title: Vibrational spectroscopy of the sulphate mineral sturmanite from Kuruman manganese deposits, South Africa.
abstract: The mineral sturmanite is a hydrated calcium iron aluminium manganese sulphate tetrahydroxoborate hydroxide of formula Ca6(Fe, Al, Mn)2(SO4)2(B(OH)4)(OH)12·26H2O. We have studied the mineral sturmanite using a number of techniques, including SEM with EPMA and vibrational spectroscopy. Chemical analysis shows a homogeneous phase, composed by Ca, Fe, Mn, S, Al and Si. B is not determined in this EPMA technique. An intense Raman band at 990cm(-1) is assigned to the SO4(2-) symmetric stretching mode. Raman spectroscopy identifies multiple sulphate symmetric stretching modes in line with the three sulphate crystallographically different sites. Raman spectroscopy also identifies a band at 1069cm(-1) which may be attributed to a carbonate symmetric stretching mode, indicating the presence of thaumasite. Infrared spectra display two bands at 1080 and 1107cm(-1) assigned to the SO4(2-) antisymmetric stretching modes. The observation of multiple bands in this ν4 spectral region offers evidence for the reduction in symmetry of the sulphate anion from Td to C2v or even lower symmetry. The Raman band at 3622cm(-1) is assigned to the OH unit stretching vibration and the broad feature at around 3479cm(-1) to water stretching bands. Infrared spectroscopy shows a set of broad overlapping bands in the OH stretching region. Vibrational spectroscopy enables an assessment of the molecular structure of sturmanite to be made.
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: Geology Department, School of Mines, Federal University of Ouro Preto, Campus Morro do Cruzeiro, Ouro Preto, MG 35400-00, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ricardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Scholz
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 35400-00, Brazil.
authors.forename: Cristiano
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lana
mesh_terms: D000535:Aluminum / Q000032:analysis; D001881:Borates / Q000032:analysis*; D002118:Calcium / Q000032:analysis; D006878:Hydroxides / Q000032:analysis; D007501:Iron / Q000032:analysis; D008345:Manganese / Q000032:analysis*; D008903:Minerals / Q000737:chemistry*; D013019:South Africa; D013055:Spectrophotometry, Infrared; D013059:Spectrum Analysis, Raman; D013431:Sulfates / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D001881:Borates; D006878:Hydroxides; D008903:Minerals; D013431:Sulfates; D008345:Manganese; D000535:Aluminum; D007501:Iron; D002118:Calcium
keywords: Borate; Infrared spectroscopy; Kuruman; Raman spectroscopy; Sturmanite; Thermal analysis