T300 Gemological Research in the 21st Century: Exploration, Geology, and Characterization of Diamonds and other Gem Minerals (Posters)

Wednesday, 4 November 2015
9:00 AM - 6:30 PM
Exhibit Hall

A STUDY OF SYNTHETIC PYROXENES USING NON-DESTRUCTIVE MID-INFRARED EMISSION SPECTROSCOPY

Paper number: T300-11
Program: Technical Sessions
Time: 9:00 AM – 6:30 PM

Authors

Abstract

Mid-infrared (thermal infrared) emission spectroscopy (5-50 μm; 2000-200 cm-1) is a non-destructive and useful technique for studying and identifying pyroxenes and other minerals. The majority of molecular vibrations of minerals occurs within this spectral range and each mineral chemistry offers a unique spectral signature.

Spectroscopic studies of natural pyroxenes are fairly common; however, this study uses synthetic pyroxene samples and their obtained emissivity spectra for understanding the specific and systematic variations of spectral bands related to chemistry and crystal structure. Emissivity spectra were obtained from the samples both as powders and after pelletizing to remove the effects of volume scattering within the sample. These data will be presented.