Minerals from Macedonia. XXII. Laser‐induced fluorescence bands in the FT‐Raman spectrum of almandine mineral

Two strong bands centered at 446 and 607 cm −1 have been observed in the FT‐Raman spectrum of almandine [Fe 3 Al 2 (SiO 4 ) 3 ] excited with 1064 nm, which were completely absent in the corresponding dispersive Raman spectra obtained using 488, 514.5 and 532 nm excitation. Furthermore, the mentioned strong bands have not been registered in the anti‐Stokes side of the FT‐Raman spectrum, and were therefore assigned to laser‐induced fluorescence bands. Their appearance is related to the presence of rare‐earth element traces as impurities in the almandine sample. Additionally, the FT‐Raman (and dispersive Raman) spectrum of the isomorphous spessartine [Mn 3 Al 2 (SiO 4 ) 3 ] mineral has been introduced, which did not show the presence of these fluorescence emission bands. The purity of the minerals was confirmed by study of their powder X‐ray diffraction (PXRD) patterns.