Raman spectroscopy of the borosilicate mineral ferroaxinite

Raman spectroscopy, complemented by infrared spectroscopy, has been used to characterise the ferroaxinite minerals of the theoretical formula Ca₂Fe²⁺Al₂BSi₄O₁₅(OH), a ferrous aluminium borosilicate. The Raman spectra are complex but are subdivided into sections on the basis of the vibrating units. The Raman spectra are interpreted in terms of the addition of borate and silicate spectra. Three characteristic bands of ferroaxinite are observed at 1082, 1056 and 1025 cm⁻¹ and are attributed to BO₄ stretching vibrations. Bands at 1003, 991, 980 and 963 cm⁻¹ are assigned to SiO₄ stretching vibrations. Bands are found in these positions for each of the ferroaxinites studied. No Raman bands were found above 1100 cm⁻¹ showing that ferroaxinites contain only tetrahedral boron. The hydroxyl stretching region of ferroaxinites is characterised by a single Raman band between 3368 and 3376 cm⁻¹, the position of which is sample‐dependent. Bands for ferroaxinite at 678, 643, 618, 609, 588, 572, 546 cm⁻¹ may be attributed to the ν₄ bending modes and the three bands at 484, 444 and 428 cm⁻¹ may be attributed to the ν₂ bending modes of the (SiO₄)²⁻. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.