Studies of Basalt Through Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) for the Manufacturing of Lapilli Blocks

Abstract

Basaltic samples selected from different areas of Tenerife were analyzed by applying laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS), Raman spectroscopy and X Ray Diffraction (XRD) in order to identify the basic chemical composition and mineralogy. The basic composition obtained from the analysis was: O, F, Na, K, Mg, Al Si, Ca, Ti and Fe. Raman spectroscopic and XRD analyses indicated a basaltic mineralogy which is consistent with the basic composition results obtained from LIBS. The results of the analyses carried out using portable instrumentation proved the suitability of the LIBS, specially combined with the Raman spectroscopy for their application in the mineralogical-chemical identification in the areas where basalts and lapilli are extracted for construction works in Tenerife.

Keywords

• LIBS
• basalt
• mining
• lapilli blocks
• construction rocks