Features
This handy piece of equipment is perhaps the most important tool in gemology.The spectroscope breaks up the light being transmitted from a gemstone into its spectral colors, which allows the gemologist to see the various
wavelengths that are being absorbed by the gemstone. Thereby allowing the gemologist to know what elements are contained in the gemstone that are causing the absorption. Making this one of the most important tools in identifying gemstones,you can see the absorption spectra if you practices…
Elements within a gemstone will absorb certain levels of energy. And light is energy. Therefore certain elements in a gemstone will absorb certain colors of light based on what energy level they are absorbing. The spectroscope allows us to see which color of light, or energy, is being absorbed, thereby allowing us to know what elements are in a gemstone. This, in turn, allows us to know more about the gemstone, ie…identification, where it came from, what causes it to have color…
When you look through a spectroscope you will see lines or bands missing from the colors. This is where elements within the stone have absorbed that level of energy or light, letting us know that the element exists within the stone.
The wavelengths of light are measured in nanometers. Abbreviated nm. These number are applied to the scale of the spectrum as a guide to show what wavelengths are being absorbed. It should be noted that gemologists should learn to use the spectroscope without having these numbers necessary. Since most hand held spectroscopes will not have these scales visible through the unit. So know where the numbers are, but learn to use your spectroscope without the need to have them visible.
