Mineralium Deposita (1998) 33: 513519
LETTER
G. Giuliani C. France-Lanord P. Coget D. Schwarz
A. Cheilletz Y. Branquet D. Giard A. Martin-Izard
P. Alexandrov D. H. Piat
Oxygen isotope systematics of emerald: relevance for its origin
and geological signicance
Received: 29 January 1998 / Accepted: 25 March 1998
Abstract Oxygen isotopic composition of emerald from 62 oc-
currences and deposits in the world reveals a wide range in d18O
(SMOW) between +6.2 and +24.7&. The d18O-values for each
deposit are restricted and can be used to determine the origin of
emerald from the world's most important producers. The d18O-
value of emerald appears to be a ngerprint of its origin, especially
for gems of exceptional quality from Colombia (eastern emerald
zone, d18O +16.8 0.1&; western emerald zone, d18O
+21.2 0.5&), Afghanistan (d18O +13.5 0.1&), Pakistan
(Swat-Mingora districts, d18O +15.7 0.1&), Brazil (Santa
Terezinha de Goias, d18O +12.2 0.1&; Quadrilatero Fe-
rrifero, d18O +6.9 0.4&) and Zimbabwe (Sandawana,
d18O +7.5 0.5&). Furthermore, the 18O-composition of
emerald appears to be a good marker of its geological environment
because the data suggest that host-rock-buering of uid d18O is
considerable during uid-rock interaction.
Editorial handling: DR
G. Giuliani (&)
ORSTOM, Institut Francais de Recherche Scientique pour le
Developpement en Cooperation and CRPG-CNRS,
UPR 9046, BP 20, 54501 Vandoeuvre-les-Nancy Cedex,
France
e-mail giuliani@ crpg.cnrs-nancy.fr
C. France-Lanord P. Coget Y. Branquet P. Alexandrov
CRPG-CNRS, UPR 9046, BP 20,
54501 Vandoeuvre les Nancy Cedex,
France
D. Schwarz
Gubelin gemmological laboratory, Maihofstrasse 102,
CH-6000 Lucerne 9, Switzerland
A. Cheilletz
ENSG-INPL and CRPG-CNRS, UPR 9046, BP 20,
54501 Vandoeuvre les Nancy Cedex, France
D. Giard
58 rue Charlot, 75003 Paris, France
D.H. Piat
54 rue La Fayette, 75009 Paris, France
A. Martin-Izard
Departamento de Geologia, Universidad de Oviedo,
Arias de Velasco, 33005 Oviedo, Spain
Springer-Verlag 1998
Introduction
Emerald is the oldest known gemstone having been mined since
ancient times in Egypt and probably in Bactria and Scythia
(Bariand and Poirot 1985). Emerald, the chromium-vanadium-rich
variety of beryl, ideally Be3Al2Si6O18, is much rarer than diamond
and may have a value thousands of times that of gold. Colombia
has become the world's most important emerald producer (60% of
the whole production estimated in 1986 to be 15 millions of carats;
Mineralco 1996) followed respectively, by Zambia (15%), Brazil
(10%), Russia (5%), Madagascar (3%), Zimbabwe (2%), Pakistan
and Afghanistan (both 5%). Colombian emeralds are prized for
their exceptional quality as are those from Afghanistan, Zambia
and Russia. Herein lies the necessity to certify the origin of emerald
i.e. its geographic location prior to its commercialization in the
international market. Emerald, as well as ruby and sapphire, is
commonly characterized by its physical, optical and chemical
properties (Sinkankas and Read 1986) and by the nature of the
solid and uid-bearing inclusions formed during its growth (Sch-
warz 1987). Nevertheless, these gemmological features are often
insucient to certify the origin of gems. For example, halite-
bearing uid inclusions described as the main criterion for diag-
nosis of Colombian emeralds are also found in Afghan (Bowersox
et al. 1991), Nigerian (Schwarz et al. 1996) and South African
crystals (Nwe and Morteani 1993). Moreover, in the same mining
district, emerald can change habit, colour and transparency. Thus
doubt, or ambiguity always exists when determining the origin of
cut-emerald disconnected from its geological environment. The
present study describes, for the rst time, the powerful tool of
stable oxygen isotopes for deciphering the origin of emerald from a
wide variety of worldwide emerald deposits and for the world's nest
quality gemstones. Furthermore, this work provides an opportunity
to constrain better the oxygen-isotopic composition of emerald
depending on its geogical setting and its parental host-rocks.
Types of emerald deposits
Two types of emerald deposits are recognized worldwide (Giuliani
et al. 1997a): (1) the type associated with pegmatites and granites
which concerns most of the deposits. The model generally proposed
involves the intrusion of granitic pegmatites within Cr-(V)-bearing
basic-ultrabasic rocks (Sinkankas and Read 1986; Schwarz 1987;
Kazmi and Snee 1989; Cheilletz and Giuliani 1997; Giuliani et al.
1997b). Emerald is hosted either by phlogopite schists contained
within serpentinites and talc-schists or by plagioclasites formed at
the expense of pegmatites. These metasomatic rocks, i.e.
phlogopitite and plagioclasite, are both observed worldwide in the
514
majority of the emerald-pegmatite deposits; (2) the type linked to
thrusts, faults and shear-zones contained in Cr-(V)-bearing rocks
(Fig. 1) and disconnected from pegmatites (Giuliani et al. 1997a,
b). These are the Brazilian deposits of Santa Terezinha de Goias and
Itabera , the emerald mines of Djebels Sika t and Zabara in Egypt,
Afghan and Pakistani (Swat-Mingora) deposits, the emerald occur-
rence of Habachtal in Austria and the Colombian emerald deposits.
Samples and analytical methods
Emeralds used in this study were collected from 62 occurrences and
deposits in 19 countries, USA and Ukraine are not represented
(Fig. 1 and Table 1). The extraction of framework oxygen from
emerald was by using standard techniques with BrF5 as the reagent
(Clayton and Mayeda 1963). The oxygen released from 5 to 10 mg
of emerald was converted to CO2 in a graphite furnace at 750 C
and the yields measured by a capacitance manometer. All the an-
alyses were duplicated (sometimes triplicated) and standards (in-
ternational:quartz NBS 28, d18O +9.6& or laboratory:quartz
NL 615, d18O +18.3&) were measured for each experimental
run. The 18O/16O ratio of CO2 was analyzed on a gas-source
spectrometer (VG 602D). The d18O-values are presented in the
conventional delta (d) notation relative to SMOW standard.
d (&) [((Rsample/Rstandard) )1)]  103, where R is the isotopic
ratio 18O/16O. The 1r analytical precision is 0.2&.
Results
The d18O-values of the emeralds studied range from +6.2 to
+24.7& (Table 1). Asian emeralds have d18O-values in the range
+10.6 to +16.2&. Pegmatite deposits of Khaltaro and Rajhastan
have similar emerald d18O-values, respectively +10.6 and +10.8&,
whereas Afghan (mean d18O +13.5 0.1&) and Swat-Ming-
ora shear-zone deposits (mean d18O +15.7 0.1&) have
contrasting values (Fig. 2).
Western Australian emeralds hosted by greenstone belts have
d18O-values (Poona and Menzies deposits, +7 < d18O < +9&)
distinct from eastern ones contained in meta-sedimentary forma-
tions (Torrington and Emmaville, +9.9 < d18O < +11.2&).
African emeralds have restricted d18O-values ranges that over-
lap each other (Fig. 2). Nevertheless, emeralds from Zambia
(+9.8 < d18O < +10.4&), Zimbabwe (+6.9 < d18O < +8.0&)
and Madagascar (+8.5 < d18O < +9.4&), which are the most
prized in the international market, can be distinguished.
European emeralds have d18O-values between +6.9 and
+10.8&. Habachtal thrust-controlled emeralds have lower d18O-
values (mean +7.1 0.1&) than those related to pegmatite
deposits from the Urals, Bulgaria, Norway and Spain (Fig. 2)
South American emeralds are characterized by a wide range of
d18O-values (Table 1). Colombian emeralds have the highest oxy-
gen-isotopic compositions found worldwide (Fig. 2) and their
d18O-range permits easy distinguishing of emeralds from the east-
ern zone (mean +16.8 0.1&) to those from the western zone
(mean +21.2 0.5&). In Brazil, emeralds related to peg-
Fig. 1 Location of the world's emerald deposits (according to the new
classication type of Giuliani et al. 1997a) with the corresponding
mean d18O (SMOW) of emerald. Symbols: circle, pegmatite-granite
type emerald deposit; square thrust-fault-shear zone type emerald
deposit.United-States Hiddenite (HD); Colombia, western emerald
zone (WEZ ) : Muzo, Coscuez, Yacopi, Pena Blanca; eastern emerald
zone (EEZ ) : Chivor, Gachala; Brazil Carna ba (CA), Socoto (SO),
Santa Terezinha (STA), Quadrilatero Ferr fero (QF ); Norway
Eidswoll-Mjosa-See (MJ ); Austria Habachtal (H ); Spain
Franqueira (F ); Ukrain (UK ); Bulgaria Rila (RI); Russia Urals
(UR); Pakistan Swat Mohmand (SW ), Khaltaro (K); Afghanistan
Panjsher (AF ); India Rajasthan (R); Egypt Djebel Sika t (EG );
Nigeria Kaduna (N ); Tanzania Sumbawanga (TZ ); Somalia (S );
Zambia Miku (ZA); Mozambique Morrua (M ); Zimbabwe
Sandawana (ZB); South Africa Leydsdorp (SA); Madagascar
Morafeno (MA); Australia Wodgina (WO), Poona (PO), Menzies
(ME ), Emmaville (EM ), Torrington (TO).
 515

Table 1 Oxygen isotope composition (d18O, & SMOW) of emerald from dierent occurrences and deposits in the world. P pegmatite type
emerald deposit; T-SZ thrust-fault-shear zone type emerald deposit
18
Continent Country Mine locality Type of deposit Sample O/16O 18
O/16O
(&, SMOW) (&, mean)

ASIA
Pakistan Swat T-SZ SW1 +15.7 +15.7 0.1
SW2 +15.9 (n=9)
Arif et al. +15.6 0.4
(1996) (n=7)
Khaltaro P KHAL-1 +10.6 +10.65 0.05
Laurs et al. +10.7 (n=2)
(1996)
India Rajhastan P 96-16-2 +10.8
Afghanistan Kendjt T-SZ K1 +13.6 +13.5 0.1
Kalat 1 Khal +13.35 (n=5)
Gujari 1 Guj1 +13.25
Gujari 2 Guj2 +13.25
Shabaki SHA-1 +13.9
OCEANIA
Australia Emmaville P EMM-II +11.2
Poona P POO1 +7.0 +7.25 0.25
POO2 +7.5 (n=2)
Menzies P MEN-1 +9.0
Torrington P TO-1 +9.9
AFRICA
Nigeria Kaduna P NI-2 +9.4 +9.55 0.15
NI-3 +9.7 (n=2)
Egypt Sikait T-SZ EGYP-1 +10.3 +10.35 0.05
EGYP-2 +10.4 (n=2)
South Africa Leydsdorp P LEY-1 +9.7 +9.6 0.1
Cobra pit COBRA-1 +9.5 (n=2)
Tanzania Sumbawanga P TAN-1 +11.7
Mozambique Maria mine P MA-1 +8.2
Zambia Miku P ZAMB-1 +9.8 +10.1 0.3
ZAMB-2 +10.4 (n=2)
Zimbabwe Sandawana P SAND-1 +8.0 +7.45 0.55
SAND-2 +6.9 (n=2)
Madagascar Morafeno P MAD-1 +9.4 +8.95 0.45
MAD-2 +8.5 (n=2)
EUROPE
Austria Habachtal T-SZ HAB-3 +7.3 +7.1 0.1
HAB-4 +7.2 (n=3)
HAB-6 +6.9
Bulgaria Rila P Rila 1 +9.5 +9.4 0.06
Rila 2 +9.4 (n=3)
Rila 3 +9.3
Norway Mjosa-See P NOR-1 +9.4
Spain Franqueira P FRAN-1 +9.75
Russia Urals P OUR-3 +10.6 +10.6 0.2
Malysheva OUR-4 +10.2 (n=3)
PRK-14/URA +11.0
AMERICA
Brazil Minas Gerais State
Quadilatero P +6.85 0.4
Ferr fero (n= 6)
Capoeirana P CAP 14-1 +6.3 +6.2 0.03
CAP 14-2 +6.2 (n=3)
Fallick et al. +6.2
(1994)
(continued overleaf )
516

Table 1 (continued)
18
Continent Country Mine locality Type of deposit Sample O/16O 18
O/16O
(&, SMOW) (&, mean)

Itabira P Fallick et al. +7.0 0.3

Santana dos P FER-1 +7.9
Ferros
Brazil
Bahia State
Anage pits +7.2 0.3
Juca P JU-7 +6.8 (n=2)
Pombos P PO-1 +7.5
Carna ba pits + 9.05 0.1
P (n=7)
Bode BO-1 +9.1
Trecho Novo TN-1 +9.1
Marota MA-1 +8.8
Cabra CAB-1 +8.8
Formiga FOR-1 +8.8
Trecho Velho TV-1 +9.1
Lagarta LA-1 +9.6
Carna ba Fallick et al. +8.5 0.5
Socoto P SO-18 +10.9
Fallick et al. +10.4 0.4
(1994)
Goias State
Santa T-SZ STA23-1 +12.4 +12.2 0.1
Terezinha STA23 +12.0 (n=4)
STA24-2 +12.4
STA24-1 +12.1
Itabera T-SZ ITA-8 +12.1
Pirenopolis P PIR-13 +9.4
Pela Ema P PE1 +11.8
Porangatu P Fallick and + 11.0 0.3
Barros (1987) (n=15)
Ceara State
Taua P FAB-3 +8.4
Coqui P CO-1 +12.1
AMERICA
Colombia Eastern +16.8 0.1
emerald zone (n= 27)

T-SZ
Chivor district
Klein G138-1 +16.1 +16.3 0.3
G138 +17.2 (n=4)
G138-2 +15.9
G138-A +15.9
Oriente G118-1 +16.2 +17.2 0.2
G118 +18.3 (n=12)
G118-2 +18.4
G118-3 +17.4
G118-A +17.2
G118-B +16.8
G118-C +17.1
G118-D +17.1
G118-E +16.5
G118-F +16.8
G118-G +16.8
G118-H +17.2
El Pulpito 95-36 +17.4 +16.7 0.35
Pul-1 +16.3 (n=3)
Pul-2 +16.4
Guala G136 +16.8 +16.9 0.1
Gual-1 +17.0 (n=2)
 517

Table 1 (continued)
18
Continent Country Mine locality Type of deposit Sample O/16O 18
O/16O
(&, SMOW) (&, mean)

Palo Aranado G134 +17.1 +16.6 0.5

PA-1 +16.1 (n=2)
Guali G125 +16.65
Colombia Quebrada Negra QN-1 +15.9
Gachala district
Vega G101-1 +18.1 +18.1
Vega +18.1 (n=2)
Western +21.2 0.5
emerald zone (n=17)
T-SZ
Muzo district
Pava G89 +18.7
Cincho G135 +22.7 +22.3 0.4
CIN-1 +21.5 (n=3)
CIN-2 +22.6
Tequendama G137 +21.95 +22.0 0.05
TQ-1 +22.05 (n=2)
Repolal 95-41 +18.7 +18.7
REP-1 +18.7 (n=2)
Minabuco MIN-1 +18.8
Coscuez G119 +24.8 +24.75 0.05
COS-1 +24.7 (n=2)
Pena Blanca 95-17 +19.7 +20 0.3
PB +20.4 (n=2)
Yacopi G88a +21.4 +21.5 0.07
G88c +21.6 (n=3)
G88d +21.4
Guaquimay 95-35 +21.1

matites have a systematic d18O inter-deposit variability
(+6.2 < d18O < +12.1&) and those related to shear-zone-type
deposits have a restricted d18O range (+12.0 < d18O < +12.4&).
Discussion of the results
Consistent emerald d18O-values are found for each deposit
(Table 1). At the scale of a vein set system, as studied for the
Colombian Oriente deposit (eastern emerald zone, Chivor district),
the variability registered for the d18O-values of emerald is low
(mean +17.2 0.2&, n 12 crystals). At the scale of a
mining district, as veried for the Brazilian Carna ba deposit, the
inter-prospecting pit d18O-emerald variability is insignicant (d18O-
mean value 9.0 0.1&, n 7 prospecting pits; Table 1). On
the other hand, the d18O-values of emeralds reported in Table 1
and those published by Fallick et al. (1994), Arif et al. (1996) and
Laurs et al. (1996) are similar. They validate our data for deci-
phering the origin of emerald, when disconnected from its geo-
logical environment.
Three oxygen isotopic groups corresponding to three sets of
d18O-values are dened (Fig. 2): the rst group, in the range +6.2
and +7.9&, corresponds to emeralds from Brazil (Quadrilatero
Ferr fero and Anage districts), Austria (Habachtal), Australia
(Poona) and Zimbabwe (Sandawana); the second group in the
range +8.0& and +12& concerns most of the deposits in the
world, as for example those of Zambia, Tanzania, Russia, Mada-
gascar, Pakistan (Kaltharo), and Brazil (Carna ba and Socoto); the
third group, dened by d18O > +12&, includes the emerald
deposits of Brazil (Santa Terezinha de Goias), Afghanistan, Paki-
stan (Swat-Mingora district) and Colombia.
The d18O-ranges, presented in Table 1, group data derived from
many occurrences in the world which have no economic implica-
tions. In other words, the d18O inter-emerald overlap ranging be-
tween +6.2 and 12& can be discussed when considering only the
emeralds found in the international market. Indeed, the world's
most important producer of emerald of good to exceptional quality
are Brazil (Quadrilatero Ferr fero, Carna ba and Socoto, Santa
Terezinha de Goias deposits), Zambia, Zimbabwe, Madagascar
(Morafeno deposit), Russia (Urals deposits), Pakistan (Swat
deposits), Afganistan and Colombia:
1. Emeralds from the rst d18O-group concern the deposits of the
Quadrilatero Ferr fero in Brazil (+6.2 < d18O < +7.9&;
mean +6.9 0.4&) and those of Sandawana in Zimbabwe
(+6.9 < d18O < +8.0&; mean +7.5 0.5&). The
d18O-values of emerald from both deposits overlap but the
uncertainty can be avoided by considering the nature of solid
and uid inclusions in these emeralds. Sandawana emeralds are
characterized by the presence of numerous needles of amphi-
boles (tremolite, actinolite and cummingtonite) and decrepita-
ted uids inclusions (Schwarz 1987; Zwaan et al. 1997). In
contrast, Quadrilatero Ferr fero emeralds contain phlogopite
inclusions and primary CO2-bearing aqueous uid inclusions
(Schwarz 1987; Souza et al. 1992).
2. Emeralds from the second d18O-group cannot be identied by
their lattice oxygen isotopic composition (Fig. 2). Carna ba
(+8.8 < d18O < +9.6&; mean +9.0 0.1&) and Mo-
rafeno emeralds (+8.5 < d18O < +9.4&; mean +8.9
0.4&) are indistinguishable. Zambian (+9.8 < d18O <
+10.4&), Russian (+10.2 < d18O < +11.0&) and Socoto
emeralds in Brazil (+10 < d18O < +10.9&) have the same
d18O range. Furthermore, their physical (density) and optical
properties (refractive index, birefringence) overlap and the main
518

shear-zone-controlled emerald deposits (Austria and Egypt), all

Eastern zone Western zone found in Cr-(V)-bearing mac-ultramac rocks. Emerald d18O
spans the range from ultramac rocks (+5.0 < d18O < +8 &;
OR Kyser 1986) to I, A and S-type granites (+5.5 < d18O < +13&;
PEN
PE I
QN
PU RP TQ
Sheppard 1986) and the values found in pegmatitic beryls
PB POR STA
GI
CIN (+9.8 < d18O < +11.5&; Taylor et al. 1992; Giuliani et al.
GA MIN
JU P CO
V
Y 1997b). This variability is related to the genesis of emerald, which is
FE PA
PV QY CZ interpreted to involve interaction of uids with two pre-exisiting
C IT T CA SO
SOUTH
KL
rocks of contrasting geochemistry and isotopic signatures, i.e.
Brazil AMERICA C pegmatite and ultramac rocks. It suggests an important local
rock-buering of uid d18O (Fallick et al. 1994; Giuliani 1997).
RI F The third emerald d18O-group characterized by d18O-val-
EUROPE
H
MJ
UR
ues >+12&, corresponds to thrust and shear-zone-controlled
emerald type deposits which are disconnected from granites and
M SA EG pegmatites. Emerald is contained in 18O-rich rocks (+10 <
N AFRICA d18O < +25&) such as carbonated-talc schists (Santa Terezinha de
ZB MA ZA TZ Goias deposit; d18O talc +10.8 &; Giuliani et al. 1997b), talc-
magnesite schists (Swat deposit; d18O magnesite +17.9
PO ME TO EM OCEANIA 1.2&; Arif et al. 1996), sedimentary and ultramac formations
(Afghanistan) or black shales and carbonates (Colombia; carbon-
K AF SW ASIA ates: d18O +21.6 0.8&; shales: +16.2 < d18O< +19.3&,
Giuliani 1997). The high 18O-enrichment of emerald also indicates
R

extensive isotopic exchange between the hydrothermal uid and the

5 10
18
15 20 25 sedimentary or metamorphic 18O-rich reservoir.
O (SMOW)

Fig. 2 d18O-values range of emerald for the dierent occurrences and

deposits in the world. Asia: Pakistan Swat (SW ), Khaltaro (K );
Afghanistan Panjsher (AF ); India Rajasthan (R). Australia: Poona
(PO), Menzies (ME), Emmaville (EM), Torrington (TO). Africa:
Egypt Djebel Sika t (EG ); Nigeria Kaduna (N ); Tanzania
Sumbawanga (TZ ); Zambia Miku (ZA ); Mozambique Morrua
(M ); Zimbabwe Sandawana (ZB ); South Africa Leydsdorp,
Cobra pit (SA); Madagascar Morafeno (MA). Europe: Bulgaria
Rila (RI); Norway Eidswoll-Mjosa-See (MJ ); Austria Habachtal
(H ); Spain Franqueira (F ), Russia Urals, Malysheva (UR). South
America: Brazil Quadrilatero Ferr fero (QF ) with the deposits of
Capoeirana (C ), Itabira-Belmont mine (IT ) and Santana dos Ferros
(FE ), Taua (T ), Carna ba district (CA), Socoto (So), Anage district
with Juca (JU ) and Pombos (PB ), Pirenopolis (P), Coqui (CO),
Porangatu (POR), Santa Terezinha (STA), Pela Ema (PE), Itabera
(I ); Colombia western emerald zone: Muzo mines with Tequendama
(TQ), Minabuco (MIN ), Repolal (RP), Pava (PV) and Cincho (CIN ),
Coscuez (CZ), Yacopi (Y), Pena Blanca (PEN ), Quaquimay (QY );
eastern emerald zone: Chivor district with Oriente mines (OR), Klein
(KL), La Guala (GA), El Pulpito (PU ), Palo Aranado (PA), Guali
(GI ), Quebrada Negra (QN ), and Gachala district with Vega San
Juan mine (V )
Conclusions
The isotopic composition of framework oxygen in emerald is of
particular importance for determining the origin of emerald of
exceptional quality from the world's most important producers.
The d18O-value of emerald appears to be a good criterion of its
identity especially for Colombian, Afghan, Pakistani (Swat-Ming-
ora districts), Brazilian (Santa Terezinha de Goias and Quadrila-
tero Ferrifero deposits) and Zimbabweian emeralds. However, the
emerald d18O-ranges from Russia, Brazil (Carna ba and Socoto
deposits), Madagascar and Zambia overlap. In addition, the 18O-
composition of emerald is a good indicator of its geological envi-
ronment. Indeed, the d18O of the uid in equilibrium with emerald
appears buered by the local host-rock during low uid-rock
interaction. The 18O/16O ratios of emerald obtained by classical
mass spectrometry by using 5 to 10. 103 g of material, will allow
the calibration of the CRPG-CNRS IMS 1270 ion microprobe
(which requires only 2.1011 g of material with a beam of 1 to 5
microns diameter). It will provide new insights into the
authentication of the origin of ancient emeralds, in particular to
map out the route of emeralds since Egyptian times (Giuliani et al.
1998) and to test the myth or reality of the emeralds known as old
mines emeralds .

solid inclusions enclosed by emerald i.e. phlogopite and tremo-
lite, are both found in each emerald category (Schwarz 1987).
3. Emeralds from the third d18O-group can be identied easily and
for the Colombian emeralds from the western zone, one can
discriminate crystals originating from Coscuez, Muzo or Pena
Blanca mines which together with Afghan emeralds are the
most prized in the world (Fig. 2).
The dierent d18O-values obtained for emeralds are the result of
uid rock-interaction linked to pervasive uid-ow systems af-
fecting contrasted geological environments (Giuliani et al. 1997a,
b). The hydrothermal uid is always channelled by fractures which
crosscut rocks of variable chemical composition such as granites
and pegmatites, mac-ultramac rocks, sedimentary or metamor-
phic formations. These dierent types of rocks which have dier-
ent 18O/16O isotopic signatures tend to modify the oxygen-isotopic
composition of the pervasive uid (Fallick et al. 1994). This mod-
ication will depend on uid-rock interaction intensity and buf-
fering of uid d18O may be achieved under low uid-rock
conditions.
The rst two emerald d18O-groups (+6.2 < d18O < +12.0&)
include the granitic-pegmatite type deposits and two thrust- and
Acknowledgements The authors wish to express thanks to A.E
Fallick for his review. Contribution C.R.P.G p 1338.
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