title: An SEM, EDS and vibrational spectroscopic study of the silicate mineral meliphanite (Ca,Na)2Be[(Si,Al)2O6(F,OH)].
abstract: The mineral meliphanite (Ca,Na)2Be[(Si,Al)2O6(F,OH)] is a crystalline sodium calcium beryllium silicate which has the potential to be used as piezoelectric material and for other ferroelectric applications. The mineral has been characterized by a combination of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) and vibrational spectroscopy. EDS analysis shows a material with high concentrations of Si and Ca and low amounts of Na, Al and F. Beryllium was not detected. Raman bands at 1016 and 1050 cm(-1) are assigned to the SiO and AlOH stretching vibrations of three dimensional siloxane units. The infrared spectrum of meliphanite is very broad in comparison with the Raman spectrum. Raman bands at 472 and 510 cm(-1) are assigned to OSiO bending modes. Raman spectroscopy identifies bands in the OH stretching region. Raman spectroscopy with complimentary infrared spectroscopy enables the characterization of the silicate mineral meliphanite.
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: Frederick L
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: Theiss
authors.affiliation: Geology Department, School of Mines, Federal University of Ouro Preto, Campus Morro do Cruzeiro, Ouro Preto, MG 35400-00, Brazil.
authors.forename: Antônio Wilson
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Romano
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
mesh_terms: D001608:Beryllium / Q000737:chemistry; D002118:Calcium / Q000737:chemistry; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D008903:Minerals / Q000737:chemistry*; D017640:Silicates / Q000737:chemistry*; D017670:Sodium Compounds / Q000737:chemistry; D013052:Spectrometry, X-Ray Emission; D013055:Spectrophotometry, Infrared; D013059:Spectrum Analysis, Raman; D014732:Vibration
chemical_list: D008903:Minerals; D017640:Silicates; D017670:Sodium Compounds; D001608:Beryllium; D002118:Calcium
keywords: Infrared spectroscopy; Leucophanite; Meliphanite; Melitite; Raman spectroscopy