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On the greenish-yellow color of natural Brazilian titanite

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Abstract

Natural greenish-yellow titanites from two localities in Brazil (Bananal/Capelinha, MG and Xambioá, TO) were characterized by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and optical absorption. Along with vanadyl ions (VO2+) substituting Ti4+, two other paramagnetic centers were identified: the Fe3+ and the Mn2+. For the VO2+, the principal values and orientations of the g and A tensors were derived from a careful analysis of the angular dependence of the EPR spectra. The obtained results, although different to previously reported data, still support the model for the VO2+ bonds to the nearest oxygen (O1) in the TiO6-distorted octahedra. In addition, the titanite optical absorption spectra were analyzed, and the yellow color was ascribed to Fe3+ ↔ O2− ligand–metal charge transfer transitions (LMCT) in the near-ultraviolet, extending to the violet and blue spectral ranges. The VO2+ center seen by EPR was in low concentration and had no visible effect on the color. Finally, γ-irradiation up to 200 kGy and thermal treatments in oxidizing/reducing atmospheres up to 600–700 °C also had no big influence on the dominant yellow color.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to CAPES—Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior, CNPq—Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico and FAPEMIG—Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais for grants and financial support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Instituto de Geociências (IGC), Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Av. Antônio Carlos, 6627, Belo Horizonte, MG, 31270-901, Brazil

    E. L. Tolentino Jr., C. H. Dias & M. L. S. C. Chaves

  2. Departamento de Física, Instituto de Ciências Exatas (ICEx), Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Av. Antônio Carlos, 6627, Belo Horizonte, MG, 31270-901, Brazil

    K. Krambrock & M. V. B. Pinheiro

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  1. E. L. Tolentino Jr.
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  2. C. H. Dias
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  3. M. L. S. C. Chaves
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  4. K. Krambrock
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  5. M. V. B. Pinheiro
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Correspondence to M. L. S. C. Chaves.

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Tolentino, E.L., Dias, C.H., Chaves, M.L.S.C. et al. On the greenish-yellow color of natural Brazilian titanite. Phys Chem Minerals 46, 203–213 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00269-018-0998-2

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