Mineral Liberation Analysis and Scanning Electron Microscopy of Connemara Marble: New Mineral Distribution Maps of an Iconic Irish Gem Material

This article reports results from mineral liberation analysis–scanning electron microscopy (MLA-SEM) of six samples of the iconic Irish gem material, Connemara marble. New false-colour mineral distribution maps along with quantitative mineral abundance data for each sample facilitate correlations between marble mineralogy and millimetre to centimetre-scale colour variations in banding observed in each sample. The modal mineral data were used to classify each of the samples, and indicate that they define a petrological continuum from calc-silicate to metacarbonate rocks. The results demonstrate the efficacy of MLA-SEM methodology for generating mineral distribution maps along with quantitative modal analysis that inform and enhance the study of inhomogeneous gem materials such as the Connemara marble. Finally, this study demonstrates the potential for MLA-SEM analyses to aid in the fingerprinting and authentication of other polymineralic gems akin to Connemara marble.