Properties and Identification Characteristics of Counterfeit Fibrous Mineral Specimens Made with REE Glass Fiber

Recently, a new material so-called "nature rutile geode" appeared in Tiancheng Market, Donghai County and online sales platforms. To figure out wheather it is natural or not and its detailed composition, and to characterize this newly appeared material, X-ray poweder diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), gem microscope, scanning electron microscope-energy spectrum (SEM-EDS), electron probe-energy spectrum (EPMA-EDS), X-ray fluorescence spectrum (XRF), nuclear magnetic resonance hydrogen spectrum (¹H-NMR), laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) and other testing methods were employed. The result shows that the so-called "natural rutile" is actually amorphous Sm-doped alumionosilicate fluorescent glass fiber. Sm²⁺ results in its brownish colour and is its activator, Meanwhile, the Sm content is about 22 039~32 331×10^-6, and no small organic molecules are observed. The material disguised as natural baserock is maily hematite, which may be prepared by sintered iron oxide.