Center of characterization of new mineral species: Raman spectroscopy, electron microprobe and X-ray and neutron diffraction

Abstract

This research proposal is devoted to characterize new mineral species from Brazil and other countries through the techniques of Raman spectroscopy, X-ray and neutron diffraction and electron microprobe analysis. The Commission on New Minerals and Nomenclature (CNMNC) of the International Mineralogical Association (IMA) has being officially approved approximately 100 new species per year. Currently, there are about 5,000 valid mineral species listed by IMA. These results have an important impact on the synthesis of new inorganic compounds and in the mining industry, which has received billions of dollars of investment in Brazil. However, just 60 new Brazilian mineral species (0.01%) were validated by IMA. The aim of this project is to characterize new mineral species and through essential techniques and make this Centre a reference for formation of highly qualified scientific personnel, production of world-class scientific publications with long-lasting impact, consolidation of national and international long-term scientific interdisciplinary collaborations with qualified institutions and providing support for researchers and mining companies. The Raman spectroscopy infrastructure to be installed will allow the identification of mineral species directly from natural rocks, as well as to obtain the characteristic Raman spectrum of new minerals, which will be correlated to the crystal structure, chemical composition and mineral phases. These spectra obtained will also contribute to the development and expansion of integrated mineral databases. Single-crystal and powder X-ray diffraction, electron microprobe (chemical composition) and single-crystal neutron diffraction, which allow more detailed investigation of the lighter atoms and water molecules in the presence of heavier atoms, will provide the additional information to register new mineral species at the IMA. (AU)