Epidote Group Visible Spectra (350 - 1000 nm)
The common members of the epidote group minerals consist of
allanite, clinozoisite, epidote, piemontite and zoisite. The
color of clinozoisite and epidote is due to their Fe3+
content and commonly varies from amber to brown. Piemontite
contains Mn3+ and is red. Allanite is colored by iron
and radiation damage and possibly by rare earth elements. Zoisite
is best known as the gem variety "tanzanite" which owes
its color to vanadium.
Images of representative epidote group spectra
- GRR 1282 amber
clinozoisite spectrum, 6K; 1.10 mm thick sample from
Gilgit, Pakistan. Data Files: perpendicular to c,
26K; parallel to c, 28K;
- GRR 1282 epidote
spectrum, 6K; 1.104 mm thick sample from Gilgit,
Pakistan. This is a different zone in the clinozoisite
crystal portrayed above. Data Files: alpha,
26K; gamma, 28K;
- RDS 72 epidote spectrum,
6K; 1.0 mm thick olive-green crystal also from
Pakistan with 8.84 wt% Fe2O3,
described in Shannon & Rossman (1992) Phys Chem Min.
- GRR 438 epidote
spectrum, 6K; 1.0 mm thick sample from an unspecified
locality.
- GRR 1950 epidote spectrum 4K;
1.121 mm thick sample from northwestern Kenya.
Green-brown British Museum sample 1973,589.
- GRR 2293 piemontite
spectrum; 0.068 mm thick sample from Whitewater
River, near Palm Springs, California. alpha, 21K; gamma, 23K;
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