New raspberry sapphire fluoresces red?

[beaujolais]

I just got a new raspberry (pink/purple) colored sapphire that fluoresces red.

I forgot - is this due to being heated or the presence of a trace element/mineral (which?) ?

Anyone know?

Thanks.

 

[VapidLapid]

trace, or not so trace element
And we NEED to see that one!

 

[beaujolais]

Would that be chromium?

Yes, I do know you're all mad at me cause I don't have a macro camera. I don't blame you.

It has a cool color but native cut. You're not missing that much. It was a cheapie.

Thanks Vapid.

 

[Arcadian]

my pink sapphire also fluoros red, though its a rather weak red. Mine is all natural, unheated considering sapphs and rubys kinda grow together, you could get anything, you know?

and yeah where's the pictures, woman? lol

-A

 

[Lee Little]

yes, Chromium content causes that as well as the red tones.
One quick test for a synthetic ruby/pink-purple sapphire is to see if the UV lights it up like a Christmas tree. Naturals rarely have as much Chromium as a synthetic.
There are exceptions to every rule. Some synthetics do not light up but they are very rare, some naturals really do light up but they are rare also, usually the iron content holds back the fluorescence in a natural such as the Thai Ruby.
In general, your natural will light up a bit, if it lights up a lot, look closer at the inclusions to be sure it is natural. If the inclusions are natural then check the girdle for a seam to make sure it is not a doublet with a natural crown and a synthetic pavillion. Best regards, Lee

 

[RockHugger]

I hate to be the one to say it, but a bright red flour in sapphire usually means synthetic. A light red or pink is usually ok and can be natural, but red red is a sign of synthetic.

 

[chrono]

Correct; for corundum, chromium imparts the red chromophore and also the flourescence. Again, a strong red reaction is usually a caution sign that it could be synthetic; usually, one expects a weak to medium reaction.