APPLICATIONS OF X-RAY RADIOGRAPHY AND X-RAY COMPUTED MICROTOMOGRAPHY IN GEMOLOGY

X-ray radiography and X-ray computed microtomography are two imaging techniques with far-reaching applications in many fields. In gemology, they play a crucial role in the identification of pearl, a unique biogenic gem material. This article offers a brief history of pearl testing by X-ray imaging, as well as basic instrumental theory, examples of different types of pearls that can be separated with X-ray imaging, and examples of its other uses in gemology and mineralogy. The aim of this paper is to provide readers with a basic understanding of these methods and the importance of these devices in a gemological setting, particularly for pearl testing.