37th IGC 2023 Tokyo, Japan
IGC 2023: Tokyo, Japan
After having had to postpone IGC twice, IGC 2023 took place in Tokyo from October 23-27 2023.
We, the members of IGC Japan Organizing Committee were pleased and delighted to welcome you to the 37th International Gemmological Conference, (IGC 2023 Japan) which was held in October 2023 at the prestigious National Museum of Nature and Science, Tokyo, Japan.
A comprehensive report about IGC 2023 was written for GSTV Gemological Laboratory (in Japanese – PDF link). A short report was also written up in Gems & Gemology.
Conference
National Museum of Nature and Science
Tokyo (Japan)
Monday 23rd October
Location: Ueno Seiyoken Hall
9:00 - 10:00 Registration
10:00 - 10:30 IGC Opening words (JJA, JGS, GSJ, IGC Executive Secretary)
10:30 - 17:00 Open Colloquium
10:30 - 11:00 Jayshree Panjikar: Past, present and the future of IGC
11:00 - 11:30 Hanco Zwaan: Diamonds and synthetic diamonds
11:30 - 12:00 Hisao Kanda: A brief history of synthetic diamond researches in Japan
12:20 - 14:00 Lunch party
14:30 - 15:00 Pornsawat Wathanakul: The Importance of Research for Gem & Jewellery Industry
15:00 - 15:30 Yuichi Nakamura: Initiatives for sustainable pearl cultivation in Japan
15:30 - 16:00 Michael Krzemnicki: Colour varieties of gems – where to set the boundary?
16:00 - 16:30 Communication
16:30 - 17:00 Group photo at the front of National Museum of Nature and Science
17:30 - 18:30 IGC Executive Committee Meeting No.1
18:00 - 20:30 Reception & Buffet at the rooftop of National Museum of Nature and Science
Tuesday 24th October
Location: National Museum of Nature and Science, Conference Hall
8:00 - 9:00 Setting and registration
Opening ceremony
9:00 - 9:20 Daily schedule annoncement
Session 1: Diamonds, Chairperson: Emmanuel Fritsch
9:20 - 9:40 Robert Coenraads: Mapping underground rivers at the Copeton Diamond Field, New South Wales, Australia Following these ‘deep leads’ to further riches
9:40 - 10:00 Thomas Hainschwang: Violet Diamonds from Argyle: New Insights into the Cause of their Unique Color
10:00 - 10:20 Suzanne van Leeuwen, J. C. (Hanco) Zwaan: The Banjarmasin Diamond in Amsterdam -War Booty from Borneo
10:20 - 10:50 Coffee break
10:50 - 11:10 Hiroshi Kitawaki, Kentaro Emori, Mio Hisanaga, Masahiro Yamamoto, Makoto Okano, Zhenghao Zhao, Jayam Sonani, Hiroyuki Harada: Gemmological studies of “Hybrid Diamond” (Natural + CVD synthetics)
11:10 - 11:30 Michael Mintrone, Luc Phan, Jean-Pierre Chalain: A study of nickel-bearing type Ia diamonds
11:30 - 11:50 Sergey Sivovolenko, Roman Serov: CVD Rough Diamonds Striae Grading Approach based on Deviated Optical Performance of Polished CVD Diamonds
11:50 - 13:20 Lunch
12:00 - 13:00 IGC Executive Committee Meeting No.2
Session 2: History and Museums, Chairperson: Jayshree Panjikar
13:20 - 13:40 Koichi Momma, Ritsuro Miyawaki: Overview of the “GEM” special exhibition at the NMNS
13:40 - 14:00 Ahmadjan Abduryim: A study of Chikayama’s gem and mineral collections and building a gem museum
14:00 - 14:20 Stefanos Karampelas, Eloïse Gaillou, Ugo Hennebois, Farida Maouche, Annabelle Herreweghe, Bérengère Meslin Sainte Beuve, Didier Nectoux, Aurélien Delaunay: Study of a historical Alexandrite from Paris school of mines collection
14:20 - 14:40 Stephen Kennedy, Mary Montagu-Scott, Susan Tomkins: Snapshot of rubies from 1915
14:40 -15:00 Michael Hügi: Quartz crystals from alpine fissures: their formation and the historical significance of alpine quartz as raw material for objets d’art
15:00 - 15:30 Coffee break
Session 3: Gemmology 1, Chairperson: Tay Thye Sun
15:30 - 15:50 Maxence Vigier, Emmanuel Fritsch, Theo Cavignac, Camille Latouche, Stephane Jobic: Blue shortwave luminescence of gems the role of titanate groups
15:50 - 16:10 Miro Ng: Proposed New Filler Type for Emerald Fracture Filling: Design, Detection, Differentiation, Disclosure
16:10 - 16:30 Javier Garcia-Toloza, Holman Alvarado, Carlos Julio Cedeño, Camilo Betancourt: Fingerprint differences between Emeralds from two main zones of production in Colombia in response to input from their host rock
16:30 - 17:00 Coffee break
Session 4: Gemmology 2, Chairperson: Wilawan Atichat
17:00 - 17:20 Lore Kiefert, Michael Krzemnicki, Jeanette Fiedler, T. Sintayehu, Masaki Furuya: Purple to bluish grey chalcedony from Ethiopia
17:20 - 17:40 Karen Fox, Andrew McDonald: Rose Quartz: Journey Into the Nano-Jungle
17:40 - 18:00 Boris Chauviré, Jean-Yves Mevellec, Jacques Ferreire, Paul Thomas, Emmanuel Fritsch: Opal stability: a step toward detection
18:30 - 20:30 Dinner at Museum Restaurant
Wednesday 25th October
Location: National Museum of Nature and Science, Conference Hall
Session 5: Colored stones 1, Chairperson: Ahmadjan Abduriyim
9:00 - 9:20 Nathan Renfro: Microfeatures of Beryl Group Gems including the Newest Mineral Variety, Johnkoivulaite
9:20 - 9:40 Gagan Choudhary: New yellow to grey-brown opals from Australia
9:40 - 10:00 Anette Juul-Nielsen, Arent Heilmann: A nuummite occurrence from kangerluarsuk in the Maniitsoq Region, West Greenland
10:00 -10:20 Claudio Milisenda, Stefan Müller: Colour change Paraiba tourmaline from Brazil
10:20 - 10:50 Coffee break
Session 6: Colored stones 2, Chairperson: Shane Mcclure
10:50 - 11:10 Seung Kwon Lee, Dongwook Shin: Sulfur-based species induced photochromism in sodalite
11:10 - 11:30 Jayshree Panjikar, Aatish Panjikar: Study and investigation of garnet from Balangir in Odisha, India
11:30 - 11:50 Bihan Lin, Xingtong Li, Longbo Zhang, Xiaojing Lai, Qian Zhang: Gemological and Luminescence Characteristics of Taaffeites from Mogok, Myanmar
11:50 - 12:10 Bahareh Shirdam, Yang Mingxing, Andy Shen, Nader Taghipour, Soheila Aslani: Investigating the Provenance signature of Tourmaline-Bearing Turquoise in the Kuh Zar Gold Deposit, Semnan Province, Iran
12:10 - 13:40 Lunch
Session 7: Colored stones 3, Chairperson: Stefanos Karampelas
13:40 - 14:00 Masaki Furuya: Cobalt spinel from Bai Buoi mine,Yen Bai, Vietnam
14:00 - 14:20 Chengsi Wang, Jiling Zhou, Andy Shen: Quantitative estimation of spinel’s thermal and geothermal history by photoluminescence spectroscopy and its application in spinel origin determination
14:20 - 14:40 Qingchao Zhou, Chengsi Wang, Andy Shen: Mechanism and Application of High-Temperature Copper Diffusion in Surface Recoloring of Labradorites
14:40 - 15:00 Brendan Laurs: A Review and Synthesis of the Geology and Gem Resources of Granitic Pegmatites in Southern California, USA
15:00 - 15:30 Coffee break
Session 8: Technology & Techniques, Chairperson: Brendan Laurs
15:30 - 15:50 Michael Krzemnicki, Pierre Lefèvre, Wei Zhou: Phase transformations as important markers for heat treatment detection in corundum and other gemstones
15h50 - 16:10 Tasnara Sripoonjan, Bhuwadol Wanthanachaisaeng: Applications of Python for Spectroscopic Data Processing, Analysis and Machine Learning Modeling in Gemmology
16:10 - 16:30 Hao Wang, Dirk Weltz, Michael S. Krzemnicki, Andreas Mack, Markus Wälle: Effects of Gamma Irradiation on Ruby and Pink Sapphire and Potential Detection. Methods in Gem Labs
16:30 - 16:50 Tom Stephan, Vladimir Hutanu, Xiaosong Li, Thomas Lind, Stefan Müller: Irradiation treatment and gamma-spectroscopy of morganite
16:50 - 17:10 Montira Seneewong-Na-Ayutthaya, Bhuwadol Wanthanachaisaeng, Waratchanok Suwanmanee, Thanapong Lhuaamporn, Pimlapat Kamkeaw, Sarun Phibanchon Tasnara Sripoonjan, and Thanong Leelawatanasuk: An implementation of machine learning in ruby and sapphire origin determination
Free evening
Thursday 26th October
Location: National Museum of Nature and Science, Conference Hall
Session 9: Corundum 1, Chairperson: Claudio Milisenda
9:00 - 9:20 U. Atikarnsakul, W.Soonthorntantikul, Sudarat Saeseaw: Color enhancement in yellow sapphire
9:20 - 9:40 Aaron Palke, Shane McClure, Nathan Renfro: Unstable Color in Padparadscha
9:40 - 10:00 Seika Oto, Akira Miyake, Yohei Igami, Kentaro Emori, Hiroshi Kitawaki: Crystal structure of nano inclusions in blue sapphire from Diego Suarez, Northern Madagascar
10:00 -10:20 Waratchanok Suwanmanee, Chotika Kittikunlayaworakun, Thanapong Lhuaamporn, Chanenkant Jakkawanvibul, Thanong Leelawatanasuk, Wilawan Atichat, Visut Pisutha-Arnond, Nongnuch Jangsawang, Kanwalee Pangza: Influence of Irradiation on Colour Modification and Colour Stability of Rubies: A Preliminary Study
10:20 - 10:50 Coffee break
Session 10: Corundum 2, Chairperson: Michael Krzemnicki
10:50 - 11:10 E. Billie Hughes, Wim Vertriest: Low Temperature Heat Treatment of Burmese Ruby
11:10 - 11:30 Bovon Ubolchay, Chakkaphan Sutthirat, Bhuwadol Wanthanachaisaeng, Gamini Zoysa, Waratchanok Suwanmanee, Arūnas Kleišmantas: Milky appearance of Geuda sapphire from Sri Lanka
11:30 - 11:50 Wiwat Wongkokua, Thanapong Lhuaamporn, Natthapong Monarumit, Phongsakorn Kajornboonsook, Pornsawat Wathanakul: Explanation on Yellow, Green and Brown Coloration Series of Basalt Related Bangkaja Sapphires
11:50 - 12:10 Walter Balmer: FTIR Fingerprinting: a case study on mineral inclusion identification by FTIR applied on rubies from marble-hosted deposits
12:10 - 13:00 Lunch
12:10 - 13:00 IGC Executive Committee Meeting No.3 move to Jadeite Museum
13:00 - 15:00 Visit of Hisui Genseki-Kan (Jadeite Museum) move to National Museum of Nature and Science
15:30 - 18:00 Visit of Tokyo National Museum of Nature and Science
18:00 - 18:40 Move to Symphony Cruise Terminal
19:00 - 21:00 Gala Dinner
Friday 27th October
Location: National Museum of Nature and Science, Conference Hall
Session 11: Pearls and amber, Chairperson: Pornsawat Wathanakul
9:00 - 9:20 Tay Thye Sun, Michael Krzemnicki, Gina Brombach, Thet Tin Nyunt, Myo Lwin, Tay Zar Linn, Loke Hui Ying: Analysis of Myanmar golden-lipped cultured pearls using X-ray radiography, EDXRF, UV-Vis-NIR and Raman spectroscopy
9:20 - 9:40 Laurent Cartier, Michael Krzemnicki, Bertalan Lendvay, Nadja Morf, Joana B. Meyer: DNA Fingerprinting and age dating of historic natural pearls: a combined approach
9:40 - 10:00 Sutas Singbamroong, Mohamed Karam, Nazar Ahmed, Nahla AlMuheiri, Thanong Leelawattanasuk, Bhuwadol Wanthanachaisaeng, Jirapit Jakkawanvibul: Nacreous Blister Pearl Discovered in Edible Oyster (Crassostrea gigas)
10:00 -10:20 A. Costanzo, B. Bojarski, M. Kosior, A. Klikowicz-Kosior: Baltic amber and its inclusions: an insight into the origin and nature of the trapped material
10:20 - 10:40 Yan Li, Minghan Peng, Yamei Wang: Effects of weathering on FTIR spectra and origin traceability of archaeological amber: The case of the Han Tomb of Haihun Marquis, China
10:40 - 11:10 Coffee break
Session 12: Jade, Chairperson: Andy Hsitien Shen
11:10 - 11:30 Supparat Promwongnan, Wilawan Atichat, Kannatee Fueangaksorn, Visut Pisutha-Arnond, Thanong Leelawatanasuk: Treated jadeite-jade: Unusually bright fancy colours
11:30 - 11:50 Elizabeth Su: Origin Identification Characteristics of High-quality Green Jadeite
11:50 - 12:10 Shang-I (Edward) Liu, Ka-Yi (Angela) Man, Montira Seneewong-Na-Ayutthaya, Chanenkant Jakkawanvibul: Geographic Origin Determination of Fei Cui: A comparison of high-quality green Fei Cui from Myanmar, Guatemala, and Italy
12:10 - 13:30 Lunch
13:30 - 14:00 IGC Business Meeting
Closing ceremony
14:00 - 15:30 IGC plenary meeting & closing ceremony
16:00 - 19:00 Move to Xiv Lake Yamanaka, Mount Fuji area
Pre-conference excursion
Itoigawa Jadeite Excursion
20-22 October 2023
Discover the premier Japanese gem and the official national stone – Itoigawa Jadeite sourced from Niigata prefecture. Immerse yourself in the experience of beholding, touching, and sensing the grandeur of the largest jadeite boulder, weighing an impressive 102 tons. Embark on a journey to explore the two significant jadeite sources in Itoigawa and Omi regions, uncover your own jadeite treasures at the jadeite beach, and delve into the Earth’s mysteries at the “Fossa Magna Museum,” situated in the UNESCO Global Geopark.
Post-conference excursion
Pearl Excursion
29-31 October 2023
Visit a beautiful island-Mikimoto Island in Mie Prefecture. It is the first place where was the successfully cultured the Akoya pearl by Kokichi Mikimoto. The research institute of Akoya pearl in Ise city of Mie prefecture was open for IGC members to see and discuss their advanced research results and techniques. After visiting of pearl farm, travel to the Japan’s old capital and emperor’s residence, Kyoto city, to learn more about traditional Japanese culture, the temples, shrines and other fascinating areas.
