How can a refractometer be used to identify gemstones?

1 Answer
MeneerNask
Apr 5, 2016

A refractometer measures the refractive index of a material, i.e. the amount of breaking of a ray of light. Of course the material has to be transparent.

Explanation:

All materials have a specific refractive index (n). For common glass this is in the neighbourhood of 1.5, special glass can have an n up to 1.9. Diamond is around 2.4.
By comparing the n of the material with the n of known gemstones, they can be identified or excluded.

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