Raman imaging as a new approach to identification of the mayenite group minerals

The mayenite group includes minerals with common formula Ca(12)Al(14)O(32−x)(OH)(3x)[W(6−3x)], where W = F, Cl, OH, H(2)O and x = 0–2. This distinction in the composition is associated with W site which may remain unoccupied or be occupied by negatively charged ions: OH(−), F(−), Cl(−), as well as neutral molecules like H(2)O. However, there is no experimental approach to easily detect or differentiate mineral species within the mayenite group. Electron micro-beam facilities with energy- or wavelength-dispersive X-ray detectors, as most common tools in mineralogy, appear to be insufficient and do not provide a definite identification, especially, of hydroxylated or hydrated phases. Some solution provides typical Raman analysis ensuring identification of minerals and 3D Raman imaging as an innovative approach to distinguish various co-existing minerals of the mayenite group within a small area of the rock sample. Raman spectroscopy has also been successfully used for a determination of water type incorporated into the mineral structure as well as for a spatial distribution of phases by cluster approach analysis and/or integrated intensity analysis of bands in the hydroxyl region. In this study, Raman technique was for the first time used to reconstruct a 3D model of mayenite group mineral zonation, as well as to determine a way of water incorporation in the structure of these minerals. Moreover, for the first time, Raman data were correlated with alterations during the mineral-forming processes and used for reconstruction of the thermal history of studied rock. As a result, the influence of combustion gases has been proposed as a crucial factor responsible for the transformation between fluormayenite and fluorkyuygenite.