gems, jade, jadeite, fei cui, Burma, Myanmar, China, omphacite, kosmochlor, Broken Bangle

The discovery of bright green omphacite jade raised many questions in gemmology, not only regarding its identification but also concerning the very definition of jade (Liu et al, 2010, 2011; McClure, 2012). Although micro- Raman spectroscopy is widely used in characterizing “Burmese jade” (Fei Cui), the complex and heterogeneous nature of Fei Cui makes mineral recognition difficult when the constituents or isomorphous submicroscopic minerals show similar appearance under the optical microscope. The repeatability and traceability of test results of random point sampling are under question. This study demonstrates the use of VPSEM-EDS Variable Pressure Scanning Electron Microscopy- Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy, backscattered electron (BSE) imaging coupled with a Raman spectroscopy system for in situ non-destructive Fei Cui micromineral elemental, chemical and structural analyses (Wille et al., 2014).