Spectra and Mineralogy Study on Black Tianhuang and Kengtou Stone from Shoushan, Fujian Province

Guang Pu Xue Yu Guang Pu Fen Xi. 2016 Nov;36(11):3693-7.

Abstract

Shoushan Stone is one of the national stones of our country which is also the most famous stone of the four outstanding seal stones in China. As to Shoushan stones, black Tianhuang stone is a kind of black colored stone. It is one of the most special species in Tianhuang stones which comes from fields beside the Shoushan Brook. The black Kengtou stone comes from Kengtou Zhan, its original place. In this study, black Tianhuang stone is studied and compared with black Kengtou stone by using X-ray powder diffraction spectrometer (XRD), infrared spectrometer (IR), laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) in order to analyze the mineral composition, characteristic of infrared spectra, color genesis, and characteristic of micro- morphology of these stones. The results of the study indicate that the mineral compositions are different between these stones. The analysis of IR and XRD studies indicate that the black Kengtou stone is mainly composed of dickite. On the other hand, XRD analysis indicates that it can contain a small amount of pyrophyllite, illite, pyrite, and quartz. However, the analysis of IR and XRD studies indicate that black Tianhuang stone is mainly composed of dickite or nacrite. On the other hand, XRD analysis indicates that the minor mineral composition in the black Kengtou stone can be svanbergite and tochilinite. Their characteristics of micro-morphology of black Tianhuang stone and black Kengtou stone are also different. The crystal size of dickite in black Tianhuang stone is inconformity, and the margin of lamellae crystals is smoothed. It indicates that such kind of stone had undergone corrosion effect due to water-rock reaction. On the other hand, the black Kengtou stone are well crystalized. The lamellae has sharp margin, and the size of the lamellae is relatively uniform. It indicates that the black Kengtou stone is original ore. According to the trace chemical composition analysis of LA-ICP-MS, it preliminary suggests that black color of both black Tianhuang and Kengtou stones have relationship with Fe element. The final conclusion of color genesis needs more experiments to prove.

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  • English Abstract