Cathodoluminescence in Pb-bearing aragonite

Abstract

Pb-bearing aragonite (tarnowitzite) shows a characteristic cathodoluminescence (CL) in a blue region , of which intensity is correlated with Pb content. The spectral peak of a blue emission indicates no shift in its position when a sample temperature changes, suggesting almost no influence of crystal field effect. Pb ions exchanged for Ca ions in tarnowitzite might cause the distortion of its structure, which could derive a defect center related to a blue CL emission.