Articles | Volume 34, issue 6
https://doi.org/10.5194/ejm-34-573-2022
© Author(s) 2022. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/ejm-34-573-2022
© Author(s) 2022. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Non-destructive determination of the biotite crystal chemistry using Raman spectroscopy: how far we can go?
Stylianos Aspiotis
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Fachbereich Erdsystemwissenschaften, Universität Hamburg,
Grindelallee 48, 20146 Hamburg, Germany
Jochen Schlüter
Museum der Natur Hamburg – Mineralogie, Leibniz-Institut zur Analyse des
Biodiversitätswandels (LIB), Grindelallee 48, 20146 Hamburg, Germany
Günther J. Redhammer
Fachbereich Chemie und Physik der Materialien, Paris-Lodron
Universität Salzburg, 5020 Salzburg, Austria
Boriana Mihailova
Fachbereich Erdsystemwissenschaften, Universität Hamburg,
Grindelallee 48, 20146 Hamburg, Germany
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By applying in situ high-temperature Raman spectroscopy to (OH)-- and Fe2+-bearing fluorophlogopite we show that a phonon-driven structural instability near 600 K triggers the mobilization of interlayer K+ cations, which can act as charge carriers. Above 1100 K all H+ cations delocalize and can also contribute to transport processes. Above 1300 K oxidation of Fe takes place, along with limited dehydrogenation and dehydroxylation, facilitating partial K+ leakage and structural decomposition.
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By applying in situ high-temperature Raman spectroscopy to (OH)-- and Fe2+-bearing fluorophlogopite we show that a phonon-driven structural instability near 600 K triggers the mobilization of interlayer K+ cations, which can act as charge carriers. Above 1100 K all H+ cations delocalize and can also contribute to transport processes. Above 1300 K oxidation of Fe takes place, along with limited dehydrogenation and dehydroxylation, facilitating partial K+ leakage and structural decomposition.
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The thermal reaction Fe2+ + OH- → Fe3+ + O2- + e- + H+ in hydrous silicates has tremendous implications in planetary-scale phenomena like electrical anomalies, water cycling, seismicity, volcanism, and ore generation. We annealed riebeckite crystals up to 750 °C and P = 0.7 GPa and show that the amphibole stability is extended without any Fe oxidation, implying that thermally activated electron hopping contributes to the electrical conductivity of lithospheric rocks during subduction.
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The new mineral heimite was originally discovered on the mine dumps of the Grosses Chalttal deposit, Mürtschenalp district, Glarus, Switzerland. Its relatively simple chemistry is formed by water and ions of lead, copper, arsenic, hydrogen and oxygen. The mineral's crystal structure is related to the well-known duftite, which is also observed to grow on crystals of heimite. While heimite has so far only been found in the central Alps, it is expected to occur in other copper deposits worldwide.
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We provide a tool for fast preparation-free estimation of the Fe3+ content in Al–Fe3+ series epidotes by Raman spectroscopy. The peaks near 570, 600, and 1090 cm−1, originating from Si2O7 vibrations, strongly correlated with Fe content, and all three signals are well resolved in a random orientation. Among them, the 570 cm−1 peak is the sharpest and easily recognized. Hence, the linear trend, ω570 = 577.1(3) − 12.7(4)x, gives highly reliable Fe content, x, with accuracy ± 0.04 Fe3+ apfu.
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Short summary
Combined Raman-scattering and wavelength-dispersive electron microprobe (WD-EMP) analyses of natural biotites expanding over the whole biotite solid-solution series demonstrate that the chemical composition of the MO6 octahedra, TO4 tetrahedra, and interlayer space can be non-destructively determined by Raman spectroscopy with relative uncertainties below 8 %. The content of critical minor elements such as Ti at the octahedral site can be quantified as well with a relative error of ~ 20 %.
Combined Raman-scattering and wavelength-dispersive electron microprobe (WD-EMP) analyses of...