Optical Absorption Spectra

Microspectra were acquired on several spots about 100 micrometer square on a thin slab fabricated from a part of a crystal. The composite spectra on these spots showed that Mn is the primary cause of color and that it is present in multiple oxidation states.

 

The best individual spectra in the most pink and most brown zones show that the pink zones contain more Mn3+ than the brown zones.