METHOD OF PROCESSING MINERALS BY TREATMENT WITH ACCELERATED ELECTRONS

摘要

METHOD FOR PROCESSING MINERALS A method for processing minerals and manufactured items based thereon, employed in jewelry, consists in inducing colour changes in minerals through irradiation by accelerated electrons of energies ranging between 3 and 45 MeV with integral doses of 1?1016 to 1?1018 electron/cm2 at a temperature between 80 and 350.degree.C. The invention enhances jewelry and decorative properties of minerals employed in jewelry and, therefore 9 raises their commercial value.