Identification and spectra–structure determination of soil minerals: Raman study supported by IR spectroscopy and X‐ray powder diffraction

Abstract

Raman and IR spectroscopy were used for the characterization of several minerals in morphologically similar vertisol sequences from Kiževak (Serbia). It helped us to establish the surface layer transition going from calcic vertisols (containing gypsum and calcite) to calcimagnesic vertisols (containing aragonite, magnesium-calcite and dolomite) derived from peridotite and serpentinite. The observed band positions are found to be solely characteristic for each carbonate mineral and are used to discuss the main structural features of carbonates and sulfates present in the studied soil. It was found that the dolomite, calcite and aragonite concretions are present in the deepest layer of the soil, whereas the gypsum is found in the topsoil. The identification was confirmed of the carbonates having calcite and aragonite structure, and the representative from the sulfate group (gypsum) was confirmed by X-ray powder diffraction.

Recent advances in linear and nonlinear Raman spectroscopy. Part V

“…reported room‐temperature measurements of XRD, optical transmission microscopy, atomic force microscopy, IR absorption and micro‐Raman spectroscopy of the oriented SAT 0.3 : LA 0.075 : CAT 0.625 single crystal, where SAT = SrAl 0.5 Ta 0.5 O 3 , LA = LaAlO 3 and CAT = CaAl 0.5 Ta 0.5 O 3. Raman and IR spectroscopy were used by Tomic and coworkers for the characterization of several minerals in morphologically similar vertisol sequences from Kizevak (Serbia) . Raman spectroscopy was used by Wehrmeister et al .…”

Characterization of phosphorus compounds in soils by deep ultraviolet (DUV) Raman microspectroscopy

“…Diffuse reflectance infrared spectroscopy has been used in various aspects of soil chemistry, but its performance has been limited except for a few specific applications (see review by Soriano‐Disla et al ). Raman spectroscopy studies of soils typically use optical excitation in the visible (VIS) spectral range: Tomic et al utilized Raman microspectroscopy to analyze silicates, carbonates and sulfates in soil, while Lanfranco et al presented a Raman spectrum of a phosphate in a soil–phosphate–mixture, but had considerable difficulties with fluorescence interference. Furthermore, Von Sperber et al applied NIR‐Raman spectroscopy to oxygen isotope exchange reaction of pyrophosphatase.…”

Soil Chemical Insights Provided through Vibrational Spectroscopy

“…These approaches are powerful tools for studying mineral transformations and identifying mineral phases within soil samples. Tomić et al (2010) utilized transmission FTIR and Raman microspectroscopy (with corroboration from XRD analysis) to differentiate between soluble minerals present throughout a morphologically similar vertisol sequence. In this study, the presence of dolomite, aragonite, and calcite in lower soil horizons compared to gypsum was used to explain the surface layer transition of the soils from calcic-to calcimagnesic-vertisols.…”