Abstract: Raman spectroscopy was used to characterize nephrite, serpentine, quartzite, marble and white glass, it is found that the characteristic Raman shifts of nephrite which are caused by Si—O vibration are 672，930， 1 057 cm-1; the characteristic Raman shifts of serpentine which are caused by Si—O vibration are 678 cm-1 and 1 041 cm-1, which are caused by Mg—O vibration is 369 cm-1; the characteristic Raman shift of quartzite which are caused by Si—O vibration is 460 cm-1; the characteristic Raman shift of marble which are caused by CO2-3 vibration is 1 080 cm-1; the characteristic Raman shift of white glass is 1 353cm-1. According to the position and intensity of each characteristic Raman shift, nephrite, serpentine, quartzite, marble and white glass can be quickly and effectively set apart without any damage to these gemstones.