THE USE OF CATHODOLUMINESCENCE IN THE IDENTIFICATION OF SOIL MINERALS

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Abstract
Summary: An apparatus, based on an optical microscope system, has been constructed for the subjective observation of cathodoluminescence, and the value of the technique has been determined for the examination of minerals and soils. The use of cathodoluminescence for the specific identification of minerals was found to be limited by the observation of different luminescent colours from the same minerals, and the same luminescent colour from different minerals. However, a sufficient variety of luminescent colours is believed to exist to allow the method to be used in conjunction with others for the identification of mineral grains. An examination of the trace element levels in a small group of mineral separates was found to be uninformative in trying to explain the variations in luminescent colours found.