Introduction to Mössbauer Spectroscopy: Part 1

The technique of Mössbauer spectroscopy is widely used in mineralogy to examine the valence state of iron, which is found in nature as Fe⁰ (metal), Fe²⁺, and Fe³⁺, as well as the type of coordination polyhedron occupied by iron atoms (trigonal, tetrahedral, octahedral, etc.). It is sometimes used to determine redox ratios in glasses and (less successfully) in rocks. Mössbauer spectroscopy is also used to assist in the identification of Fe oxide phases on the basis of their magnetic properties. For more details click here.

Credit: M. Darby Dyar, Department of Astronomy, Mount Holyoke College