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Field Identification of Carbonate Minerals with the OreXpress UV-VIS-NIR Spectrometer

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Field Identification of Carbonate Minerals with the OreXpress UV-VIS-NIR Spectrometer

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Introduction to Carbonates and Their Spectral Features: Carbonate minerals form when carbonate ions (CO₃²⁻) bond with metal cations to produce distinctive mineral groups such as calcite, dolomite, and aragonite. Within these groups there are important exploration minerals, including rhodochrosite, azurite, malachite, cerussite, magnesite, smithsonite, siderite, strontianite, and witherite. These minerals are commonly found in a variety of geological environments and can be key indicators of ore-forming processes. In the shortwave infrared (SWIR) spectral region, carbonates exhibit strong diagnostic absorption features between 2290-2350 nm caused by carbonate ion vibrational overtones.

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