The features of the Cu²⁺-entry into the structure of tourmaline

Abstract

EPR and optical absorption spectra of Cu²⁺ ion were investigated in natural elbaites from Brazil and Zambia and in synthetic olenite single crystal. In elbaite from Zambia, the content of Cu²⁺ ions was found to be about 0.006 pfu, whereas in Brazilian elbaite the amount of this ion can approach up to 0.2 pfu. The rose color of elbaite from Zambia is mainly due to optical absorption at 515 nm related to Mn³⁺ ions. The blue color of Brazilian elbaite is related to Cu²⁺ absorption bands at 695 nm and 920 nm. Spin Hamiltonian parameters of Cu²⁺ calculated from the angular dependence of the EPR spectra are: g _x = 2.054, g _y = 2.092, g _z = 2.374; A _x = 27.8·10⁻⁴ cm⁻¹, A _y = 59.3·10⁻⁴ cm^{− 1}, A _z = 133.2·10⁻⁴ cm⁻¹. We propose that Cu²⁺ ions enter into Y octahedra with common edges; the symmetry of these Y octahedra is lowered because of local disorder induced by occupancy of the Y site by cations of very different size and charge, such as Li⁺, Al³⁺, and Cu²⁺.