Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 30, 2026
07:24
Hyperspectral Imaging as a Tool to Study Optical Anisotropy in Lanthanide-Based Molecular Single Crystals
Published on: April 14, 2020
EPR and optical absorption spectral studies on sphalerite mineral
K Seshamaheswaramma1, G Udayabhaskara Reddy, A Varada Reddy
1Dept. of Chemistry, Tirupati 517 502, India.
Summary
This study characterizes sphalerite (Zn,Fe)S using spectroscopy, identifying iron and manganese impurities within its crystal lattice. These impurities substitute into the lattice, with iron present in higher concentrations than manganese.
Area of Science:
- Mineralogy
- Materials Science
- Spectroscopy
Background:
- Sphalerite (Zn,Fe)S is a significant zinc sulfide mineral.
- Understanding impurity incorporation is crucial for its properties.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize sphalerite (Zn,Fe)S using advanced spectroscopic techniques.
- To identify and quantify iron and manganese impurities within the mineral lattice.
- To elucidate the structural environment of these impurities.
Main Methods:
- X-ray diffraction (XRD) for structural analysis.
- Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) spectroscopy to detect and characterize paramagnetic impurities.
- Near-Infrared (NIR) spectroscopy for vibrational analysis and identification of molecular species.
Main Results:
- Optical absorption and EPR spectra confirmed the presence of iron (Fe) and manganese (Mn(II)) impurities.
- Iron was identified in a distorted octahedral environment, with higher concentrations than manganese.
- Manganese (Mn(II)) was also found in a distorted octahedral environment.
- NIR spectroscopy indicated the presence of water and sulfide fundamentals, supporting the sphalerite formula and absence of sulfates.
Conclusions:
- Iron and Mn(II) impurities substitute into the sphalerite lattice.
- The mineralogical characterization confirms the presence and structural state of key impurities.
- The findings contribute to a deeper understanding of sphalerite composition and formation conditions.
Related Concept Videos
01:16Spectrophotometry: Introduction
Spectrophotometry is the quantitative measurement of the absorption, reflection, diffraction, or transmission of electromagnetic radiation through a material as a function of the intensity and wavelength of the radiation. A spectrophotometer is a device used to measure the change in the radiation intensity caused by its interaction with the material.
The essential components of a spectrophotometer include a source of electromagnetic radiation, a slot for placing a material to be analyzed, and a...
The essential components of a spectrophotometer include a source of electromagnetic radiation, a slot for placing a material to be analyzed, and a...
01:23Atomic Spectroscopy: Absorption, Emission, and Fluorescence
Atomic spectroscopy is a vital tool in elemental analysis, both qualitatively and quantitatively. It can be broadly divided into optical spectroscopy, mass spectroscopy, and X-ray spectroscopy methods. The optical spectroscopic methods are atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS), atomic emission spectroscopy (AES), and atomic fluorescence spectroscopy (AFS). The first step in all three methods is atomization, where the solid, liquid, or solution-phase samples are converted into gas-phase atoms and...
01:29Atomic Emission Spectroscopy: Lab
AES is a powerful analytical technique, especially effective when used with plasma sources, producing abundant spectra in characteristic emission lines. The Inductively Coupled Plasma (ICP), in particular, yields superior quantitative analytical data due to its high stability, low noise, low background, and minimal interferences under optimal experimental conditions. However, newer air-operated microwave sources are emerging as promising alternatives that could be more cost-effective than...
01:20Atomic Emission Spectroscopy: Overview
Atomic emission spectroscopy (AES) is an analytical technique used to determine the elemental composition of a sample by analyzing the light emitted from excited atoms. In AES, atoms in a sample are excited to higher energy levels by thermal energy from high-temperature sources, such as plasma, arcs, or sparks. When these excited atoms return to lower energy states, they emit light at specific wavelengths characteristic of each element. The resulting atomic emission spectrum, which consists of...