Identifiction of a mid-infrared
electronic absorption band of Fe2+ in the distorted M(2)
site of orthopyroxene, (Mg,Fe)SiO3
Don S. Goldman and George R.
Rossman
Division of Geological and Planetary
Sciences
California Institute of Technology
Pasadena, CA 91125
Abstract
An electronic absorption band of Fe2+in the distorted, six-coordinate M(2) site
of the common mineraf orthopyroxene, (Mg, Fe)SiO3, is
rdentified at 2350 cm-1. This band is attributed to the A1
- B2 transition within the split 5T2g
state of Fe2+inC2v symmetry.
The gamma spectrum of hypersthene (top) from Sumit Rock, Oregon,
and bronzite
(bottom) from Bamble, Norway.