title: Raman spectroscopy of the multi-anion mineral mallestigite Pb3Sb(5+)(SO4)(AsO4)(OH)6·3H2O: a mineral of archaeological significance.
abstract: Some minerals are formed which show poorly defined X-ray diffraction patterns. Vibrational spectroscopy offers one of the few methods for the assessment of the structure of the oxyanions in such minerals. Among this group of minerals is mallestigite with formula Pb(3)Sb(5+)(SO(4))(AsO(4))(OH)(6)·3H(2)O. The objective of this research is to determine the molecular structure of the mineral mallestigite using vibrational spectroscopy. Raman and infrared bands are attributed to the AsO(4)(3-), SO(4)(2-) and water stretching vibrations. Mallestigite is a mineral formed in ancient waste dumps such as occurs at Mallestiger, Carinthia, Austria and as such is a mineral of archaeological significance.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Science and Technology, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. r.frost@qut.edu.au
authors.forename: Ray L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Frost
authors.forename: Sara J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Palmer
authors.forename: Yunfei
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xi
authors.forename: Keqin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tan
mesh_terms: D000838:Anions / Q000032:analysis; D000965:Antimony / Q000032:analysis; D001106:Archaeology; D001149:Arsenates / Q000032:analysis*; D007854:Lead / Q000032:analysis; D008903:Minerals / Q000737:chemistry*; D013059:Spectrum Analysis, Raman / Q000379:methods; D013431:Sulfates / Q000032:analysis; D014867:Water / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D000838:Anions; D001149:Arsenates; D008903:Minerals; D013431:Sulfates; D014867:Water; D007854:Lead; D000965:Antimony