Rapid outdoor non‐destructive detection of organic minerals using a portable Raman spectrometer

Jehlička, Jan; Vítek, Petr; Edwards, Howell G. M.; Hargreaves, Michael D.; Čapoun, T.

doi:10.1002/jrs.2313

Cited by 57 publications

(63 citation statements)

References 30 publications

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“…It has been shown that organic material can readily be detected on-site using 785 nm excitation, and it might be necessary for us to make use of this laser line in addition to green excitation in future. [39] In many spectra, we observed intense peaks corresponding to accretions and alteration products such as gypsum and whewellite, both associated with weathering. The identification of these materials as layers covering the original pigments is a first step in understanding the chemical processes at work in the micro-environment of the paintings.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The first in situ Raman spectroscopic study of San rock art in South Africa: procedures and preliminary results

Tournié

Prinsloo

Paris

et al. 2011

J Raman Spectroscopy

104

113

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Southern Africa has a rich heritage of hunter-gatherer, herder and farmer rock art traditions made by using both painted and engraved techniques. Until now, there have been only a handful of studies on the chemical analysis of the paint, as all previous types of analysis required the removal of pigment samples from the sites a practice which has been avoided. Raman spectroscopy is an ideal techniques to analyse the paint non-destructively and also offers the possibility of in situ work with portable instruments. This article describes the procedures and reports the preliminary results of the first in situ Raman spectroscopic study of rock art in South Africa (also a first worldwide), where we, first, evaluate the capability of a Raman portable instrument in very difficult conditions, second, analyse the paints in order to contribute to a better knowledge of the technology used and, third, evaluate the possible contribution of in situ analyses in conservation studies. The paintings from two different rock art sites were studied. The instrument proved to be highly suitable for in situ analyses in physically very challenging conditions. Most of the pigments and alteration products previously detected under laboratory conditions were identified, thereby giving information on both the pigments and conservation state of the paintings. A layered structure of alteration products and pigment was identified in situ for the first time by controlling the laser power, thereby obtaining the same results as in mapping experiments of cross sections of paint.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The first in situ Raman spectroscopic study of San rock art in South Africa: procedures and preliminary results

Tournié

Prinsloo

Paris

et al. 2011

J Raman Spectroscopy

104

113

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“…Two excitation wavelengths were used, namely 532 nm, which is that adopted for the laser used in the ExoMars RLS Raman spectrometer, and 785 nm which was used with good performance of the portable counterparts for identification of inorganic mineral phases as shown for example in Jehlička et al [75] or Vítek et al [76].…”

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confidence: 99%

Miniaturized Raman instrumentation detects carotenoids in Mars-analogue rocks from the Mojave and Atacama deserts

Vítek

Jehlička

Edwards

et al. 2014

Phil. Trans. R. Soc. A.

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This study is primarily focused on proving the potential of miniaturized Raman systems to detect any biomolecular and mineral signal in natural geobiological samples that are relevant for future application of the technique within astrobiologically aimed missions on Mars. A series of evaporites of varying composition and origin from two extremely dry deserts were studied, namely Atacama and Mojave. The samples represent both dry evaporitic deposits and recent evaporitic efflorescences from hypersaline brines. The samples comprise halite and different types of sulfates and carbonates. The samples were analysed in two different ways: (i) directly as untreated rocks and (ii) as homogenized powders. Two excitation wavelengths of miniaturized Raman spectrometers were compared: 532 and 785 nm. The potential to detect carotenoids as biomarkers on Mars compared with the potential detection of carbonaceous matter using miniaturized instrumentation is discussed.

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“…These instruments that feature excitation sources of the most often used wavelengths (such as 1064, 785 and 532 nm) have previously proved to be quite useful in the fields of geology and astrobiology; the geological applications tested have included analyses of rockforming [18,19] and organic [20] minerals, as well as carbonaceous material from an Ordovician stromatolite [21]. Biomarker detection in Alpine winter conditions [22][23][24] studies involving handheld instrumentation with astrobiological applications for the icy worlds of Europa and Titan.…”

Section: (A) Applications Of Miniaturized Raman Equipmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

Detection of pigments of halophilic endoliths from gypsum: Raman portable instrument and European Space Agency's prototype analysis

Culka

Osterrothová

Hutchinson

et al. 2014

Phil. Trans. R. Soc. A.

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A prototype instrument, under development at the University of Leicester, for the future European Space Agency (ESA) ExoMars mission, was used for the analysis of microbial pigments within a stratified gypsum crust from a hypersaline saltern evaporation pond at Eilat (Israel). Additionally, the same samples were analysed using a miniaturized Raman spectrometer, featuring the same 532 nm excitation. The differences in the position of the specific bands, attributed to carotenoid pigments from different coloured layers, were minor when analysed by the ESA prototype instrument; therefore, making it difficult to distinguish among the different pigments. The portable Delta Nu Advantage instrument allowed for the discrimination of microbial carotenoids from the orange/green and purple layers. The purpose of this study was to complement previous laboratory results with new data and experience with portable or handheld Raman systems, even with a dedicated prototype Raman system for the exploration of Mars. The latter is equipped with an excitation wavelength falling within the carotenoid polyene resonance region. The ESA prototype Raman instrument detected the carotenoid pigments (biomarkers) with ease, although further detailed distinctions among them were not achieved.

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Rapid outdoor non‐destructive detection of organic minerals using a portable Raman spectrometer

Cited by 57 publications

References 30 publications

The first in situ Raman spectroscopic study of San rock art in South Africa: procedures and preliminary results

The first in situ Raman spectroscopic study of San rock art in South Africa: procedures and preliminary results

Miniaturized Raman instrumentation detects carotenoids in Mars-analogue rocks from the Mojave and Atacama deserts

Detection of pigments of halophilic endoliths from gypsum: Raman portable instrument and European Space Agency's prototype analysis

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