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Hamilton 2003
Hamilton, V.E. (2003). Thermal infrared emission spectroscopy of titanium-enriched pyroxenes. Journal of Geophysical Research 108: doi: 10.1029/2003JE002052. issn: 0148-0227.

Pyroxenes are useful indicators of igneous processes and may be identified in geologic materials in the laboratory or remotely through the use of spectroscopic analysis. Studies of the thermal infrared (vibrational) spectra of many compositions in the pyroxene solid solution series (quadrilateral orthopyroxene and clinopyroxene, and some nonquadrilateral compositions) have shown that spectral absorption features shift in wavelength position, vary in number, and change shape as a function of pyroxene silicate structure and cation substitution. These spectral variations can be used to identify the approximate composition(s) of pyroxenes in the thermal infrared emission spectra of rocks. Here I demonstrate that the spectra of Ti-rich calcic clinopyroxenes also have thermal infrared spectral characteristics that distinguish them from typical quadrilateral compositions via a comparison to the spectrum of Angra dos Reis, a meteorite dominated by Ti-enriched clinopyroxene. The distinctive spectral character of Ti-rich pyroxenes may permit their identification not only in laboratory mineral and rock samples but also in thermal infrared remote sensing data, providing additional chemical information about igneous lithologies.

BACKGROUND DATA FILES

Abstract

Keywords
Mineralogy and Petrology, Instruments and techniques, Mineralogy and Petrology, Planetary mineralogy and petrology, Mineralogy and Petrology, Igneous petrology, Mineralogy and Petrology, Major element composition, Planetary Sciences, Remote sensing
Journal
Journal of Geophysical Research
http://www.agu.org/journals/jb/
Publisher
American Geophysical Union
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