With a recently developed Raman microprobe, vibrational spectra have been obtained from Individual microcrystals and fibers of sheet and chain silicate minerals. Species such as talc, tremolite, low-iron anthophyllite, and actinolite give distinct spectra. No systematic differences exist between spectra of the fibrous and nonflbrous forms of a given mineral.

The Raman spectra of talc microparticles have been obtained with the Raman microprobe over the frequency range 100 to 3800 cm−1. The vibrational modes are discussed in terms of an idealized unit cell (1-M polymorph) of C2h symmetry. An electrostatic dipole-dipole interaction is used to compare the Raman and infrared active branches. Assignments of the Raman active stretching modes of the silicate sheet are found to support previous infrared assignments. Estimates of intrasheet dipole-dipole interactions are obtained.

The fate of crystals in the parenchymatous sheaths around vascular bundles in alfalfa leaves was followed through the bovine digestive tract by scanning electron microscopy. The bundle and sheath pass from the rumen largely intact. Most crystals are released from the bundle sheath postruminally. In feces, some crystals appear partially eroded and others are intact. By energy-dispersive x-ray analysis calcium is the primary crystal cation. Intact cyrstals isolated from alfalfa leaves by low-temperature ashing and from bovine feces by washing and differential specific gravity were subjected to Raman microprobe analysis. Most crystals were calcium oxalate, a few were potassium oxalate, and some contained both compounds. From 20 to 33% of calcium in alfalfa is in the form of oxalate and apparently unavailable to ruminants. Carbonate is probably in partially eroded crystals from feces. Data presented account for the poorer utilization by cattle of calcium from alfalfa than that from inorganic sources.

Analyses of individual urban airborne particulates were conducted in the Raman microprobe. In addition to the spectral features characteristic of the particle, two features at ∼1350 and ∼1600 cm−1 have been observed. The appearance of these bands is found to vary a function of the laser irradiance. By modeling experiments, it is demonstrated that these two bands can be explained by the presence of carbon in a form analogous to polycrystalline graphite. In air particulates the source of the carbon can be either “graphitic soot” or an organic “contaminant” which converts to polycrystalline graphite upon exposure to the laser beam.