The " Republican Center for Research, Diagnostics and Processing of Gemology and Mineral Substances (Gmnkdgr)" named after Academician Giorgi Zaridze has been operating successfully for 45 years at the Georgian Technical University, whose (SST ISO/IEC 17025:2017/2018) testing laboratory (GAC-TL-0198) is accredited in 12 areas: 1. Alloys containing precious, non-ferrous and ferrous metals, 2. Non-metallic materials containing precious metals, 3. Ores and concentrates containing gold, 4. Precious (jewelry) and precious minerals (stones), 5. Igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary rocks, 6. Determination of the chemical composition of soils, 7. Ceramics, 8. Paint products, artistic paints, 9. Plasticine, 10. Plastic toys, 11. Plastics and their products, polymer products, 12. Inorganic waste (geological, metallurgical, mining, construction). Of these, we have 34 test products and 82 test parameters with ISO or EA standards (https://www.gac.gov.ge/ka/accredited-bodies/16). The fields cover many fields. Only one laboratory in Georgia has such a number of test parameters. The laboratory has been adding new accredited fields over the years. In 2019-2020, new areas were added to the areas of accreditation of the examination laboratory of the Republican Center for Research, Diagnostics and Processing of Gemology and Mineral Substances (Gmnkdgr): waste, plastics, paints, plastic toys. In the future, it is planned to expand the scope of accreditation in the following directions: 1. Simplified chemical analysis of water, 2. Determination of physical-mechanical parameters of rocks and soils. Leading mineralogists, petrographers, gemologists, ore specialists, hydrogeologists, geoecologists, chemists, metallurgists and others perform expert-diagnostic, scientific research, projects, grants in the Republican Center for Research, Diagnostics and Processing of Gemology and Mineral Substances (Gmnkdgr). It is worth noting the inclusion of students in jobs that receive appropriate remuneration.
The laboratory is equipped with several outdated tools - atomic absorption analyzer (AAS-30), spectrophotometer (SPECORD 40), micro-X-ray spectrum analyzer (CAMEBAX MICROBEAM), X-ray structural analyzer (DRON-3), rock and with instruments for measuring the physical and mechanical properties of soils, binoculars (MB-10). In the last five years, modern equipment corresponding to international requirements has been purchased: polarizing microscopes (AMSCOPE PZ 300T, AMSCOPE PZ 600T, POLAM-312) and reflected light microscope (MP-3), X-ray fluorescence analyzer (EDX3600B), gemological microscopes (GEMORO ( superior instrument), gemological tools (testers - Presidium multiteste and Presidium Diamond Mate-A, levers PRESIDIUM Electronic Gemstone Cauge, refractometer РГ-1, magnifying triplets, color standards, gold test analytical scales (Sartorus, Metler, RADWAG) with density measuring attachment, needles), chemical vessels and chemical reagents, standards, standards, field equipment, GPS navigators, flying machine - Phantom 4Pro, computers, projectors, plotter, special computer programs, tools and equipment for processing stones and others.
More than 30 contractual topics are completed annually at the center. The performed works have great theoretical and practical value, which are highly relevant, important and valuable.
Environmental, geological, mineralogical-petrographic, engineering-geological, hydrogeological projects, grants and contractual works are worth mentioning among the works performed over the years.
Research often involves close cooperation with the National Museum of Georgia, with the aim of in-depth study of interesting and sometimes unique monuments preserved in the treasury. In particular, as clearly as possible, we presented the quantity of minerals, their origin and processing technology of ancient monuments and various artifacts.
We often deal with monuments of world importance in terms of cultural heritage. Therefore, during the research, such a methodology was used, which in advance excluded any kind of destruction of the studied exhibits. Therefore, studies were carried out with such equipment as non-destructive X-ray fluorescence analyzers, polarizing microscope, gemological microscope, X-ray phase analyzer, duotesters and others.
It is worth noting the important projects carried out in the center such as: "Mineralogical-lithological examination of the building material of Grakliani mount and the artifacts found there"; "Complex investigation of the building rocks of the Vardzia monastery complex and the processes taking place there"; "Great Mtskheti Museum - study of the chemical composition of the gold items kept in the reserve"; "A complex study of old and new pitchers, the raw materials used for their production and the technology of making pitchers"; "Research on mineralogical features of Georgian-Byzantine partition enamel"; "Investigation of the mineral composition of the archaeological finds of Georgia"; "Assessment of the stability of slopes of Madneuli and Sakdrisi reservoirs and planning of water channels"; "Study of the resource potential of leaching residues (quartzites) at the mass leaching sites of the Madneuli and Sakdrisi production areas and the possibilities of their use".
The Republican Center for Research, Diagnostics and Processing of Gemology and Mineral Substances (Gmnkdgr) is involved in the educational process, conducting laboratory and practical work of many educational courses; Its material technical base is used by students of all three levels of the faculties of mining-geology, chemical technology and metallurgy, engineering economy, media technology and social sciences, who use the analyzes (researches) performed in the center in the performance of scientific conferences, bachelor's, master's and doctoral theses.
On the basis of the work performed in the Republican Center for Research, Diagnostics and Processing of Gemology and Mineral Substances (Gmnkdgr), many master's and doctoral theses have been defended, reports have been prepared, and monographs have been published.