New Infrared Method Quantifies Aragonite Carbonates Quickly

A team led by Mahmoud Alkhatib, Nabil Thabteh, Fuad Al‑Rimawi, and Mutaz Qutob introduced an attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared (ATR‑FTIR) technique capable of quantitatively analyzing aragonite‑group carbonate mixtures. Their findings appear in Eur. J. Mineral. volume 38, pages 557–565, 2026 ¹.

The method relies on ATR, an advanced spectroscopy technique that reflects light off a material’s surface at varying angles to probe molecular vibrations. Unlike conventional FTIR or X‑ray diffraction, ATR requires no physical sample preparation, making it especially useful for field geologists who need quick, non‑destructive analysis.

In their study, the authors developed calibration curves specifically designed to quantify strontianite and witherite within synthetic aragonite mixtures. By using absorbance ratios between distinct spectral peaks, they reduced variability arising from differing measurement conditions, thereby improving accuracy compared to earlier approaches ¹.

This breakthrough offers a practical alternative to traditional XRD methods, which often demand extensive sample handling and longer processing times. For rockhounds and mineral collectors, the new ATR‑based protocol could enable rapid identification of carbonate assemblages directly on site, saving time and preserving specimen integrity.

The work underscores how modern spectroscopic techniques can streamline mineralogical investigations while maintaining high precision, offering tangible benefits for researchers who rely on accurate phase quantification without cumbersome preparation steps.