Innovative Structural Characterization of Natural Villiaumite Crystal

Abstract

The work presents the latest scientific research on the far infrared spectrum of the natural mineral villiaumite (chemical formula NaF). The three samples of villiaumite examined came from the Khibiny Mountains in the Kola Peninsula (Russia) and from Mon Saint Hilaire in Quebec (Canada). The tested villiaumite samples began to change color very slowly after being heated above 300 °C in a muffle furnace. Subsequent color changes required heating at increasingly higher temperatures for approximately 48–72 h. Samples of the reddish mineral villiaumite turned orange, pink and finally colorless (at approximately at 430 °C). Because the color of villiaumite changes under the influence of temperature, far infrared spectra were measured for the samples at room temperature and for the sample heated to 100, 200, 300, 400 and 500 °C. Additionally, using density functional theory (DFT/B3LYP/6-31+g*), the spectrum of NaF (125-atom model of crystal structure) was simulated for the first time and compared with the experimental spectrum of pure sodium fluoride (a chemical reagent) and the mineral villiaumite.