A vibrational spectroscopic study of the arsenate minerals cobaltkoritnigite and koritnigite.

Abstract

Raman spectra of two well-defined types of cobaltkoritnigite and koritnigite crystals were recorded and interpreted. Significant differences in the Raman spectra of cobaltkoritnigite and koritnigite were observed. Observed Raman bands were attributed to the (AsO3OH)^2- stretching and bending vibrations, stretching and bending vibrations of water molecules and hydroxyl ions. Both Raman and infrared spectra of cobaltkoritnigite identify bands which are attributable to phosphate and hydrogen phosphate anions proving some substitution of phosphate for arsenate in the structure of cobaltkoritnigite. The O—H… O hydrogen bond lengths in the crystal structure of koritnigite were inferred from the Raman spectra and compared with those derived from the X-ray single crystal refinement. The presence of (AsO3 OH)^2- units in the crystal structure of cobaltkoritnigite and koritnigite was proved from the Raman spectra which supports the conclusions of the X-ray structure analysis.