! "#$" %$ $$" &#$" $ !""! #$ "%&&’ ()* $ $ *+",) - !*-) $ &!*. Centro de Desenvolvimento da Tecnologia Nuclear CDTN Comissão Nacional de Energia Nuclear – CNEN Avenida Presidente Antônio Carlos, 6627, Campus da UFMG 31270901 Belo Horizonte, MG alkmia@yahoo.com.br, fsl@cdtn.br Colorless quartz is usually exposed to ionizing radiation (gama rays or high energy electron beam) in order to acquire different colors for jewelry. This is due to the presence of traces of some elements such as aluminum, iron, hydrogen, lithium and sodium, which are responsible for the extrinsic colors developed after irradiation. Most quartz crystals are extracted from the nature in the colorless form and it is necessary to separate those that can develop colors from those that cannot. This can be done through irradiation tests which take a long time. Other way is to collect the infrared signature of the colorless quartz, which can be overtaken in a few minutes. However, the infrared spectroscopic analysis is quite expensive, especially when using the portable devices. The Raman spectroscopy is now available as an inexpensive and portable technique that can be used in field. That could provide identification of the samples still in the field, facilitating the prediction of its economic exploitation. In addition, Raman spectroscopy, in general, requires a minimum or none sample preparation. This paper presents an investigation that uses Raman spectroscopy as a substitute for the infrared spectroscopy when predicting the potential color development of quartz. Quartz is extracted from nature without color. Only a small fraction of quartz is able to develop color, which is obtained by exposure to ionizing radiation and heat. Investments in mining and business conducted with colorless quartz are of high risk, which causes many problems in business relationships and end up reducing the price of quartz at its source. To quartz is added a significant value after beneficiation. The so poor producing regions in Brazil almost get none benefits from this recovery. The analysis of quartz in order to predict their color after processing can reduce business risks and contribute to aggregate value to it at the source. Natural colorless quartz, when exposed to ionizing radiation and heat, can develop many extrinsic colors due to traces of some elements such as aluminum, iron, hydrogen, lithium and sodium [1, 2]. After exposure to ionizing radiation (e.g., gamma rays, Xrays or high energy electron), it cannot develop any color or can become gray to black, graygreen, violet or violetgray [3]. The colors produced by ionizing radiation are caused by the displacement of electrons in the crystal lattice of quartz. However, intense ultraviolet rays (UV) can weaken these colors. The heat can also weaken them, but in some cases, intermediate colors can be developed (yellow