Laser-Induced REE<sup>3+</sup> photoluminescence of selected accessory minerals - an "advantageous artefact" in Raman spectroscopy

Author(s)
Christoph Lenz, Lutz Nasdala, Dominik Talla, Roland Seitz, Christoph Hauzenberger, Uwe Kolitsch
Abstract

Laser-induced photoluminescence of trivalent rare-earth elements (REEs), which is obtained as analytical artefacts in Raman spectra of selected accessory minerals, was studied. Spectra of natural titanite, monazite-(Ce), xenotime-(Y), and zircon samples from various geological environments were compared with emission spectra of synthetic, flux-grown analogues doped with REEs. The latter is of great importance to identify potentially mistakable bands as either Raman or PL signal, and to assign them to certain REE centres. In the samples investigated, various REE centres are excited selectively using 473, 514, 532, 633, and 785. nm laser excitation. Their assignment was verified by photoluminescence-excitation experiments. Luminescence spectral patterns of zircon and titanite vary in dependence of trace-REE concentrations, hence reflecting geochemical growth conditions. "REE artefacts" in Raman spectra of accessory minerals may be used as fingerprint tool for mineral phase-identification. The distribution of REE emission-intensities, revealed by hyperspectral mapping, opens up the opportunity to visualise mineral textures, complementary to cathodoluminescence imaging-techniques.

Organisation(s)
Department of Mineralogy and Crystallography
External organisation(s)
Horiba Jobin Yvon GmbH, Masaryk University, Karl-Franzens-Universität Graz, Naturhistorisches Museum Wien (NHM)
Journal
Chemical Geology
Volume
415
Pages
1-16
No. of pages
16
ISSN
0009-2541
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemgeo.2015.09.001
Publication date
09-2015
Peer reviewed
Yes
Austrian Fields of Science 2012
104026 Spectroscopy, 105116 Mineralogy
Keywords
ASJC Scopus subject areas
Geochemistry and Petrology, Geology
Portal url
https://ucrisportal.univie.ac.at/en/publications/laserinduced-ree3-photoluminescence-of-selected-accessory-minerals--an-advantageous-artefact-in-raman-spectroscopy(baa04cdd-a69d-48f7-a0be-b74ccfb674cd).html