Non-invasive FTIR spectroscopy: New preliminary data for the identification of mineralogical phases forming Cultural Heritage materials

This paper focuses on the application of external reflection Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy for the classification of some minerals commonly used as gemstones and mineral collection: quartz (colourless, tourmalinated and smoky varieties), calcite and aragonite. The results highlight the differences between reflectance and absorbance spectra, allowing a faster, cheaper and non-destructive approach for the identification of monocrystalline minerals.