Sulphate efflorescent minerals from El Jaroso Ravine, Sierra Almagrera--An SEM and Raman spectroscopic study.
Two sulphate efflorescent evaporite mineral samples from Jaroso, Spain have been studied by scanning electron microscopy and Raman spectroscopy. SEM by comparison with known minerals shows the evaporite mineral is a mixture of halotrichite and jarosite, whilst the oxidised mineral is predominantly jarosite. SEM characterises the halotrichite as long narrow crystals and the jarosite as distorted rhombohedral crystals. Raman spectra of the sulphates of K, Mg, Fe(II), Fe(III) are compared with the spectra of halotrichite, jarosite and the two sulphate efflorescent samples. The efflorescent sample was proven by Raman spectroscopy to be a mixture of halotrichite and jarosite and the oxidised efflorescent sample to be jarosite and a complex mixture of sulphates.
Frost
Ray L
RL
Inorganic Materials Research Program, School of Physical and Chemical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, GPO Box 2434, Brisbane, Qld 4001, Australia. r.frost@qut.edu.au
Weier
Matt
M
Martinez-Frias
Jesus
J
Rull
Fernando
F
Jagannadha Reddy
B
B
D000534:Alum Compounds / Q000032:analysis*; D005290:Ferric Compounds / Q000032:analysis*; D005296:Ferrous Compounds / Q000032:analysis*; D008903:Minerals / Q000032:analysis*; D013030:Spain; D013059:Spectrum Analysis, Raman; D013431:Sulfates / Q000032:analysis*
D000534:Alum Compounds; D005290:Ferric Compounds; D005296:Ferrous Compounds; D008903:Minerals; D013431:Sulfates; C510105:halotrichite; C492331:jarosite