OH defects in cassiterite

Author(s)
Zdenek Losos, Anton Beran
Abstract

Two infrared (IR) spectral types are discerned in cassiterites with OH defect concentrations ranging from several wt. ppm H2O in synthetic melt-grown samples up to 0.017wt.% in natural samples of hydrothermal origin. Spectrum type I is characterised by one sharp band centred at 3255cm-1, type II spectra reveal an additional band group centred around 3340cm-1, which is clearly correlated with the presence of Ti. Both OH band groups are strongly polarised with maximum absorption perpendicular to the c-axis. Type I spectra prevail in nearly colourless samples, type II spectra typically occur in light to dark brown cassiterites, bearing essentially higher amounts of minor elements, especially Ti, Nb, Ta, W, Zr, and Fe. The total amount of water is not significantly correlated with the minor element content. It is concluded that different OH concentrations reflect different water activities prevalent during the formation of cassiterite crystals in different geological environments. Œ Springer-Verlag 2004.

Organisation(s)
Department of Mineralogy and Crystallography
External organisation(s)
Masaryk University
Journal
Mineralogy and Petrology
Volume
81
Pages
219-234
No. of pages
16
ISSN
0930-0708
Publication date
2004
Peer reviewed
Yes
Austrian Fields of Science 2012
1051 Geology, Mineralogy
Portal url
https://ucrisportal.univie.ac.at/en/publications/9833312c-7c05-4ab4-96b5-7d4724d1493e