TRACEABILITY OF BRAZILIAN AND COLOMBIAN EMERALDS, A FORENSIC APPROACH

• Grant number: 23/13966-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: January 08, 2024
• End date: March 07, 2024
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Geosciences - Geology
• Principal Investigator: Fabio Ramos Dias de Andrade
• Grantee: Giovanna dos Santos Ramos
• Supervisor: Hans Albert Gilg
• Host Institution: Instituto de Geociências (IGC). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Technical University of Munich (TUM), Germany
• Associated to the scholarship: 23/05588-8 - Traceability of Brazilian and Colombian emeralds by multi-element chemical signature: a forensic approach, BP.IC

Abstract

The present scientific project with the Technical University of Munich aims to develop an analytical protocol for traceability of Brazilian and Colombian emeralds based on their chemical composition determined with a portable X-ray fluorescence spectrometer (p-XRF), which is a widely available equipment. Traceability of emeralds is done by comparing the minor and trace element signature of a given emerald of unknown origin with reference samples of a reliable database, with data obtained with the same analytical procedures in samples of known provenance. Therefore, defining the chemical signature of individual emerald deposits is the key to the traceability of emeralds. Traceability of emeralds is of fundamental importance in the forensic sciences, since emeralds are usually related to crimes such as illegal mining, smuggling, environmental crimes, crimes against human rights and tax evasion. In addition, to trace back the provenance of gemstones is relevant for collections of Museums and private collectors.