Δελτίο της Ελληνικής Γεωλογικής Εταιρίας, τομ. XLVII , 2013 Πρακτικά 13 ου Διεθνούς Συνεδρίου, Χανιά, Σεπτ. 2013 Bulletin of the Geological Society of Greece, vol. XLVII 2013 Proceedings of the 13 th International Congress, Chania, Sept. 2013 ASSESSMENT OF THE QUALITY OF CALCINATION OF MARBLES FROM THASSOS ISLAND USING RAMAN SPECTROSCOPY AND X – RAY DIFFRACTION Leontakianakos G. 1 , Baziotis I. 2,3 , Profitis E. 4 , Chatzitheodoridis E. 4 and Tsimas S. 1 1 School of Chemical Engineering, Laboratory of Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry, National Technical University of Athens, Heroon Polytechniou 9 Street, 15773, Zografou, Athens, Greece, gleontakianakos@yahoo.gr 2 Department of Mineralogy, Petrology and Economic Geology, School of Geology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124, Thessaloniki, Greece, baziotis@metal.ntua.gr; ibazioti@utk.edu 3 Department of Earth Sciences, University of Perugia, 06100 Perugia, Italy 4 National Technical University of Athens, School of Mining and Metallurgical Engineering, Department of Geological Sciences, Athens, Greece Abstract The degree of calcination of a dolomitic and a calcitic marble from Thassos Island, was investigated, by combining both Raman spectroscopy (RS) and X-Ray diffrac- tion (XRD) techniques. The samples were prepared in isometric 2 cm cubes and cal- cined at three different temperatures, 900, 1050 and 1200 0 C for 2 hours in order to produce quick lime. RS was applied at the lime sample’s surface and inner (near core) part after gently crushing. XRD was applied on the bulk rock specimens in or- der to verify the transformation process during heating of the raw material. Quality control of the applied calcination procedure is provided through the hydration of quick lime. The rise in solution temperature suggests the chemical “reactivity” of the produced slaked lime. Raman and XRD results revealed the presence of un- burned quantities of calcite and dolomite on samples that were calcined at 900 0 C. Furthermore, temperatures of 1050 and 1200 0 C have shown comparable minera- logical features signifying evenly the conversion of carbonate minerals to their ox- ide equivalents, proving the completion of the calcination process. Finally, reactiv- ity tests showed that the highest reactivity value of the produced quicklime, for both marbles is observed at the temperature of 1050 0 C. Key words: Quicklime, Raman, XRD, Calcination temperature, Reactivity. Περίληψη Στην παρούσα εργασία χρησιμοποιώντας τις τεχνικές της φασματοσκοπίας Raman και της περίθλασης ακτίνων Χ μελετήσαμε την εξέλιξη της ασβεστοποίησης δύο ανθρακικών πετρωμάτων (δολομιτικό κι ασβεστιτικό μάρμαρο) που προέρχονται από το νησί της Θάσου. Τα δείγματα κόπηκαν σε κύβους μέσης ακμής 2 cm και ασβεστοποιήθηκαν για 2 h σε τρείς διαφορετικές θερμοκρασίες έψησης (900, 1050 και 1200 0 C). Η φασματοσκοπία Raman εφαρμόστηκε στα ασβεστοποιημένα δοκίμια XLVII, No 3 - 2040