Raman Spectroscopy Coupled with Reflectance Spectroscopy as a Tool for the Characterization of Key Hydrothermal Alteration Minerals in Epithermal Au–Ag Systems: Utility and Implications for Mineral Exploration ...

• Main Authors: Arbiol, Carlos, Layne, Graham D.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: unknown
• Published: SAGE Journals 2021
• Subjects: 99999 Engineering not elsewhere classified; FOS: Other engineering and technologies; Newfoundland
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.25384/sage.c.5649962.v1; https://sage.figshare.com/collections/Raman_Spectroscopy_Coupled_with_Reflectance_Spectroscopy_as_a_Tool_for_the_Characterization_of_Key_Hydrothermal_Alteration_Minerals_in_Epithermal_Au_Ag_Systems_Utility_and_Implications_for_Mineral_Exploration/5649962/1

Raman spectroscopy of fine-grained hydrothermal alteration minerals, and phyllosilicates in particular, presents certain challenges. However, given the increasingly widespread recognition of field portable visible–near infrared–shortwave infrared (Vis-NIR-SWIR) spectroscopy as a valuable tool in the mineral exploration industry, Raman microspectroscopy has promise as an approach for developing detailed complementary information on hydrothermal alteration phases in ore-forming systems. Here we present exemplar high-quality Raman and Vis-NIR-SWIR spectra of four key hydrothermal alteration minerals (pyrophyllite, white mica, chlorite, and alunite) that are common in precious metal epithermal systems, from deposits on the island of Newfoundland, Canada. The results reported here demonstrate that Raman microspectroscopy can accurately characterize pyrophyllite, white mica, chlorite, and alunite and provide details on their compositional variation at the microscale. In particular, spectral differences in the ...