Nondestructive evaluation of jades by means of 14 MeV neutron activation

Abstract

Fourteen MeV neutron activation of jades was used to test the authenticity of jades: to ascertain whether they are genuine jadeite and whether their greenish colour is genuine, both of which are important criteria for the high market value of jadeite. For given activation and measurement conditions of the jades, the gamma-ray spectrum was observed to change as a function of the type of the jades; the counting ratio of the photopeaks from the two most prominent constituent elements varies greatly as a function of the type of the jades. The ratio of counts for the Compton edges of the 1.779 MeV gamma-ray of²⁸Al, from²⁸Si(n,p)²⁸Al reaction, and the 1.434 MeV gamma-ray of⁵²V, from⁵²Cr(n,p)⁵²V reaction, varied as a function of the type of the jades and also as a function of the color. These results can be applied for a fast and nondestructive evaluation of jades.