[Raman spectra study of thermal transformation of nephrite cat's eye from Sichuan province].

Raman spectrum and X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) were used to study the process andproduct of thermal transformation of nephrite cat's eye from Sichuan province. The results indicate that upon being heated till 900 degrees C, tremolite in the nephrite cat's eye is dehydrated completely and the appearance of a new characteristic band near 671 cm(-1) indicates the form of a new product. At 1 000 degrees C, the intensity of band near 1014 cm(-1) rises obviously, and the weak bands near 573 cm(-1) and 934 cm(-1) present. Up to 1100 degrees C, the band near 1033 cm(-1) appears. All these evidences show that the final thermal transformation product is identified as Ca-Mg pyroxene which is similar to diopside both in structure and in composition. This conclusion is confirmed by XRD.