Limitations of FTIR Spectroscopy for Detection of Water in Spinel Group Minerals,When IVFe2+ is Incorporated into the Crystal Structure

Fourier‐transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy can be used for detection of low hydrogen abundances as well as for finding information on hydrogen speciation in nominal anhydrous minerals (NAMs). A Perkin‐Elmer 1760 X FTIR plus micro‐FTIR spectrometer was used to apply this established method to natural spinel phases in order to detect water that is possibly incorporated into the crystal structure. Here, the limits of FTIR are assessed for detection of OH, when only traces of iron are incorporated into the crystal structure of natural spinel group minerals. A problem occurred because of the high intensity of the iron absorption bands, which absorb at similar wavenumbers to OH absorption bands.