Flux :
In 1848, French chemist Jacques Joseph Ebelman was the first to use the flux process to synthesize emerald crystals. It was not until 1938, however, that the first marketable synthetic emeralds were produced by this means.
American Carroll Chatham began experimenting with crystal growth when he was still in high school. He grew his first synthetic emerald crystals in 1935 and began marketing them three years later.
Since the late 1930's, there have been several producers of flux-synthesized emeralds. Today, Chatham Created Gems, Kyocera International and an unknown number of Russian companies cultivate synthetic gems by this process. Each business has its own techniques, but the steps are generally the same. They add elements that make up the emerald (beryllium, aluminum, silicon, chromium and oxygen) to a flux in a gold or platinum crucible. Emerald crystals form at temperatures between 650°C and 800°C.
The growth time depends on the desired crystal size. It may take 10 months to grow a 200.00 ct crystal. In 1953, Carroll Chatham donated a 1,014.00 ct crystal cluster to the Smithsonian Institution in Washington. It took two years to develop it ; such groups of hexagonal prisms can join the path of collection minerals without the mention "synthetic" appearing, like the specimens shown in the photos opposite. The color, size and internal characteristics of synthetic emeralds vary from producer to producer. According to producers, the marketable yield of faceted stones is approximately 15% of the rough produced.
Although inclusions are characteristic (crystals of gold or platinum, wispy veils inclusions), it is sometimes very difficult for the untrained eye to differentiate a natural emerald from an emerald synthesized by flux.
"Hydrothermal" emerald :
It was in 1960 that Johann Lechleitner synthesized emerald hydrothermally for the first time. He deposited a layer of emerald (no more than 0.5 mm thick) on a grain of beryl. In 1961 Linde, a division of Union Carbide, also began research into the production of hydrothermal emeralds. Its researchers produced excellent emerald crystals, but the process was expensive. However, they marketed cut emeralds in their Quintessa jewelry line from 1965 to 1975, but ceased production due to poor sales. In 1978, Vacuum Ventures took over the process from Linde and operated from its old factory. They marketed their product under the name "Regency Created Emeralds". Synthetic hydrothermal emeralds from what was then the Soviet Union first hit the market in the early 1980's. Records show, however, that they were first produced in 1965.
The production of hydrothermal synthetic emerald generally involves dissolving compounds of aluminum, beryl, silicon and chromium in an acidic water solution in an autoclave. Because the growing solution is highly corrosive, some producers line the inside of the autoclave with an inert metal like gold or platinum. Researchers found large amounts of nickel, iron, and copper in crystals from a producer who only lined their autoclaves with stainless steel... Specifics vary from producer to producer, but the autoclave is typically heated to temperatures between 500°C and 620°C and pressurized in the range of 700 to 1500 atmospheres. Synthetic emerald crystals grow on plates of colorless natural beryl grain which are suspended in the growth solution. Some growers cut fragments of synthetic emerald and use them as a seed for new growth.
The size of the crystals depends on the growth time. The growth rate of a grower is 0.2 mm to 0.3 mm per day. A 10.00 ct crystal can produce faceted stones ranging from 0.50 ct to 2.00 ct. Another grower grows crystals weighing 300 ct to 350 ct in about four weeks. When the crystals reach this weight, the producer cuts the crystals and ends up with two plates that weigh 120 ct to 150 ct each. This process produces about 18% salable material.
Although hydrothermal synthetic emeralds and natural emeralds may appear the same to the naked eye, microscopic examination reveals differences. We note in particular the chevron growth characteristic of this synthesis process, visible only under magnification. Hydrothermal emeralds are usually very little included, and looking for growth chevrons should become a habit.
Immitations :
Finally, it should be noted that the sale of materials such as glasses or plastics in imitation of cut or rough emerald is commonplace... The search for natural inclusions (two-phase or three-phase, needles tremolite or actinote, pyrite, calcite or mica) makes the difference.
Hardness : 7,5 to 8
Density : 2,6
Fracture : Conchoidale
Trace : White
TP : Transparent to translucent
RI : 1,560 à 1,602
Birefringence : 0,006 to 0,009
Optical character : Uniaxial -
Pleochroism : Very weak
Fluorescence : None
Solubility : Hydrofluoric acid, sodium or potassium hydroxide
Magnetism : None
Radioactivity : None