Natural feldspars are framework silicates and among the most common rock-forming minerals of planetary crusts. Our aim is to determine the Raman spectral characteristics of feldspar-group minerals, in order to build a consistent set of Raman spectra and to recognize them in all possible specimens of natural sediments and man-made pottery and tools of archaeological value. Sediments represent in fact the principal inorganic raw material employed in ancient times to produce ceramics. The characterization of Na- versus K-rich alkali feldspars in pottery fragments is complex due to heterogeneity of materials used and presence of both crystalline and amorphous phases1,2. Raman spectroscopy is an innovative, efficient, and user-friendly technique representing the ideal complementary tool to classical provenance analysis of sediments and sedimentary rocks. The method is non-destructive, does not require specific preparation, and can be used also directly on thin sections and polished rock. Detrital feldspars are determined by comparison of Raman peaks observed on our samples with reference spectra reported in the literature calibrated spectra obtained from minerals of specific chemistry and mineralogical databases available online. It is often convenient to photograph and label each single grain on the thin section or grain mount, in order to observe optical properties under the microscope before and after identification with Raman spectroscopy. Raman spectroscopy is a powerful tool to confidently identify dubious grains independently of their size and orientation. Last but not least, it allows routine identification of minerals as fine grained as fine silt6, and it is consequently an unrivalled tool for quantitative analysis of silt and siltstone, which represent a huge fraction of fluvial, turbiditic and eolian transport. A comprehensive study of vibrational mode behaviour in a wide variety of natural feldspar-group minerals is useful for geologist, archeologist and industry.
Ando', S., Bersani, D., Garzanti, E., Borromeo, L., Aliatis, I., Tribaudino, M., et al. (2012). Raman spectroscopy of feldspars in sediments and pottery. In Proceedings.
Raman spectroscopy of feldspars in sediments and pottery
ANDO', SERGIO;GARZANTI, EDUARDO;
2012
Abstract
Natural feldspars are framework silicates and among the most common rock-forming minerals of planetary crusts. Our aim is to determine the Raman spectral characteristics of feldspar-group minerals, in order to build a consistent set of Raman spectra and to recognize them in all possible specimens of natural sediments and man-made pottery and tools of archaeological value. Sediments represent in fact the principal inorganic raw material employed in ancient times to produce ceramics. The characterization of Na- versus K-rich alkali feldspars in pottery fragments is complex due to heterogeneity of materials used and presence of both crystalline and amorphous phases1,2. Raman spectroscopy is an innovative, efficient, and user-friendly technique representing the ideal complementary tool to classical provenance analysis of sediments and sedimentary rocks. The method is non-destructive, does not require specific preparation, and can be used also directly on thin sections and polished rock. Detrital feldspars are determined by comparison of Raman peaks observed on our samples with reference spectra reported in the literature calibrated spectra obtained from minerals of specific chemistry and mineralogical databases available online. It is often convenient to photograph and label each single grain on the thin section or grain mount, in order to observe optical properties under the microscope before and after identification with Raman spectroscopy. Raman spectroscopy is a powerful tool to confidently identify dubious grains independently of their size and orientation. Last but not least, it allows routine identification of minerals as fine grained as fine silt6, and it is consequently an unrivalled tool for quantitative analysis of silt and siltstone, which represent a huge fraction of fluvial, turbiditic and eolian transport. A comprehensive study of vibrational mode behaviour in a wide variety of natural feldspar-group minerals is useful for geologist, archeologist and industry.
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