Atacamite from the Paleofumaroles of Mount 1004, Tolbachik Volcano, Kamchatka: Thermodynamic Properties

Abstract

Atacamite, empirical formula (Cu_1.97Zn_0.01)Cl_0.94(OH)_3.02, from the paleofumaroles of the monogenic volcano of Mount 1004, Tolbachik, Kamchatka, Russia, has been studied by thermal and electron microprobe analyses, X-ray powder diffraction, IR and Raman spectroscopy, and Calvet microcalorimetry. The thermal decomposition of atacamite was studied using X-ray diffraction and IR spectroscopy. The enthalpy of formation from elements for atacamite of the theoretical composition Cu₂Cl(OH)₃ (−810.2 ± 7.7 kJ/mol) was determined by melt dissolution calorimetry, and the Gibbs energy of formation (−657.0 ± 7.7 kJ/mol) was calculated. The stability of atacamite in the Cu–O–Cl–H system was thermodynamically modeled based on the obtained data, and the boundaries of its stability field were calculated under conditions of high alkalinity and high acidity of the mineral-forming medium.