, the pink color of the samples is linked with Cr3+ absorptions and the blue color with absorptions due to Fe2+-Ti4+ intervalence charge transfer. EDXRF analyses in the studied samples show relatively high titanium and iron concentrations that are related with mineral inclusions. Gallium is slightly variable in samples from different regions; also, different colored samples from Gorgona present diverse gallium content.