Raman spectroscopy of the sampleite group of minerals

Abstract

Raman and infrared spectroscopy has enabled insights into the molecular structure of the sampleite group of minerals. These minerals are based upon the incorporation of either phosphate or arsenate with chloride anion into the structure and as a consequence the spectra refect the bands attributable to these anions, namely phosphate or arsenate with chloride. The sampleite vibrational spectrum reflects the spectrum of the phosphate anion and consists of ν1 at 964, ν2 at 451 cm-1, ν3 at 1016 and 1088 and ν4 at 643, 604, 591 and 557 cm-1. The lavendulan spectrum consists of ν1 at 854, ν2 at 345 cm-1, ν3 at 878 cm-1 and ν4 at 545 cm-1. The Raman spectrum of lemanskiite is different from that of lavendulan consistent with a different structure. Low wavenumber bands at 227 and 210 cm-1 may be assigned to CuCl TO/LO optic vibrations. Raman spectroscopy identified the substitution of arsenate by phosphate in zdenekite and lavendulan.