X-Ray Powder Diffraction Data—Identification and Structure Elucidation of Unknown Stone—Rietveld Refinement Approach

Abstract

A dark and lead to silver grey soft irregular-shaped with heavy weight stone has been analysed as a part of research work for determining the components of the stone thereby leading to identify curiously to pinpoint whether the stone is in a category of gemstone, radioactive elements, raw or ingredients for making a powerful bomb or otherwise. In addition to the physical and optical parameters measured such as specific gravity, hardness, luster, transparency, cleavage, streak and other associated minerals for identification of unknown stone, Powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) is one of the primary techniques in identification of minerals to examine the physico-chemical make-up of unknown materials, and has also been employed using Philips, DY993 X-ray Powder Diffractometer. The diffraction spectrum has been measured with the proportional counter in the 2° to 100° range at room temperature 300 K. This study reveals that the stone is not a category of precious stone; instead it is a category of mineral deposition, PbS, Galena.