Compositional and Spectrochemical Analyses of Cr-spinels in the Sittampundi Anorthosite Complex, Southern India: Implications for Remote Observation of Spinels on the Moon
Earth and Space Sciences
We employed various spectroscopic techniques (hyperspectral, Laser Raman, and Fourier-Transform Infra-Red) combined with X-ray Diffraction (XRD) and Electron Probe Micro Analysis (EPMA) to understand the spectral-compositional relationships of the Cr-spinel (Chromian spinel) present in chromitite bodies associated with Sittampundi Anorthosite Complex (SAC), southern India. The bands/lenses of Cr-spinel are found as layers (few centimeters to 6 meters thick) intercalated with anorthosites and clinopyroxenites of the SAC. Cr-spinels of the SAC exhibit a Fe-, Al-rich composition. XRD, Laser Raman, EPMA, FTIR, and Hyperspectral analyses of Cr-spinels revealed their characteristic spectral and chemical features. Spectral and compositional resemblance of Cr-spinels in SAC is compared with similar Fe- and Cr- bearing spinel compositions on the Moon. Based on their chemical and spectral resemblance, Cr-spinels in SAC are proposed as functional analogues to lunar spinels of similar composition
Thesniya, P.M., Saranya, R. and Rajesh, V.J., 2021. Compositional and spectrochemical analyses of Cr-spinels in the Sittampundi Anorthosite Complex, Southern India: Implications for remote observation of spinels on the Moon. Spectrochimica Acta Part A: Molecular and Biomolecular Spectroscopy, 255, Article 119677.