Chromophore Agent

Chromophore Agent: an element, lattice defect or phenomenon, resulting in a color. It can be constituted by metal ions dispersed in the crystal lattice (e.g ruby, emerald); by charge transfers (e.g. sapphire); by color centers (e.g. green diamond, yellow corundum, brown quartz); transitions between “bands” (e.g blue diamond, gold); physical phenomena such as dispersion, diffusion, diffraction, interference (e.g. opal). Source: Gemological Dictionary (M. Superchi).

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