Abstract

In this work, X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) analyses were applied to samples of quartz, montebrasite, and turquoise hydrothermal veins in the Argemela Tin Mine (Central Portugal). Montebrasite (LiAl(PO4)(OH,F)) is potentially the main ore mineral; with its alteration, lithium (Li) can disseminate into other minerals. A hand sample was cut and analyzed by XRF and LIBS for several elements of interest including Cu, P, Al, Si, and Li. Although XRF cannot measure Li, results from its analysis are effective for distinguishing turquoise from montebrasite. LIBS analysis complemented this study, making it possible to conclude that turquoise does not contain any significant Li in its structure. The difference in spot size between the techniques (5 mm vs. 300 µm for XRF and LIBS, respectively) resulted in a poorer performance by XRF in accurately identifying mixed minerals. A thin section was petrographically characterized and mapped using LIBS. The mapping results demonstrate the possibility of the successful identification of minerals and their alterations on a thin section. The results of XRF analysis and LIBS mapping in petrographic sections demonstrate the efficacy of these methods as tools for element and mineral identification, which can be important in exploration and mining phases, complementing more traditional techniques.

Highlights

  • Raw materials are the basis for most industrial sectors, being present in the manufacturing process and a broad range of goods used in modern technologies and everyday life.These raw materials are essential to Europe’s economy, the European Commission carried out an assessment with the main goal of identifying raw materials of high economic importance and the potential for supply chain shortages

  • The alteration of montebrasite into turquoise can be problematic in the evaluation of a deposit, since it can cause a decrease in the Li content of the ore

  • Techniques such as X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) are viable options for exploration and mining companies because they allow for the rapid detection of different elements in minerals

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Summary

Introduction

Raw materials are the basis for most industrial sectors, being present in the manufacturing process and a broad range of goods used in modern technologies and everyday life These raw materials are essential to Europe’s economy, the European Commission carried out an assessment with the main goal of identifying raw materials of high economic importance and the potential for supply chain shortages. The alteration of montebrasite into turquoise can be problematic in the evaluation of a deposit, since it can cause a decrease in the Li content of the ore Techniques such as X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) are viable options for exploration and mining companies because they allow for the rapid detection of different elements in minerals. Minerals 2021, 11, 1169 combination of XRF and LIBS techniques (applied to the sample and to the petrographic section) were used to determinate the presence of Si, Cu, Al, and P as well as the possible content of Li in the turquoise mineral

Geological Setting
Samples
30 ECLIPSE
XRF Instrumentation
LIBS Instrumentation
Petrography and Mineralogy
Hand Sample
Average
HandofSample
Thin Section Mapping
Interpretation and Discussion
Hand Sample Analysis
Main Conclusions
Full Text
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