Near Infrared Spectroscopy of Aurichalcite (Zn,Cu2+)5(CO3)2(OH)6

Abstract

In this endeavour, near infrared spectroscopy studies show evidence of variable composition in aurichalcite minerals of zinc copper carbonate hydroxides. The observation of a broad feature in the electronic part of the spectrum around 11,500 cm−1 (870 nm) is a strong indication of Cu2+ substitution for Zn2+ in the mineral. Overtones of OH vibrations in the spectra from 7250 to 5400 cm−1 (1380–1850 nm) show strong hydrogen bonding in these carbonates. A band common to spectra of all carbonates appears near 5400 cm−1 (1850 nm) due to the combination of both OH-stretching and HOH-bending vibrations, which may be attributed to adsorbed water. Aurichalcite minerals display a spectral sequence of five absorption bands with variation of both band positions and intensities and this is the chief spectral feature observed in the range 5200–5100 cm−1 (1920–2380 nm) due to vibrational processes of the carbonate ion. The frequency shift of carbonate bands suggests the effect of divalent cations and/or variations of the Zn/Cu ratio in aurichalcite minerals.