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Fakes & FraudsHow to check for repair in a mineral using Microscope

26th Mar 2017 21:12 UTCAqua marine

Hi

I am about to buy a tall quartz cluster. However i want to be sure that every crystal is natural and no crystal has been repaired. I will ask a friend who has a Microscope.

Can you tell me what to look for. How will it appear on Microscope if a small crystal is glued.

Best regards

26th Mar 2017 21:30 UTCBob Harman

In my opinion, using a microscope.....even a simple low power stereoscope.....looking for repairs and related tinkerings is most useful in miniatures, thumbnails, and similar small specimens. For any larger examples from small cabinet sized to larger specimens the microscope looses some of its usefulness. The microscope will be hard to focus and maneuver the larger specimens around simultaneously.

For these larger examples, I personally prefer using a flashlight, magnifying glass, and UV light. Most repairs or related tinkering with these larger examples will be exposed by carefully examining the specimen in these ways rather than using the microscope. CHEERS.....BOB

26th Mar 2017 23:59 UTCOwen Lewis

Agreed. A x10 triplet loupe is a much better tool for this purpose. Don't forget to combine its use with at least one or two different kinds of light source. For me, the basics are one diffused light that can flood a fair sized area of the surface as one time and another that will direct a collimated beam of light only a few mm wide and that you can manouevre about by hand. Be warned! Lights are addictive! I have over 13 sources at my last count and the number keeps nudging upwards :-)

27th Mar 2017 00:04 UTCGregg Little 🌟

Fracture lines are usually fairly obvious under magnification and if glue is evident you should see amorphous material in the gap.

27th Mar 2017 03:36 UTCDoug Daniels

As has been mentioned, most common glues/adhesives will fluoresce under long-wave UV. Not gonna say all do, but likely most. And, you would likely see the adhesive as a layer, going from inside the crystal to the surface. A microscope is overkill, and not really useful for a large specimen.

27th Mar 2017 03:45 UTCAlfredo Petrov Manager

Remember that for really big specimens, repairs are more or less expected, and the type of collectors who collect the big, famous, multi-million $$$ rocks aren't too worried about it. It's hard to impossible to get big things out of confined spaces underground without damaging them. Ironically, repairs have a lot more detrimental effect on the value of smaller cheaper specimens.

27th Mar 2017 08:59 UTCAqua marine

thank u guyz.

i will have to check it with a loup . if i find something fishy, i will use acetone.

acetone has already saved me $10,000 a couple of months ago.


please add me to your facebook friends. your expertise and knowledge will be very handy if i need any information at real time.

my facebook id is Ali Mir

email : 14megapixel@gmail.com

profile pic is a nice aqua crystal


regards
 
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