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Updated: Aug 20, 2026

Scattering And Absorption of Light in Planetary Regoliths
Published on: July 1, 2019
Near-infrared spectroscopy of torbernites and metatorbernites
Ray L Frost1, Kristy L Erickson, Onuma Carmody
1Inorganic Materials Research Program, School of Physical and Chemical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, GPO Box 2434, Brisbane, Qld 4001, Australia. r.frost@qut.edu.au
Abstract:
A suite of torbernites and metatorbernites have been analysed by near-infrared spectroscopy. The spectra of torbernites and metatorbernites in the first HOH fundamental overtone are different and the spectra of torbernites of different origins in the 6000-7500 cm(-1) region vary. NIR spectroscopy provides a method of studying the hydration of cations in the interlayer of torbernite. NIR spectroscopy shows that the spectra of torbernites from different origins in the water HOH first fundamental overtone and combination regions are different. This difference implies the hydration of cations is different for torbernite minerals. The structural arrangement of the water molecules in the interlayer is sample dependent. The NIR spectra of metatorbernites are different from that of torbernites and a similarity of the spectra of metatorbernites suggests that the water structure in metatorbernites is similar.
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