24–26 May 2017
Rayong Marriott Resort & Spa
Asia/Bangkok timezone

Role of ilmenite micro-inclusion on Fe oxidation state of natural sapphires

25 May 2017, 17:00
1h
Rayong Marriott Resort & Spa

Rayong Marriott Resort & Spa

http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/bkkrr-rayong-marriott-resort-and-spa/ Rayong, Thailand
Poster Material Physics and Functional Materials Poster Presentation II

Speaker

Mr Natthapong Monarumit (Kasetsart University)

Description

The blue color of the blue sapphire is caused by the Fe-Ti pairs. Recently, the oxidation states of Fe and Ti on high-quality blue sapphire were found as Fe$^{3+}$ and Ti$^{4+}$. However, the oxidation state of Fe on natural sapphire with some inclusions was reported as mixing of Fe$^{2+}$ and Fe$^{3+}$ using the x-ray absorption near edge structure spectroscopy (XANES). Generally, there are mineral inclusions on natural sapphire related to Fe such as hematite (Fe$_2$O$_3$) and ilmenite (FeTiO$_3$). In this study, we investigate the micro-inclusions on natural sapphires by the electron probe micro analyzer (EPMA). The oxidation states of Fe and Fe-O bond length were analyzed by x-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS). The Fe K-edge EXAFS fitting results focused on the first shell of Fe atoms on high-quality natural sapphires were shown that the Fe-O bond length on α-Al$_2$O$_3$ was fitted well with Fe-O bond length on Fe$_2$O$_3$ presenting Fe$^{3+}$. However, the Fe-O bond length on natural sapphires with ilmenite micro-inclusion was fitted with Fe-O bond length on Fe$_3$O$_4$ showing Fe$^{2+}$ and Fe$^{3+}$. As the result, the Fe$^{2+}$ on natural sapphires was caused by the ilmenite micro-inclusion.

Primary author

Mr Natthapong Monarumit (Kasetsart University)

Co-authors

Dr Somruedee Satitkune (Kasetsart University) Dr Wiwat Wongkokua (Kasetsart University)

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Peer reviewing

Paper