Published 2011 | Version v1
Miscellaneous Open

Montezuma prasiolite: gamma radiation effects

  • 1. Universidade de Sao Paulo (IGc/USP), SP (Brazil). Inst. de GeoCiencias
  • 2. Instituto de Pesquisas Energeticas e Nucleares (IPEN/CNEN-SP), Sao Paulo, SP (Brazil)

Description

The amethyst mine of Montezuma, Minas Gerais, is the only one on earth which produces, after heat and irradiation treatment, a quartz of a blue to violetish blue body color, the so-called 'safirita' or blueberry in the trade. Beside this , it is possible by heat treatment to produce two types of prasiolite, 'type 1' and 'type 2' differing in its green color. Prasiolite 1 is a quartz with a yellowish green, prasiolite 2 with a bluish green color. Here are given details about irradiation and heating procedures of heated amethyst from Montezuma to show the changes in color after each step. This allows to select the best conditions for the production of the ideal quality of 'safirita' or blueberry and prasiolite 2. Finally it can be concluded that the irradiation of material from Montezuma always produces an increase in grayish black tons and heating always leads to lighter tons in the colors. It is possible that there exists two processes on atomic scale with opposite reactions. (author)

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Additional details

Publishing Information

Imprint Pagination
8 p.
Report number
INIS-BR--10206

Conference

Title
International nuclear atlantic conference. Nuclear energy: new jobs for a better life; 17. ENFIR: Meeting on nuclear reactor physics and thermal hydraulics; 10. ENAN: Meeting on nuclear applications; 2. ENIN: Meeting on nuclear industry
Acronym
INAC 2011
Dates
24-28 Oct 2011
Place
Belo Horizonte, MG (Brazil)

INIS

Country of Publication
Brazil
Country of Input or Organization
Brazil
INIS RN
42105234
Subject category
S37: INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY;
Resource subtype / Literary indicator
Conference
Quality check status
Yes
Descriptors DEI
BODY; BODY COMPOSITION; GAMMA RADIATION; GAMMA SOURCES; QUANTITATIVE CHEMICAL ANALYSIS; QUARTZ; SILICATE MINERALS;
Descriptors DEC
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS; ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION; IONIZING RADIATIONS; MINERALS; OXIDE MINERALS; RADIATION SOURCES; RADIATIONS;