38th IGC 2025 Athens, Greece

20. Oct 24. Oct. 2025

IGC 2025: Athens, Greece

  • 17 – 19 October 2025 Pre-conference tour (Central and Northern Greece)
  • 20 – 24 October 2025 Conference, Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI).  The conference venue is situated in downtown Athens (Akadimias 7, Athens 10671,Greece).
  • 24 – 27 October 2025 Post-conference tour (Santorini Island).

 

There are many hotels around the conference venue for all budgets, below some examples  less than 15 minutes on foot :

http://lozengehotel.com/

https://www.radissonhotels.com/en-us/hotels/radisson-individuals-social-athens

https://all.accor.com/hotel/B3X8/index.en.shtml

https://www.academiashotel.com/

https://www.kolonaki8.com/

https://www.onirocity.com/

https://athenscapitalhotel-mgallery.com/accommodation/

https://eliaermouhotel.com/

IGC 2025 Organisers

Convernor & Organiser: Prof Stefanos Karampelas  (Aristotle University of Thessaloniki & LFG)

Local Organiser: George Spyromilios (IGL)

Conference Venue
One of the excursions will include a visit to Santorini

Conference Registration: 1st Feb to 31st May 2025
Abstract Submission Start: 1st Feb 2025
Abstract Submission Deadline: 30th April 2025
Extended Abstract Submission Deadline: 15th May 2025
Notification acceptance to presenter: 1st July 2025
Last Date of Early Bird Registration: 31st May 2025
Last date Conference Registration:31st August 2025

Conference

Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Athens (Greece)

Monday 20th October

Location: Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry

8:30 - 9:30 Registration at ACCI (6th floor)
9:30 - 9:45 IGC Opening (Greek representatives)
9:45 - 10:00 IGC history (Dr. Jayshree Panjikar - IGC Executive secretary)
10:00 - 10:45 Coffee Break - Outside Conference Room Area

Open Session: Gemmology and Greece

10:45 - 11:10 P. Voudouris, S. Karampelas, V. Melfos: Gems in Greece: Geology, mineralogy and crystallizing environment
11:10 - 11:25 M. Nikopoulou, S. Karampelas, E. TsangarakI, L. Papadopoulou, C. Katsifas, I. Nazlis, V. Melfos, N. Kantiranis: Gems in Hellenistic and Roman Jewellery of Northern Greece: An investigation from the Collections of the Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki, Greece
11:25 - 11:40 A. Sergoulopoulos: Gemmological education in Greece
11:40 - 12:00 A. Krikos, I. Papadopoulos: Glyptography in Greece
12:00 - 13:30 Lunch Break - Outside Conference Room Area
Executive Committee meeting

Session 1: History and Museums - Chairperson: Karen Fox

13:30 - 13:50 E. Gaillou, G.A. Farfan G.A., U.F.S. D’Haenens-Johansson, S. Persaud, R.C. Feather II, W.H. Towbin, D.C. Jones: Studying renowned fancy color diamonds in museum collections: The case of the Winston Red
13:50 - 14:10 K. Schmetzer: History of Garnet Mining and Cutting in the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy
14:10 - 14:30 M.-L. Cassius-Duranton, V. Pardieu, S. Karampelas: Historic Emeralds and their Geographic Origin: A Retrospective Study
14:30 - 14:50 S. Karampelas, E. Gaillou, A. Herrewegh, U. Hennebois, F. Maouche, R. Bolzoni, S. Riou, Q. Dartois, B. M. S. Beuve, C. Gliksman, T. Magalhaes, V. Demetz, A. Delaunay: Study of “amethysts” from the French Crown Jewels
14:50 - 15:10 B. Shirdam, Y. Mingxing, A. H. Shen, H. F. Nashli: Cross-Cultural Provenance and Characterization of Turquoise Artefacts: A Multi-Analytical Non-Destructive Study of Reshui Tomb Cluster, China (744 AD) and Tepeh Zagheh, Iran (5200–4200 BCE)
15:10 - 15:40 Coffee Break - Outside Conference Room Area

Session 2: Pearls and Amber - Chairperson: Dr. Michael Krzemnicki

15:40 - 16:00 Y. Li, Q. Su: Unravelling the luminescence spectrum of novel ceramic nucleus cultured pearl and the cause of its strong luster
16:00 - 16:20 N. R. Hansen: Modern Cultivation of Freshwater Pearls in China: Advances in Materials, Technique
16:20 - 16:40 A. Costanzo, A. Klikowicz-Kosior, M. Kosior: Amber and its treatments: A New Baltic Amber Classification Chart
16:40 - 17:00 T. N. Thet, T. S. Tay, L. Soe, L. Cheyenne, H. Y. Loke: Amber from the Thanbaya Gaing Coal Mine, Minbu Township, Magwe Region, Myanmar
17:00 - 17:20 N. Renfro: A Photo Survey of Inclusions in Fossiliferous Amber
19:30 Cocktail at the restaurant of Benaki Museum of Greek culture

 

Tuesday 21st October

Location: Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry

Session 3: Gemmology 1 - Chairperson: Dr. Ahmadjan Abduriyim

9:30 - 9:50 M. Vigier, H. Evans, G.R. Rossman, S. Jobic, E. Fritsch: Fe-Ti charge transfers: A comprehensive review and its applications to minerals and gems
9:50 - 10:10 C. Wang, A.H. Shen: Recent Progress on the Formation Mechanism of Copper Nanoparticle in Oregon Sunstone
10:10 - 10:30 U. Henn: Application of Fibre Optics Reflectance Spectroscopy (FORS) for the determination of mineral pigments in jasper
10:30 - 11:00 Coffee Break - Outside Conference Room Area

Session 4: Gemmology 2 - Chairperson: Dr. Karl Schmetzer

11:00 - 11:20 C. Schwarzinger, S. Ulatowski, G. R. Rossman: Zoisite and its many colors
11:20 - 11:40 L. Gilles-Guéry: Pink-orange gem quality euclase from Bahia, Brazil
11:40 - 12:00 K. E. Fox, A.M. McDonald, C. Yakymcuk: On the nature of blue rose quartz
12:00 - 12:20 M. F. Hügi, M.S. Krzemnicki, M. Wälle: Gem-quality pink fluorite from Planggenstock, Switzerland: chemical and physical properties and a comparison with pink fluorites from other localities
12:20 - 13:20 Lunch Break - Outside Conference Room Area
Executive Committee meeting

Session 5: Gemmology 3 - Chairperson: Dr. Pornsawat Wathanakul

13:20 - 13:40 A.Y. Shelementyeva, Y.B. Shelementyeve, O.V. Yarapova: Typomorphic features of tourmalines of the Malkhan pegmatite field from the Irkutyanaka vein
13:40 - 14:00 J. M. Saul: Colored gemstones of metamorphic origin: Progress report in understanding how they crystallize at depth in East Africa, the Hindu Kush, Pamir Mountains, and the Middle-Urals Ring Structure
14:00 - 14:20 J. Panjikar, A. Panjikar: Hessonite garnet from Angul district of Odisha, India
14:20 - 14:40 D. Gravier, A. Delaunay, J. Boemo, J.-M. Arlabosse, E. Fritsch, S. Karampelas: Hurlbutite from Myanmar
14:40 - 15:00 G. Choudhary: A convincing glass imitation of larimar (pectolite)
15:00 - 15:30 Coffee Break - Outside Conference Room Area

Session 6: Gemmology 4 - Chairperson: Prof. Dr. Stefanos Karampelas

15:30 - 15:50 S.F. McClure: Bertrandite in Emeralds
15:50 - 16:10 R.A. Schultz-Güttler, A.R. Borotti, I.P. Marques, A. L. S. Pestilho: Found, Lost, and Found Again: The Geological and Gemological Significance of the Salininha Emerald Deposit, Brazil
16:10 - 16:30 T. Sripoonjan, M. Seneewong-Na-Ayutthaya, S. Saengdech, S. Singbamroong, A. Fanka: Automated Data Processing of Raman Spectra for Supporting Spinel Origin Determination
16:30 - 16:50 G. Zoysa, D. Schwarz, A. Kleismantas: Spinel from Sri Lanka - An update
16:50 - 17:10 B. Laurs: The Importance and Methodology of Undertaking a Literature Search for Gemmological Research and Article Publishing
17:10 - 17:30 J. Garcia-Toloza, R. J. David, O. Cristian, C. C. Julio: An approach to understanding the factors in the emerald enhancement clarity grading system used at CDTECGemlab

19:30 Folk night - Acropol Restaurant

Wednesday 22nd October

8:00 - 19:00 Excursion to the Lavrion Mines and Cape Sounion
14:30 Group photo in front of the Mineralogical Museum of Lavrion

Free evening

Thursday 23rd October

Location: Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry

Session 7: Corundum 1 - Chairperson: Dr. Ulrich Henn

9:30 - 9:50 B. Chauviré, M. Corre, M. Curti, C. Gautheron, S. Figowy, L. Pinsault: Noble gas in corundum: interests in gemology
9:50 - 10:10 A. Abduriyim, F. L. Sutherland, T. Coldham, E. Belousova: Gem zircon and sapphire age dating and application of origin determination: A study from New England sapphire fields, New South Wales, Australia
10:10 - 10:30 M. Seneewong-Na-Ayutthaya, B. Wanthanachaisaeng, T. Leelawatanasuk, W. Atichat, S. Saengdech, P. Kamkaew, T. Sripoonjan: Geographic Origin Determination of Natural Yellow Sapphires: The Preliminary Study
10:30 - 11:00 Coffee Break - Outside Conference Room Area

Session 8: Corundum 2 - Chairperson: Dr. Jayshree Panjikar

11:00 - 11:20 V. Pardieu: Rubies from Greenland
11:20 - 11:40 M. Furuya: Blue sapphire from Malacacheta of Minus Gerais, Brazil
11:40 - 12:00 S. Singbamroong, T. Sripoonjan, M. Seneewong Na Ayutthaya, P. Piantumdee, T. Sutipanya, K. Hussein, N. Ahmed: Gemological Characteristics of New Transparent Brown Sapphire
12:00 - 13:00 Lunch Break - Outside Conference Room Area
Executive Committee meeting

Session 9: Corundum 3 - Chairperson: Shane Mcclure

13:00 - 13:20 M.S. Krzemnicki, W. Zhou, P. Lefèvre, M. Wälle, H.A.O. Wang: HFSE-enriched sapphires of gem quality: A combined FTIR and trace element study and implications for heat treatment detection
13:20 - 13:40 E.B. Hughes, R. Perkins: Low Temperature Heat Treatment of Madagascar Sapphire
13:40 - 14:00 H.A.O. Wang, M. Wälle, V. Hutanu, X. Li, M. S. Krzemnicki: Effects of Gamma Irradiation on Corundum: Towards a Potential Detection Method
14:00 - 14:20 S. Promwongnan, W. Atichat, C. Suphan, W. Chongraktrakul, V. Pisutha-Arnond: Challenges in the Detection of Ruby and Sapphire Treatment in the Thai Market
14:20 - 14:40 S. Kennedy: Padparadscha sapphires and heat treatment
14:40 - 15:10 Coffee Break - Outside Conference Room Area

Session 10: Jade - Chairperson: Thye Sun Tay

15:10 - 15:30 S.-I (Edward) Liu, K.-Y. (Angela) Man, M. Seneewong-Na-Ayutthaya, B. Wanthanachaisaeng: Advancing Fei Cui Origin Authentication: A comparison of green Fei Cui from Myanmar, Guatemala, Italy and Russia
15:30 - 15:50 E. Su: Color Genesis Analysis and Characteristics for Origin Identification of Purple Jadeite
15:50 - 16:10 M. Seneewong-Na-Ayutthaya, B. Wanthanachaisaeng, T. Lhuaamporn, W. Suwanmanee, W. Atichat, T. Leelawatanasuk: Dyed purple Fei Cui (Lavender jade) from Mandalay’s jade market, Myanmar

19:30 Gala Dinner – Attikos Restaurant

 

Friday 24th October

Location: Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry

9:00 - 9:30 Coffee – Outside Conference Room Area

Session 11: Diamonds - Chairperson: Prof. Dr. Emmanuel Fritsch

9:30 - 9:50 T. Hainschwang: Pink to Red and Violet Diamonds from the Argyle Mine, Australia: Properties, Color Origin and Latest Research Results
9:50 - 10:10 M. Bouman, J. Zarupski: Shining light on “480 nm band” diamonds: Gemmological characteristics of an unusual group of diamonds with yellow and red luminescence
10:10 - 10:30 K. Emori, H. Kitawaki, M. Hisanaga, M. Yamamoto: Identification of melee size synthetic coloured diamond for jewellery
10:30 - 10:50 Y. Shelementyev, G. Kriulina, O. Yarapova, V. Vins, A. Stolyarevich: Nitrogen aggregates in yellow HPHT and CVD synthetic diamonds
10:50 - 11:10 H. Y. Loke, L. C. H. Timothy, H. Nyunt, T. N. Thet, S. Linda, T. S. Tay: Diamonds from Than Lwin River near Mong Hsu, Myanmar
11:10 - 11:30 S. Sakkaraevj, T. Lhuaamporn, P. Lomthong, W. Atichat, P. Wathanakul: Morphologies and Surface Features of Diamond Samples from Southern Thailand

11:30 - 12:30 Lunch Break - Outside Conference Room Area Executive Committee meeting

12:30 - 13:30 Announcements for IGC 2027 - Closing IGC 2025

Pre-conference excursion

Meteora and Mount Olympus
17-19 October 2025

Discovery of sites of geological and archaeological significance, such as Meteora and Vergina (both UNESCO World Heritage Sites), Thessaloniki (Greece’ss second-largest city, rich in culture), and Mount Olympus (the tallest mountain in Greece, believed in Greek mythology to be the home of the gods).

Price: 870 euros


Included: Twin rooms at 3- or 4-star hotels (single supplement of 35%) with breakfast, 3 lunches, 2 dinners, transfers with bus, tourist guide, museum entrances and all taxes.

Pre-conference excursion details (PDF)

A minimum of 30 participants and a maximum of 45 participants

Post-conference excursion

Santorini island
24-27 October 2025

24-27 October 2025

Discovery of the iconic Santorini caldera by boat, gaining geological insights, while exploring famous archaeological sites like Akrotiri and popular attractions such as Oia.

Price: 1670 euros

Post-conference excursion details (PDF)

IMPORTANT NOTE: Due to current seismic activity on the island, this tour cannot be guaranteed at the moment. As an alternative, an excursion to Milos Island will be offered from October 25 to 28, 2025; more information to follow.

Both excursions will have limitations in the number of participants, because of hotel reservations.