Raman Match: Application for Automated Identification of Minerals from Raman Spectroscopy Data

Abstract Raman spectroscopy is a rapid, nondestructive analysis technique that is used in various scientific disciplines, including chemistry, materials science, and biology. The analysis of Raman spectra and the identification of specific substances in unknown samples can be complex and time-consuming tasks due to the large database of Raman spectra. The Raman Match application was developed to simplify and automate the sample identification process through a search and match method. The application integrates the well-established RRUFF Raman database with the Python programming language and provides a user-friendly graphical interface to load Raman spectra, identify and fit peaks, match peaks to the reference libraries, visualize the results, and generate publication-ready figures. The application offers a swift and automated method for mineral identification using Raman spectroscopy in both laboratory and field settings, as well as during planetary exploration missions to extraterrestrial environments with constraints on time and resources.