• ISG: K/Ar Limitations on Gemstone Treatment Testing

    by
    YourGemologist
    Published on 04-28-2011 05:40 AM  Number of Views: 878  
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    ISG: K/Ar Limitations in Gemstone Treatment Testing

    Over the past couple of years the jewelry industry has been razzle-dazzled by some “rock star famous” PhD scientists regarding the claimed use of potassium/argon testing (K/Ar) to identify gemstone treatment. The sheer weight of credentials and initials after these folk’s names has invoked shock and awe in the hearts of consumer and professional alike. There is, of course, just one problem…..K/Ar cannot disprove that a gemstone has been treated. What K/Ar does do is simply show a presence of argon gas inside a crystal as a result of deterioration of potassium to argon over millions of years. High heating will allow this gas to escape leaving the void to demonstrate the result of the heating. While this test can use the absence of argon gas to show that a stone has been subjected to high heating treatment, it cannot prove or disprove that a gemstone has been treated by a variety of other methods. Mainly because there are myriads of treatments out there that do not require high temperatures. In fact, with the latest reports from Ted Themelis, low temperature diffusion of gemstones is a reality. This creates a one way street for K/Ar dating: The absence of argon gas can prove heating, but the presence of argon gas does not disprove other possible treatments.

    This is a 10 page report. To read the rest of this report via PDF Adobe Reader 7.0 or higher please click this link:

    ISG:K/Ar Limitations on Gemstone Treatment Testing
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    Comments 1 Comment
    1. ClassyAnn's Avatar
      ClassyAnn - 09-18-2011, 11:24 AM
      This is one to download now and slowly read post RGA school from the sounds of it. It does sound immensely fascinating.