Investigation of natural stones and their synthetic characteristics and optical properties

In this study, the optical and structural properties of jadeite [NaAl(Si2O6) ], amethyst (SiO2), and smoky quartz (SiO2) minerals, which are mined from the natural resources of Turkey, have been investigated by the means of luminescence, Raman, ICP-AES (Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectroscopy), XRF (X-ray Fluorescence Spektrumu) ve ESEM (Environmental Scanning Electron Microscope). The selected minerals are all silicate group minerals as well as they are ornamental stones. For the jadeite example, a wide band of green to red is observed by using cathodoluminescence (CL) technique. CL and EDS (Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy) data were used to examine different regions on the same sample and the results were evaluated according to seven different morphologies.CL spectrums of Na-jadeite and K-jadeite were compared for 326 nm and 565 nm spectral bands and shifts of peak wave lengths were investigated for different jadeite content. In addition, for different modulation frequencies, relative intensity change on the CL bands are intended to be examined. Although it is known that this sample was analyzed thermally in the literature, no studies about luminescence properties are found. Because of this reason, it is thought that this study is going to throw light upon luminescence properties of jadeite.Amethyst and smoky quartz samples were exposed to radiation and then studies about colour saturation and colour transformation are done. For these samples both natural and artificially and subsequently exposed to radiation, radioluminescence (RL) and optical absorption (OA) data were used in order to get information about colour centres and their formation mechanisms. Measurements are examined comparatively for both samples because of their similar colour mechanisms. In order to better understand the colour mechanisms of natural and synthetic colourless quartz samples, their data have been also used comparatively. Furthermore in order to understand colour mechanisms, natural and synthetic colourless quartz samples were compared each other.This kind of study is important for the use of minerals that are abandoned in their natural sources and to bring them in economy.