Non-invasive FTIR spectroscopy: new preliminary data for the identification of mineralogical phases forming Cultural Heritage materials

Mariano Mercurio (a), Chiara Germinario (a), Celestino Grifa (a), Francesco Izzo (a) & Alessio Langella (a)
(a) Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie, Università degli Studi del Sannio, Via dei Mulini 59/A, 82100 Benevento, Italy. Corresponding author e-mail: mariano.mercurio@unisannio.it.

This paper focuses on the application of external reflection Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy for the classification of some minerals commonly used as gemstones and mineral collection: quartz (colourless, tourmalinated and smoky varieties), calcite and aragonite. The results highlight the differences between reflectance and absorbance spectra, allowing a faster, cheaper and non-destructive approach for the identification of monocrystalline minerals.

hardstone carvings, Cultural Heritage, gemstones, FTIR reflectance.