MINSPEC · Micro-spectroscopy of radiation-damaged minerals

Final Activity Report Summary - MINSPEC (Micro-spectroscopy of radiation-damaged minerals)

The MINSPEC project included the establishment of a university chair for mineral spectroscopy, which was filled by chair-holder Prof. Dr. Lutz Nasdala, and the subsequent initiation of a European Centre for Mineral Spectroscopy, hosted by the Institut für Mineralogie und Kristallographie, Universität Wien, Austria. The main focus of this project was a significant improvement of teaching and training opportunities in the area of mineralogical micro-spectroscopy, in particular in the application of non-destructive micro-techniques that use light for sample excitation (i.e., Raman, infrared absorption, optical absorption, and photoluminescence spectroscopy). Activities aimed at overcoming a problem that presently exists all across Europe, namely, the contradiction between the enormously increased interest in the application of the above spectroscopic techniques, and very limited training opportunities and an inappropriately low number of Earth scientists who are sufficiently experienced in this field. These objectives have been accomplished convincingly; in both teaching/training and research, the chair-holder and his students managed to be very successful. The host institute has strengthened its position as one of the internationally leading places for competent training in mineralogical light spectroscopy; an enormous amount of international recognition was gained. After positive evaluation by the international Scientific Advisory Board of the Faculty after the second year of the project, the Universität Wien has decided to maintain the chair as additional, permanent full professor for mineralogy and spectroscopy. Activities of the chair-holder included first the training of graduates, Ph.D. students, and researchers; both at the host institute and at other institutions. One diploma and three Ph.D. projects were supervised by the chair-holder, and three more Ph.D. students from other countries were co-supervised during four-month periods which they spent at the host institute. On-site spectroscopy training was also provided to 28 short-term visitors (graduates, Ph.D. students, and researchers) from institutions in 13 countries. At the Universität Wien, Austria, the chair-holder taught 19 classes plus one field trip. In addition, three one-week short courses held at the host institute were organised, which overall gathered 94 participants (coming from 19 European countries, Russia, Israel, the U.S.A., Thailand, and Australia) and 15 invited international lecturers. External teaching and training was provided through lectures at universities in Germany, Slovakia, Slovenia, the United Kingdom, France, Spain, Greece, Norway, Russia, Thailand, and Australia; and a two-day short-course in Ljubljana, Slovenia, which was attended by 36 participants. The dissemination of spectroscopy-related knowledge and data was also improved and centralised by the chair's www pages (especially the "Spectroscopy Links"). Research activities were mainly focused on the investigation of geological materials that suffered structural damage due to the impact of radioactivity. Results led to important contributions to the understanding of radiation effects in minerals. For instance, results of the project affect directly the reliability of geologic age determinations based on the U-Pb isotopic system of the mineral zircon, and the performance assessment of potential host materials for the safe long-term storage of nuclear waste. Also, results of studies on naturally radiation-coloured diamond and ion-implanted specimens will help to retrace the history of alluvial diamond deposits. A broad range of additional research topics was dealt with, motivated by the goal to confront supervised students with a large variety of analytical problems; projects included a study of rainbow trout otoliths, high-pressure experiments in the diamond anvil cell, study of colour pigments in ceramic tiles, and the investigation of impact rocks. Scientific co-operation with 51 institutions worldwide was conducted. Research results were presented in 20 papers in peer-reviewed journals (8 more are submitted) and 34 conference presentations, five of which were invited.

Data: CORDIS, © European Union