Varanasi: The BHU is set to establish a state-of-the-art gemstone testing and research laboratory under the Sophisticated Analytical and Technical Help Institute (SATHI) scheme sanctioned by the Department of Science and Technology (DST).
According to the BHU spokesperson, the meet was attended by many experts including former director general of the Geological Survey of India JN Das, Prof NV Chalapathi Rao from the department of Geology at BHU, Neeraj Pandey, and a former senior official at the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). Faculty members from the departments of Geology and Chemistry were also present, along with president of the Indian Industry Association Rajesh Bhatia.
About 20 top gemstone traders from Varanasi attended the industry meet. The industry representatives provided important suggestions that will be incorporated in the purchase of equipment for setting up the laboratory.
The coordinator of SATHI-BHU and director of the Institute of Science, Prof Anil K Tripathi said that this is the first time a laboratory of this kind is being established in this part of the country. The laboratory will be housed in the Central Discovery Centre (CDC) of BHU. A team consisting of professors specialized in relevant fields such as mineralogy and X-ray spectroscopy from the departments of Geology, Chemistry, and Physics at the Institute of Science and MMV as well as an external expert, a former head of the Gem testing laboratory at the Geological Survey of India, will monitor the functioning of the laboratory.
Prof Tripathi said that the proposed gem testing facility will be equipped with several state-of-the-art sophisticated instruments, including an FTIR (Fourier transformation infra-red spectroscope), Laser Raman spectroscopy, ED-XRF (Energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometer), Table top XRD (X-ray diffractometer), UV-VIS-NIR (Ultra violet, visible and near infra-red) Spectrometer, binocular and polarizing microscope, and a laser cutter. These instruments will be used to identify various aspects of gemstones such as structure, chemistry, colour, and inclusions. The facility will be established with an investment of Rs 3.75 crore, he added.
