Single-crystal Raman spectroscopy of natural schafarzikite FeSb2O4 from Pernek, Slovak Republic

The single crystal Raman spectra of natural mineral schafarzikite FeSb2O4 from the Pernek locality of the Slovak Republic are presented for the first time. Raman spectra of natural mineral apuanite Fe2+Fe43+Sb4O12S, originating from the Apuan Alps in Italy, as well as spectra of synthetic ZnSb2O4 and arsenite mineral trippkeite CuAs2O4 are also presented for the first time. The spectra of the antimonite minerals are characterized by a strong band in the region 660 – 680 cm-1 with shoulders on either side, and a band of medium intensity near 300 cm-1. The spectrum of the arsenite mineral is characterized by a medium band near 780 cm-1 with a shoulder on the high wavenumber side and a strong band at 370 cm-1. Assignments are proposed based on the spectral comparison between the compounds, symmetry modes of the bands and prior literature. The single crystal spectra of schafarzikite showed good mode separation, allowing bands to be assigned a symmetry species of A1g, B1g, B2g or Eg.