Luminescence properties of minerals in the Strzegom granites
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.55225/sti.702Keywords:
quartz, feldspars, cathodoluminescence, Strzegom granites, rare earth elementsAbstract
This study presents the luminescence properties of minerals occurring in the Strzegom granites using cathodoluminescence in a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM-CL). Four representative samples of granites from the Strzegom–Sobótka deposits(including the Kostrza, Chwałkow and Graniczna types) were selected for investigation. Their major- and trace-element chemical compositions were adopted from previously published data reported by Panna et al. [1]. The aim of the study was to assess the variability of luminescence activity of rock-forming minerals and to identify potential emission activators based on microphotographic observations and literature data. The results indicate that orthoclase exhibits the strongest luminescence effects, characterized by numerous point-like luminescence centers with yellow, blue and red colors, interpreted as the effect of Mn²+ and Fe³+ ions, oxygen vacancies, and admixtures of rare earth elements and Zr-rich accessory phases. In contrast, plagioclase rather remained optically inactive in most cases, highlighting the usefulness of SEM-CL for distinguishing feldspar types in granites. The obtained results confirm that cathodoluminescence is a useful tool for the qualitative analysis of structural defects and the distribution of impurities in minerals of the Strzegom granites; however, its interpretation should always be supported by chemical and mineralogical analyses.
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