Laser-induced time-resolved luminescence spectroscopy of Pb²⁺ in minerals

Natural and synthetic samples of hardystonite, hydrozincite, calcite and pyromorphite were investigated by laser-induced time-resolved luminescence spectroscopy at 50 K to ambient temperatures. Luminescent bands of Pb²⁺ can be resolved from similar bands caused by Ce³⁺ and Eu²⁺ by a combination of diagnostic differences in excitation spectra and lifetimes of luminescence as a function of temperature. The results indicate that Pb²⁺ is a more common luminescent activator in minerals than hitherto suspected.