title: Raman spectroscopic analysis of real samples: Brazilian bauxite mineralogy.
abstract: In this investigation, Raman spectroscopy with 1064 and 632.8 nm excitation was used to investigate real mineral samples of bauxite ore from mines of Northern Brazil, together with Raman mapping and X-rays diffraction. The obtained results show clearly that the use of microRaman spectroscopy is a powerful tool for the identification of all the minerals usually found in bauxites: gibbsite, kaolinite, goethite, hematite, anatase and quartz. Bulk samples can also be analysed, and FT-Raman is more adequate due to better signal-to-noise ratio and representativity, although not efficient for kaolinite. The identification of fingerprinting vibrations for all the minerals allows the acquisition of Raman-based chemical maps, potentially powerful tools for process mineralogy applied to bauxite ores.
authors.affiliation: CETEM-Centre for Mineral Technology, Division for Technological Characterisation, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil. ffaulstich@cetem.gov.br
authors.forename: Fabiano Richard Leite
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Faulstich
authors.forename: Harlem V
authors.initials: HV
authors.lastname: Castro
authors.forename: Luiz Fernando Cappa
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: de Oliveira
authors.forename: Reiner
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Neumann
mesh_terms: D000537:Aluminum Oxide / Q000032:analysis*; D001938:Brazil; D005290:Ferric Compounds / Q000032:analysis; D058085:Iron Compounds / Q000032:analysis; D007616:Kaolin / Q000032:analysis; D008903:Minerals / Q000032:analysis*; D011791:Quartz / Q000032:analysis; D013059:Spectrum Analysis, Raman / Q000379:methods*; D014025:Titanium / Q000032:analysis; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction
chemical_list: D005290:Ferric Compounds; D058085:Iron Compounds; D008903:Minerals; C094886:goethite; D011791:Quartz; C009495:titanium dioxide; C000499:ferric oxide; D007616:Kaolin; D014025:Titanium; D000537:Aluminum Oxide