Raman microspectroscopy as a valuable additional method to X-ray diffraction and electron microscope/microprobe analysis in the study of iron arsenates in environmental samples.
Abstract
In this paper, we demonstrate that combined application of X-ray diffraction (XRD), electron microscope/microprobe analysis (EMPA), and Raman microspectroscopy is an available and powerful approach for identification and characterization of iron arsenate minerals in complex environmental samples. Arsenic-rich material from the medieval mining dump close to the Giftkies mine in the Jáchymov ore district (Czech Republic) has been studied.
Scorodite, kaňkite, amorphous iron arsenate (pitticite), and, to a lesser extent, native sulfur were determined in the studied samples as products of low-temperature arsenopyrite weathering. The new Raman data for scorodite and pitticite were presened.
These data could be used as a comparative data for other studies.