RESUMEN
We document a dichromatism effect in gem andalusite that shifts from light brownish pink at low thickness to medium green at high thickness. This is roughly reverse to that usually observed in other dichromatic materials. We show that this is due to a very strong pleochroism in andalusite, when dichromatism in other materials is due to an alexandrite effect. Here, colors varies from a strongly absorbing orangey-brown in the c direction to much less absorbing medium green in a and b directions. The brown absorption is so strong that it becomes opaque (total absorption) for thickness above about 1.5â¯mm (this value may vary according to concentration of the chromophore and intensity of the light source), and hence does not contribute to coloration anymore. For such high thicknesses, only the a and b directions remain transparent and hence only the green component contributes to the color: the sample appears green. For lower thicknesses, the green color combines with the orangey-brown color that becomes transparent along the c direction, resulting in a light brownish pink. From trace elements analysis in zoned samples, we also confirm that the dark orangey-brown color is due to Fe2+-Ti4+, and bring evidences that the light green color is mostly due to Fe, either in the form of isolated Fe3+ or Fe2+-Fe3+ IVCT, with possibly some contributions from isolated Mn3+.
RESUMEN
Treated green diamonds can show residual radioactivity, generally due to immersion in radium salts. We report various activity measurements on two radioactive diamonds. The activity was characterized by alpha and gamma ray spectrometry, and the radon emanation was measured by alpha counting of a frozen source. Even when no residual radium contamination can be identified, measurable alpha and high-energy beta emissions could be detected. The potential health impact of radioactive diamonds and their status with regard to the regulatory policy for radioactive products are discussed.
