Laser-induced time-resolved luminescence spectroscopy of minerals: a powerful tool for studying the nature of emission centres

The paper summarises new data and results referring to the characterization of the nature of luminescence centres in minerals that were published during the last 8 years. Besides well-established luminescence centres, such as Mn2+, Fe3+, Cr3+, divalent and trivalent rare-earth elements, S-2(-), and Pb2+, several other centres were proposed and substantiated, such as Mn3+, Mn4+, V2+, Ni2+, Pb+, Mn3+, Sb3+, Tl-+,Tl- and radiation-induced centres. Also, a relatively new type of luminescence excitation mechanismis discussed briefly, namely plasma-induced luminescence. Here, the emission takes place when the matrix, where the formation of plasma is caused by irradiation with a beam of laser light, is capable to luminescence and contains luminescence centres.