A vibrational spectroscopic study of the silicate mineral harmotome – (Ba,Na,K)1-2(Si,Al)8O16⋅6H2O – A natural zeolite

• We have studied the mineral harmotome (Ba,Na,K)1-2(Si,Al)8O16⋅6H2O.
• It is a natural zeolite.
• Raman and infrared bands are attributed to siloxane stretching and bending vibrations.
• A sharp infrared band at 3731 cm−1 is assigned to the OH stretching vibration of SiOH units.

The mineral harmotome (Ba,Na,K)1-2(Si,Al)8O16⋅6H2O is a crystalline sodium calcium silicate which has the potential to be used in plaster boards and other industrial applications. It is a natural zeolite with catalytic potential. Raman bands at 1020 and 1102 cm−1 are assigned to the SiO stretching vibrations of three dimensional siloxane units. Raman bands at 428, 470 and 491 cm−1 are assigned to OSiO bending modes. The broad Raman bands at around 699, 728, 768 cm−1 are attributed to water librational modes. Intense Raman bands in the 3100 to 3800 cm−1 spectral range are assigned to OH stretching vibrations of water in harmotome. Infrared spectra are in harmony with the Raman spectra. A sharp infrared band at 3731 cm−1 is assigned to the OH stretching vibration of SiOH units. Raman spectroscopy with complimentary infrared spectroscopy enables the characterization of the silicate mineral harmotome.

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