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Rapid outdoor non-destructive detection of organic minerals using a portable Raman spectrometer

  1. J. Jehlička1,*,
  2. P. Vítek1,
  3. H. G. M. Edwards2,
  4. M. Hargreaves2,
  5. T. Čapoun3

Article first published online: 8 MAY 2009

DOI: 10.1002/jrs.2313

Issue

Journal of Raman Spectroscopy

Journal of Raman Spectroscopy

Volume 40, Issue 11, pages 1645–1651, November 2009

Additional Information

How to Cite

Jehlička, J., Vítek, P., Edwards, H. G. M., Hargreaves, M. and Čapoun, T. (2009), Rapid outdoor non-destructive detection of organic minerals using a portable Raman spectrometer. J. Raman Spectrosc., 40: 1645–1651. doi: 10.1002/jrs.2313

Author Information

  1. 1

    Institute of Geochemistry, Mineralogy and Mineral Resources, Charles University in Prague, Prague, Czech Republic

  2. 2

    Centre for Astrobiology and Extremophiles Research, Division of Chemical and Forensic Sciences, University of Bradford, Bradford BD7 1DP, UK

  3. 3

    Population Protection Institute, Lázně Bohdaneč, Czech Republic

*Institute of Geochemistry, Mineralogy and Mineral Resources, Charles University in Prague, Prague, Czech Republic.

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 11 NOV 2009
  2. Article first published online: 8 MAY 2009
  3. Manuscript Accepted: 16 MAR 2009
  4. Manuscript Received: 23 JAN 2009

Funded by

  • Ministry of Education of the Czech Republic. Grant Number: MSM0021620855

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Keywords:

  • portable Raman instrument;
  • mellite;
  • whewellite;
  • idrialite;
  • organic minerals

Abstract

Raman spectral signatures have been obtained for a series of organic minerals using a compact portable Raman instrument equipped with 785-nm laser excitation. Well-resolved Raman spectra of crystalline salts of carboxylic acids, whewellite and mellite, as well as of the aromatic mineral idrialite were recorded. For comparative purposes, an amorphous fossil resin, baltic amber, was also investigated. The results obtained confirm that portable Raman instruments can be considered as excellent tools for field geological applications, including the detection of organic minerals in the frame of outcrops of sedimentary rocks or coal beds. Organic minerals can be added to the list of established biomarkers, including porphyrins, hydrocarbons and organic acids, which are important for the study with regard to future exobiological missions such as the ESA ExoMars mission to detect the presence of extinct or extant life on Mars. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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