Our work focuses on the new application OCT technology in gemstone testing. The main problem in jade research and industry is lack of portable fast measurement equipment for quality evaluation. Concerning the ability of exacting the two-dimensional subsurface structure

OCT imaging has the potential to obtain helpful microstructural characteristics and provide more scientific information for jade identification and research work. An optical coherence tomography (OCT) system applied in jade imaging and measurement has been implemented with scanning speed of 1 frame per second

depth resolution of 15um and penetration depth of 3mm. We demonstrate the experimental results and theoretical analysis of Jade imaging and measurement based on OCT method. From one hand

by processing the two-dimensional tomography data

we have provided two parameters to characterize the optical properties and then evaluate the transparency of jade qualitatively. From the other hand

according to the different optical backscattering properties

OCT imaging can be used to observe and provide some discrimination information on the impregnation and calcification of ancient jade materials. Experimental results show available microstructure information and confirm the feasibility of OCT method in evaluating transmission features and analyzing subsurface morphologies of archaic jades. Corresponding physical interpretation is also present in this paper.