Lithium (Li) is one of the latest metals to be added to the list of critical materials in Europe and, thus, lithium exploration in Europe has become a necessity to guarantee its mid- to long-term stable supply. Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) is a powerful analysis technique that allows for simultaneous multi-elemental analysis with an excellent coverage of light elements (Z < 13). This data paper provides more than 4000 LIBS spectra obtained using a handheld LIBS tool on approximately 140 Li-content materials (minerals, powder pellets, and rocks) and their Li concentrations. The high resolution of the spectrometers combined with the low detection limits for light elements make the LIBS technique a powerful option to detect Li and trace elements of first interest, such as Be, Cs, F, and Rb. The LIBS spectra dataset combined with the Li content dataset can be used to obtain quantitative estimation of Li in Li-rich matrices. This paper can be utilized as technical and spectroscopic support for Li detection in the field using a portable LIBS instrument.

Abstract. Mineral resource exploration and mining is an essential part of today’s high-tech industry. Elements such as rare earth elements (REE) and copper are, therefore, in high demand. Modern exploration techniques from multiple platforms (e.g. space- and airborne), to detect and map the spectral characteristics of the materials of interest, require spectral libraries as an essential reference. They include field and laboratory spectral information in combination with geochemical analyses for validation. Here, we present an extensive collection of REE- and copper-related hyperspectral spectra with associated geochemical information. The libraries contain spectra from rare earth element oxides, REE-bearing minerals, copper-bearing minerals and mine surface samples from the Apliki copper-gold-pyrite-mine in the Republic of Cyprus. The samples were measured with the HySpex imaging spectrometers in the visible near infra-red (VNIR) and short wave infra-red (SWIR) range (400–2500 nm). The geochemical validation of each sample is provided with the spectra. The spectral library is openly available to assist future mineral mapping campaigns and laboratory spectroscopic analyses. The spectral libraries and corresponding geochemistry are published via GFZ Data Services with the following DOIs: https://doi.org/10.5880/GFZ.1.4.2019.004 (REE elements, Koerting et al., 2019a), https://doi.org/10.5880/GFZ.1.4.2019.003 (Copper bearing minerals. Koellner et al., 2019), and https://doi.org/10.5880/GFZ.1.4.2019.005 (copper bearing minerals from the Apliki copper-gold-pyrite mine in Cyprus, Koerting et al., 2019b).

Abstract. Mineral resource exploration and mining is an essential part of today's high-tech industry. Elements such as rare-earth elements (REEs) and copper are, therefore, in high demand. Modern exploration techniques from multiple platforms (e.g., spaceborne and airborne), to detect and map the spectral characteristics of the materials of interest, require spectral libraries as an essential reference. They include field and laboratory spectral information in combination with geochemical analyses for validation. Here, we present a collection of REE- and copper-related hyperspectral spectra with associated geochemical information. The libraries contain reflectance spectra from rare-earth element oxides, REE-bearing minerals, copper-bearing minerals and mine surface samples from the Apliki copper–gold–pyrite mine in the Republic of Cyprus. The samples were measured with the HySpex imaging spectrometers in the visible and near infrared (VNIR) and shortwave infrared (SWIR) range (400–2500 nm). The geochemical validation of each sample is provided with the reflectance spectra. The spectral libraries are openly available to assist future mineral mapping campaigns and laboratory spectroscopic analyses. The spectral libraries and corresponding geochemistry are published via GFZ Data Services with the following DOIs: https://doi.org/10.5880/GFZ.1.4.2019.004 (13 REE-bearing minerals and 16 oxide powders, Koerting et al., 2019a), https://doi.org/10.5880/GFZ.1.4.2019.003 (20 copper-bearing minerals, Koellner et al., 2019), and https://doi.org/10.5880/GFZ.1.4.2019.005 (37 copper-bearing surface material samples from the Apliki copper–gold–pyrite mine in Cyprus, Koerting et al., 2019b). All spectral libraries are united and comparable by the internally consistent method of hyperspectral data acquisition in the laboratory.

Abstract. In this study we present a novel method for the automatic detection of minerals and elements using hyperspectral transmittance imaging microscopy measurements of complete thin sections (HyperTIM). This is accomplished by using a hyperspectral camera system that operates in the visible and near-infrared (VNIR) range with a specifically designed sample holder, scanning setup, and a microscope lens. We utilize this method on a monazite ore thin section from Steenkampskraal (South Africa), which we analyzed for the rare earth element (REE)-bearing mineral monazite ((Ce,Nd,La)PO4), with high concentrations of Nd. The transmittance analyses with the hyperspectral VNIR camera can be used to identify REE minerals and Nd in thin sections. We propose a three-point band depth index, the Nd feature depth index (NdFD), and its related product the Nd band depth index (NdBDI), which enables automatic mineral detection and classification for the Nd-bearing monazites in thin sections. In combination with the average concentration of the relative Nd content, it permits a destruction-free, total concentration calculation for Nd across the entire thin section.

Copper bearing minerals listed with their sample name and collection and the area of sampling for EDX/WDX analyses and spectra retrieval 5 Apliki mine samples, including description, coordinates of sampling in March 2018 in the Republic of Cyprus and a field photo of the sample 10 References 15 The spectral libraries and corresponding geochemistry of the samples listed here are published via GFZ Data Services with