Portable and Benchtop Micro-Raman Spectrometer for Organic Matter Characterization in Rocks: A Comparative Study
Abstract Recent technological advances have produced miniaturized, portable Raman spectrometers, enabling direct field analysis, even under challenging conditions or on samples that cannot be removed from the original site, such as confined artifacts or monuments. This study comparatively analyzed portable and high-resolution Raman spectrometers for organic matter (OM) and mineralogical characterization of bulk outcrop rock and thin-section samples from the Tamengo and Bocaina Formations of the Corumbá group in Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. The results demonstrate that, despite differences in spectral sensitivity and spatial resolution, the portable Raman spectrometer provides representative average spectra of heterogeneous rock surfaces that are consistent with the average of a spectral map obtained from high-resolution micro-Raman mapping over equivalent areas. Nevertheless, weak or very weak bands are not detectable using a portable instrument. These findings confirm the feasibility of a portable Raman instrument for rapid in situ geological investigations, especially for the preliminary characterization of OM and minerals; however, they underscore the necessity of high-resolution micro-Raman spectrometers for detailed characterization of those samples.
Authors
- Paulo Henrique de Melo Toledo (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2157-085X)
- Dalva Alves de Lima Almeida (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2599-821X)
- Julliana F. Alves (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7703-639X)
- Gabriel de Alemar Barberes (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7971-6196)
- Bernardo Tavares Freitas (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6239-0137)
- Luiz Fernando Cappa de Oliveira (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0595-8878)
- Lenize Fernandes Maia (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7433-4156)
- Antônio Carlos Sant’Ana (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3600-6020)
- Delano M. Ibanez (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6702-614X)
- Celly M. S. Izumi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6489-9201)
- Rafael de Oliveira (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7288-9908)
- Linus Pauling F. Peixoto (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2989-1372)
- Gustavo F. S. Andrade (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0718-9400)
- Gabriel Alvarenga Cortes (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0003-3066-7498)
- Gabriela P. Oliveira
Institutions
- Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora (BR)
- Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP) (BR)
- Petrobras (Brazil) (BR)
Publication Details
- Journal
- ACS Earth and Space Chemistry
- Published
- 2026-10-29
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1021/acsearthspacechem.6c00163
- Primary Topic
- Cultural Heritage Materials Analysis
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior
- Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico
- Financiadora de Estudos e Projetos
- Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais
- Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora