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1	The vibrational spectroscopy of minerals Martens, Wayde Neil January 2004 (has links) This thesis focuses on the vibrational spectroscopy of the aragonite and vivianite arsenate minerals (erythrite, annabergite and hörnesite), specifically the assignment of the spectra. The infrared and Raman spectra of cerussite have been assigned according to the vibrational symmetry species. The assignment of satellite bands to 18O isotopes has been discussed with respect to the use of these bands to the quantification of the isotopes. Overtone and combination bands have been assigned according to symmetry species and their corresponding fundamental vibrations. The vibrational spectra of cerussite have been compared with other aragonite group minerals and the differences explained on the basis of differing chemistry and crystal structures of these minerals. The single crystal spectra of natural erythrite has been reported and compared with the synthetic equivalent. The symmetry species of the vibrations have been assigned according to single crystal and factor group considerations. Deuteration experiments have allowed the assignment of water vibrational freque ncies to discrete water molecules in the crystal structure. Differences in the spectra of other vivianite arsenates, namely annabergite and hörnesite, have been explained by consideration of their differing chemistry and crystal structures. A novel approach to the assignment of site occupancy of ions in the erythrite - annabergite solid solution has been reported. This approach has utilised vibrational spectroscopy, in conjunction with careful consideration of the crystal structures of the minerals. It has been shown that in the erythrite - annabergite solid solution Coprefers metal site 2 contrasting nickel which prefers site 1. This study in conjunction with other studies has yielded the trend that the more electronegative metal prefers to occupy site 1, with the least electronegative metal preferring to occupy site 2. Fundamentally this thesis has increased the knowledge base of the spectroscopic properties of the aragonite and the vivianite minerals. The site occupancy of metal ion substitutions in solid solution series of the vivianite group of minerals has been further enhanced, with novel method of studying the site occupancy of ions in solid solutions has been developed. A detailed knowledge and understanding of factor group analysis applied to the study of minerals has been achieved. Annabergite Aragonite Arupite Baricite Cerussite Erythrite Hörnesite Infrared Spectroscopy Köttigite Minerals Parasymplesite Raman Spectroscopy Solid Solutions Strontianite Vibrational Spectroscopy Vivianite Witherite
2	Synthesis and characterisation of substituted smithsonite and calcite Hales, Matthew Cameron January 2008 (has links) Carbonate minerals play a very important role in nature, they represent some of the most diverse and common mineral species on the Planet. They are directly involved in the carbon dioxide (CO2) cycle acting as relatively stable long term chemical storage reservoirs, moderating both global warming trends and oceanaquatic chemistry through carbonate buffering systems. A range of synthetic metal carbonates have been synthesised for analysis under multiple experimental conditions, in order to study the variation in physical and chemical properties such as phase specificity, metal substitution, hydration/hydroxy carbonate formation under varying partial pressures of CO2 and thermal stability. Synthetic samples were characterised by a variety of instrumental analysis techniques in order to investigate chemical purity and phase specificity. Some of the techniques included, vibrational spectroscopy (IR/Raman), thermal analysis (TGA-MS) (thermal Raman), X-Ray diffraction (XRD) and electron microscopy (SEM-EDX). From the instrumental characterisation techniques, it was found that single phase smithsonite, hydrozincite, calcite and nesquehonite could successfully be synthesised under the conditions used. Minor impurities of other minerals and / or phases were found to form under specific chemical or physical conditions such as in the case of hydrozincite / simonkolleite if zinc chloride was used during hydrothermal synthesis. Raman Infrared IR spectroscopy characterisation synthesis synthetic natural scanning electron microscopy SEM thermo-gravimetric analysis mass spectroscopy TGA-MS X-Ray diffraction XRD carbonate hydrogen carbonate hydroxy hydrate minerals crystal point group factor group phase symmetry elements calcite magnesite aragonite vaterite aurichalcite azurite malachite hydrozincite zincite nesquehonite strontianite witherite oxide zone partial pressure carbon dioxide CO2 geological settling coral geo-sequestration green house gas

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The vibrational spectroscopy of minerals

Synthesis and characterisation of substituted smithsonite and calcite