Vibrational spectroscopy of the mineral meyerhofferite CaB3O3(OH)5·H2O--an assessment of the molecular structure.

Ray L Frost, Andrés López, Yunfei Xi, Ricardo Scholz, Geraldo Magela da Costa, Fernanda M Belotti, Rosa Malena Fernandes Lima

Index: Spectrochim. Acta. A. Mol. Biomol. Spectrosc. 114 , 27-32, (2013)

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Abstract

Meyerhofferite is a calcium hydrated borate mineral with ideal formula: CaB3O3(OH)5·H2O and occurs as white complex acicular to crude crystals with length up to ~4 cm, in fibrous divergent, radiating aggregates or reticulated and is often found in sedimentary or lake-bed borate deposits. The Raman spectrum of meyerhofferite is dominated by intense sharp band at 880 cm(-1) assigned to the symmetric stretching mode of trigonal boron. Broad Raman bands at 1046, 1110, 1135 and 1201 cm(-1) are attributed to BOH in-plane bending modes. Raman bands in the 900-1000 cm(-1) spectral region are assigned to the antisymmetric stretching of tetrahedral boron. Distinct OH stretching Raman bands are observed at 3400, 3483 and 3608 cm(-1). The mineral meyerhofferite has a distinct Raman spectrum which is different from the spectrum of other borate minerals, making Raman spectroscopy a very useful tool for the detection of meyerhofferite in sedimentary and lake bed deposits.Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.