Infrared, Raman and cathodoluminescence studies of impact glasses

We studied the infrared reflectance (IR), Raman, and cathodoluminescence (CL) spectroscopic signatures and scanning electron microscope-cathodoluminescence (SEM-CL) images of three different types of impact glasses: Aouelloul impact glass, a Muong Nong-type tektite, and Libyan desert glass. Both backscattered electron (BSE) and CL images of the Muong Nong-type tektite are featureless; the BSE image of the Libyan desert glass shows only weak brightness contrasts. For the Aouelloul glass, both BSE and CL images show distinct brightness contrast, and the CL images for the Libyan desert glass show spectacular flow textures that are not visible in any other microscopic method. Compositional data show that the SiO2 composition is relatively higher and the Al2O3 content is lower in the CL-bright areas than in the CL-dark regions. The different appearance of the three glass types in the CL images indicates different peak temperatures during glass formation: the tektite was subjected to the highest temperature, and the Aouelloul impact glass experienced a relatively low formation temperature, while the Libyan desert glass preserves a flow texture that is only visible in the CL images, indicating a medium temperature. All IR reflectance spectra show a major band at around 1040 to 1110 cm-1 (antisymmetric stretching of SiO4 tetrahedra), with minor peaks between 745 and 769 cm-1 (Si-O-Si angle deformation). Broad bands at 491 and 821 cm-1 in the Raman spectra in all samples are most likely related to diaplectic glass remnants, indicating early shock amorphization followed by thermal amorphization. The combination of these spectroscopic methods allows us to deduce information about the peak formation temperature of the glass, and the CL images, in particular, show glass flow textures that are not preserved in other more conventional petrographic images

On hydrogen bond correlations at high pressures

In situ high pressure neutron diffraction measured lengths of O H and H O pairs in hydrogen bonds in substances are shown to follow the correlation between them established from 0.1 MPa data on different chemical compounds. In particular, the conclusion by Nelmes et al that their high pressure data on ice VIII differ from it is not supported. For compounds in which the O H stretching frequencies red shift under pressure, it is shown that wherever structural data is available, they follow the stretching frequency versus H O (or O O) distance correlation. For compounds displaying blue shifts with pressure an analogy appears to exist with improper hydrogen bonds.Comment: 12 pages,4 figure

Scanning electron microscopy, cathodoluminescence, and Raman spectroscopy of experimentally shock metamorphosed quartzite

We studied unshocked and experimentally (at 12, 25, and 28 GPa, with 25, 100, 450, and 750°C pre-shock temperatures) shock-metamorphosed Hospital Hill quartzite from South Africa using cathodoluminescence (CL) images and spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy to document systematic pressure or temperature-related effects that could be used in shock barometry. In general, CL images of all samples show CL-bright luminescent patchy areas and bands in otherwise non-luminescent quartz, as well as CL-dark irregular fractures. Fluid inclusions appear dominant in CL images of the 25 GPa sample shocked at 750°C and of the 28 GPa sample shocked at 450°C. Only the optical image of our 28 GPa sample shocked at 25°C exhibits distinct planar deformation features (PDFs). Cathodoluminescence spectra of unshocked and experimentally shocked samples show broad bands in the near-ultraviolet range and the visible light range at all shock stages, indicating the presence of defect centers on, e.g., SiO4 groups. No systematic change in the appearance of the CL images was obvious, but the CL spectra do show changes between the shock stages. The Raman spectra are characteristic for quartz in the unshocked and 12 GPa samples. In the 25 and 28 GPa samples, broad bands indicate the presence of glassy SiO2, while high-pressure polymorphs are not detected. Apparently,some of the CL and Raman spectral properties can be used in shock barometry

Luminescence and a new approach for detecting heat treatment of geuda sapphire

For decades, unraveling the heat treatment of sapphire has been a challenging issue. The present study offers new aspects that support the detection of heat treatment of sapphire. Natural geuda sapphire exhibits orange to red luminescence under longwave ultraviolet (LWUV; 365 nm) light, while heated geuda sapphire shows blue luminescence under shortwave ultraviolet (SWUV; 225 nm) light. The presence of melt inclusions in dissolved silks serves as an indicator of sapphire heat treatment. Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy alone is insufficient for distinguishing unheated from heated sapphire. By combining orange to red luminescence with blue luminescence and melt inclusions, we provide a practical method for accurately differentiating natural gem-quality sapphire and heated gem-quality sapphire.</p