Photoluminescence properties of anthophyllite.

Abstract  The photoluminescence (PL) spectra, optical excitation spectra and PL decay curves of anthophyllite from Canada were obtained at 300 and 10 K. The MnO content in the sample, determined using an electron probe microanalyzer, was high at 5.77 wt%. In the PL spectra obtained under 410-nm excitation, bright red bands with peaks at 651 and 659 nm were observed at 300 and 10 K, respectively. The origin of the red luminescence was ascribed to Mn2 in anthophyllite from the analysis of the excitation spectra and PL decay times of 6.1–6.6 ms. In the PL spectra obtained under 240-nm excitation at 300 K, a small violet band with a peak at 398 nm was observed. On the violet band at 10 K, a vibronic structure was observed. The origin of the violet luminescence was attributed to a minor impurity in anthophyllite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]