Raman imaging as a new approach to identification of the mayenite group minerals.
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ABSTRACT: The mayenite group includes minerals with common formula Ca12Al14O32-x(OH)3x[W6-3x], where W?=?F, Cl, OH, H2O and x?=?0-2. This distinction in the composition is associated with W site which may remain unoccupied or be occupied by negatively charged ions: OH-, F-, Cl-, as well as neutral molecules like H2O. However, there is no experimental approach to easily detect or differentiate mineral species within the mayenite group. Electron micro-beam facilities with energy- or wavelength-dispersive X-ray detectors, as most common tools in mineralogy, appear to be insufficient and do not provide a definite identification, especially, of hydroxylated or hydrated phases. Some solution provides typical Raman analysis ensuring identification of minerals and 3D Raman imaging as an innovative approach to distinguish various co-existing minerals of the mayenite group within a small area of the rock sample. Raman spectroscopy has also been successfully used for a determination of water type incorporated into the mineral structure as well as for a spatial distribution of phases by cluster approach analysis and/or integrated intensity analysis of bands in the hydroxyl region. In this study, Raman technique was for the first time used to reconstruct a 3D model of mayenite group mineral zonation, as well as to determine a way of water incorporation in the structure of these minerals. Moreover, for the first time, Raman data were correlated with alterations during the mineral-forming processes and used for reconstruction of the thermal history of studied rock. As a result, the influence of combustion gases has been proposed as a crucial factor responsible for the transformation between fluormayenite and fluorkyuygenite.
SUBMITTER: Srodek D
PROVIDER: S-EPMC6134120 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Sep
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
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