Quantitative cathodoluminescence (CL) spectroscopy of minerals: possibilities and limitations

The luminescence spectrum of a mineral contains complex information related to the intrinsic crystal and the defect structure. For quantitative analysis of cathodoluminescence (CL) the spectra have to be deconvoluted by fitting and filtering procedures to identify and measure individual peaks. Peak-width, peak-position and transition probability of the luminescence centers are influenced by effects such as interactions within the defects themselves, and interaction between defects and the surrounding crystal lattice. For calcite and feldspar a linear correlation between the defect concentration of manganese and the Mn2+-activated CL-intensity is documented. Combined micro-particle induced x-ray emission (μ-PIXE) and CL-spectroscopy analyses of REE-doped synthetic calcite suggest a linear correlation between REE-activated CL intensity and REE-concentration at REE-concentration levels below approximately 500 ppm. Sensitizing and quenching by other REE are dominant effects yielding strong variations in the correlation between the REE-activated CL-intensity and the REE-content. (author)