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 Post subject: Does the type of light hinder identification and grading?
PostPosted: Sat Aug 17, 2013 11:50 pm 
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In your experience, does the type of light hinder or help the identification process for most stones? For example, is it better to use incandescent light over daylight, or a daylight balanced fluorescent light, etc.? Does the type of light make any big difference? Excluding tests that require UV light. Thanks!


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 Post subject: Re: Does the type of light hinder identification and grading
PostPosted: Mon Aug 19, 2013 1:33 pm 
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Location: Sweden
Fluorescent tubes are a big nono for spectroscopy as the tubes themselves emit many intense lines through the spectroscope which would ruin the diagnostic features if any.

I use mainly halogen and tungsten lights for spectroscopy and microscope work. When photographing gemstones and rough I sometimes use warm white fluorescent tubes in some instances combined with halogen.

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 Post subject: Re: Does the type of light hinder identification and grading
PostPosted: Mon Aug 19, 2013 9:20 pm 
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Thanks for the reply Conny. Maybe I am overthinking the process. I thought using "warm" 3000k light versus a "cool" 5000k light might give off different readings in some of the instruments, or changed the appearance of the stone through different filters.


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 Post subject: Re: Does the type of light hinder identification and grading
PostPosted: Thu Aug 22, 2013 1:19 pm 
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Location: Monterey, CA
You might consider obtaining a Hanneman Standard Reference Filter, available from mineralab.com.


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 Post subject: Re: Does the type of light hinder identification and grading
PostPosted: Thu Aug 22, 2013 10:51 pm 
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And, Dr. Hanneman, please explain to us exactly what the Hanneman Reference Filter will do so we understand why we need one.
Thanks.


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 Post subject: Re: Does the type of light hinder identification and grading
PostPosted: Fri Aug 23, 2013 3:23 am 
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Barbra,
A gemstone's appearance, when viewed through this filter, is that of the sample when illuminated by light having equal intensities of all of the visible wavelengths. (It's magic.) :D :D

P.S. I finally got around to sending the filters you ordered. All the information is contained on the card Describing Gemstone Color.


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