title: Raman spectroscopic study of the tellurite minerals: mackayite and quetzalcoatlite.
abstract: Tellurites may be subdivided according to formula and structure. There are five groups based upon the formulae: (a) A(XO(3)), (b) A(XO(3)).xH(2)O, (c) A(2)(XO(3))(3).x(2)O, (d) A(2)(X(2)O(5)) and (e) A(X(3)O(8)). Raman spectroscopy has been used to study mackayite and quetzalcoatlite are examples of tellurites containing OH units Raman bands for mackayite observed at 732, 782 and 579, 635cm(-1) are assigned to the nu(1) (Te(2)O(5))(2-) symmetric stretching and nu(3) (Te(2)O(5))(2-) antisymmetric stretching modes. The Raman spectral profile of quetzalcoatlite is more complex with a considerable number of overlapping bands. Two bands may be resolved at 719 and 754cm(-1) which may be attributed to nu(1) (Te(2)O(5))(2-) symmetric stretching mode. The two Raman bands of quetzalcoatlite at 602 and 606cm(-1) are accounted for by the nu(3) (Te(2)O(5))(2-) antisymmetric stretching mode. Raman bands for mackayite, observed at 306, 349, 379 and 424, 436cm(-1) are assigned to the (Te(2)O(5))(2-) nu(2) (A(1)) bending mode and nu(4) (E) bending modes. This research shows that Raman spectroscopy may be applied to tellurite minerals successfully.
authors.affiliation: School of Physical and Chemical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland 4001, Australia. r.frost@qut.edu.au
authors.forename: Ray L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Frost
authors.forename: Marilla J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Dickfos
mesh_terms: D008903:Minerals / Q000737:chemistry*; D013055:Spectrophotometry, Infrared; D013059:Spectrum Analysis, Raman; D013691:Tellurium / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D008903:Minerals; C026660:tellurous acid; D013691:Tellurium