Identification of allanite (Ce, Ca, Y)2(Al, Fe3+)3(SiO4)3OH found in marble from Chillagoe, Queensland using Raman spectroscopy

•We have studied marble from Chillagoe, Australia.•Using SEM with EDS and Raman spectroscopy.•EDS analyses identify silicate minerals in the marble.•Raman spectroscopy identifies the presence of allanite.

Samples of marble from Chillagoe, North Queensland have been analyzed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) and Raman spectroscopy. Chemical analyses provide evidence for the presence of minerals other than limestone and calcite in the marble, including silicate minerals. Some of these analyses correspond to silicate minerals. The Raman spectra of these crystals were obtained and the Raman spectrum corresponds to that of allanite from the Arizona State University data base (RRUFF) data base. The combination of SEM with EDS and Raman spectroscopy enables the characterization of the mineral allanite in the Chillagoe marble.

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