title: The molecular structure of the borate mineral rhodizite (K, Cs)Al4Be4(B, Be)12O28--a vibrational spectroscopic study.
abstract: We have studied the borate mineral rhodizite (K, Cs)Al4Be4(B, Be)12O28 using a combination of DEM with EDX and vibrational spectroscopic techniques. The mineral occurs as colorless, gray, yellow to white crystals in the triclinic crystal system. The studied sample is from the Antandrokomby Mine, Sahatany valley, Madagascar. The mineral is prized as a semi-precious jewel. Semi-quantitative chemical composition shows a Al, Ca, borate with minor amounts of K, Mg and Cs. The mineral has a characteristic borate Raman spectrum and bands are assigned to the stretching and bending modes of B, Be and Al. No Raman bands in the OH stretching region were observed.
authors.affiliation: School of Chemistry, Physics and Mechanical Engineering, Science and Engineering Faculty, Queensland University of Technology, GPO Box 2434, Brisbane, Queensland 4001, Australia. Electronic address: r.frost@qut.edu.au.
authors.forename: Ray L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Frost
authors.affiliation: School of Chemistry, Physics and Mechanical Engineering, Science and Engineering Faculty, Queensland University of Technology, GPO Box 2434, Brisbane, Queensland 4001, Australia.
authors.forename: Andrés
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: López
authors.affiliation: School of Chemistry, Physics and Mechanical Engineering, Science and Engineering Faculty, Queensland University of Technology, GPO Box 2434, Brisbane, Queensland 4001, Australia.
authors.forename: Yunfei
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xi
authors.affiliation: Geology Department, School of Mines, Federal University of Ouro Preto, Campus Morro do Cruzeiro, Ouro Preto, MG, 35,400-00, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ricardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Scholz
authors.affiliation: Mining Engineering Department, School of Mines, Federal University of Ouro Preto, Campus Morro do Cruzeiro, Ouro Preto, MG, 35,400-00, Brazil.
authors.forename: Larissa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Souza
authors.affiliation: Geology Department, School of Mines, Federal University of Ouro Preto, Campus Morro do Cruzeiro, Ouro Preto, MG, 35,400-00, Brazil.
authors.forename: Cristiano
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lana
mesh_terms: D001881:Borates / Q000737:chemistry*; D008670:Metals / Q000737:chemistry*; D008903:Minerals / Q000737:chemistry*; D013053:Spectrophotometry / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D001881:Borates; D008670:Metals; D008903:Minerals
keywords: Beryllium; Borate; Infrared spectroscopy; Londonite; Raman spectroscopy; Rhodizite