An optical analyzer system for identifying materials through transmission spectra analysis in the 700 - 1100 nm or the 900 - 1700 nm wavelength range, the system comprising: a light source covering the 700 - 1100 nm or the 900 - 1700 nm wavelength range and comprising a ring shaped multi-LED array of individually packaged LEDs having molded-in lenses, the optical axis of each LED in the ring shaped array pointing towards the center of the sample aperture in the sample holder and mounted with their optical axis having an angle relative to the normal of plane of the array ring of between 55° - 35°; a sample holder system; a sample aperture located between the light source and the sample holder system; an optical concentrator (120, 310, 530, 1000, 1600) to increase efficiency of light transmission from the light source through the sample aperture to the sample holder system, the optical concentrator (120, 310, 530, 1000, 1600) being from the set of a reflective cone shaped concentrator, a refractive solid cone shaped concentrator, a compound parabolic reflective concentrator with an end of the concentrator having a parabola foci located towards the sample, a compound parabolic refractive lens concentrator, a compound elliptical reflective concentrator, or a compound elliptical refractive lens concentrator; an optical spectrometer module operating in either of the 700-1100 nm spectral range or the 900-1700 nm spectral range, the optical spectrometer module being positioned to receive light from the light source passing through the sample aperture and a sample within the sample holder system, and through a fiber-optic element, the spectrometer module comprising a linear detector array comprising sufficient detector elements to provide a spectral resolution of 10nm; and a computer or microprocessor system interfaced with the optical spectrometer, wherein the computer or microprocessor system controls the collection of spectral data, storage of the collected spectral data, and processing and analysis of the spectral data. a light source covering the 700 - 1100 nm or the 900 - 1700 nm wavelength range and comprising a ring shaped multi-LED array of individually packaged LEDs having molded-in lenses, the optical axis of each LED in the ring shaped array pointing towards the center of the sample aperture in the sample holder and mounted with their optical axis having an angle relative to the normal of plane of the array ring of between 55° - 35°; a sample holder system; a sample aperture located between the light source and the sample holder system; an optical concentrator (120, 310, 530, 1000, 1600) to increase efficiency of light transmission from the light source through the sample aperture to the sample holder system, the optical concentrator (120, 310, 530, 1000, 1600) being from the set of a reflective cone shaped concentrator, a refractive solid cone shaped concentrator, a compound parabolic reflective concentrator with an end of the concentrator having a parabola foci located towards the sample, a compound parabolic refractive lens concentrator, a compound elliptical reflective concentrator, or a compound elliptical refractive lens concentrator; an optical spectrometer module operating in either of the 700-1100 nm spectral range or the 900-1700 nm spectral range, the optical spectrometer module being positioned to receive light from the light source passing through the sample aperture and a sample within the sample holder system, and through a fiber-optic element, the spectrometer module comprising a linear detector array comprising sufficient detector elements to provide a spectral resolution of 10nm; and a computer or microprocessor system interfaced with the optical spectrometer, wherein the computer or microprocessor system controls the collection of spectral data, storage of the collected spectral data, and processing and analysis of the spectral data.