Physics and Chemistry of Minerals最新文献

Turquoise is a well-known gemstone that has been used in artefacts across many cultures throughout history. However, due to its porosity it is often treated to enhance its color and beauty. One appreciated treatment is the patented Zachery process, although its details remain publicly undisclosed. Previous studies indicated that only a high K content distinguishes Zachery-treated from natural turquoises. In this study, natural and Zachery-treated turquoise samples from the famous Kingman mine, Arizona, USA, were analysed by means a multi-methodological approach, including standard gemological testing, electron microprobe (EMPA), scanning electron microscope with energy dispersive spectrometer (SEM–EDS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-Transform InfraRed (FTIR), non-destructive External Reflection-Fourier-Transform InfraRed (ER-FTIR) spectroscopy and X-ray computed microtomography (μCT). The results revealed new chemical–mineralogical and microstructural features that distinguish the Zackery-treated from the natural turquoise: higher specific gravity and lower porosity, associated with high and uneven concentrations of Cu, K and Na, the occurrence of tenorite (CuO), the presence and extension of reaction edges in the entire volume are distinctive of treated samples. Moreover, Cu-rich seeds and feldspar crystals may be interpreted as additional components used during the treatment. The hypothesis is that the Zachery treatment induces the re-crystallization of a new turquoise-like phase, which differs from the natural one from a chemical and microstructural point of view.

The thermal transport properties of minerals at high temperature and high pressure are important for understanding the internal evolution and dynamic processes of the Earth. Here, we carry out a detailed study on the lattice thermal conductivities (({kappa }_text {latt})) of (text {Mg}_2text {SiO}_4) under upper mantle and transition zone conditions by anharmonic lattice dynamics method. The calculations show that the ({kappa }_text {latt}) of (text {Mg}_2text {SiO}_4) increase with the phase transitions, which agree with the previous measurements and are attributed to the increase of lifetime and group velocity under extreme conditions. The ({kappa }_text {latt}) of (text {Mg}_2text {SiO}_4) along the geotherm shows a 64(%) jump at 410 ({textrm{km}}) and 71(%) jump at 520 (textrm{km}). The anisotropy in the ({kappa }_text {latt}) of olivine and wadsleyite decreases with increasing pressure. The present findings offer a fundamental knowledge of the ({kappa }_text {latt}) of (text {Mg}_2text {SiO}_4) under extreme conditions, which are crucially important for understanding the thermal transport processes in the Earth.

Fluorite is one of the most common minerals in the crust and is of widespread economic importance. It shows strong UV-excited luminescence, variously attributed to defects within the fluorite structure and lanthanide substitutions. We present here a detailed chemical characterisation of a suite of natural fluorite samples, chosen to represent the range of compositions observed in nature. We perform X-ray excited luminescence spectroscopy on the samples as a function of temperature (20–673 K) in the wavelength range 250–800 nm to provide insights into physical defects in the lattice and their interactions with lanthanide substituents in natural fluorite. Most broad bands in the UV are attributed to electronic defects in the fluorite lattice, whereas sharp emissions are attributed to intra-ion energy cascades in trivalent lanthanides. Lanthanides are accommodated in fluorite by substitution for Ca²⁺ coupled with interstitial F⁻, O²⁻ (substituting for F⁻) and a variety of electronic defect structures which provide local charge balance. The chondrite-normalised lanthanide profiles show that fluorite accommodates a greater proportion of heavy lanthanides (and Y) as the total Rare Earth Element (REE) concentration increases; whereas cell parameters decrease and then increase as substitution continues. Luminescence intensity also goes through a maximum and then decreases as a function of REE concentration. All three datasets are consistent with a model whereby lanthanides initially act as isolated centres, but, beyond a critical threshold (~ 1000 ppm), cluster into lanthanide-rich domains. Clustering results in shorter REE-O bond distances (favouring smaller heavier ions), a larger unit cell but more efficient energy transfer between lanthanides, thereby promoting non-radiative energy loss and a drop in the intensity of lanthanide emission.

Topaz is an important mineral formed in deeply subducted sediments and might be a major carrier of both H₂O and fluorine into the Earth’s interior. To better understand the seismic velocities and H₂O and fluorine recycling in subduction zones, we determined the thermal expansivity of a natural topaz (Al_1.93(1)Si_1.06(1)O₄(OH)_0.48(3)F_1.52(3), space group pbnm) up to 1073 K using high-temperature powder X-ray diffraction. No phase transition or decomposition was observed within the investigated temperature range. The volume thermal expansion coefficient is 2.24(1) × 10^–5 K⁻¹, and the ratio of the axial thermal expansion coefficients α₀(a):α₀(b):α₀(c) is 1.15:1:1.32 at 300 K. We also investigated its compressional (P) and shear (S) wave velocities up to 13.6 GPa at room temperature using ultrasonic interferometry in a multi-anvil apparatus. The adiabatic bulk modulus (K_s) and shear modulus (G) of topaz and their pressure derivatives are K_S0 = 151(1) GPa, K_S′ = 4.9(1), G₀ = 109.4(10) GPa, and G′ = 1.8(1), respectively, by fitting the velocities and density data to finite strain equations. The density and velocity profiles of the topaz were calculated under the upper mantle P–T conditions. Our results reveal that topaz is prone to subduction which drives H₂O and fluorine to migrate to the deep Earth. Meanwhile, topaz also has unusually high V_P and V_S, and low V_P/V_S ratio relative to common upper mantle phases and the preliminary reference Earth model (PREM, Dziewonski and Anderson, Phys Earth Planet Inter 25:297–356, 1981), which may be diagnostic seismic properties in subducted slabs.

The behaviors of aragonite (CaCO(_3)), strontianite (SrCO(_3)), cerussite (PbCO(_3)), and witherite (BaCO(_3)) at increasing pressure have been studied up to 6 GPa using density functional theory with plane waves. A parallelism of the orthorhombic carbonates with the closed-packed AsNi structure is considered in our analysis, being the CO(_3^{2-}) groups not centered in the interstice of the octahedron. The decomposition of the unit-cell volume into atomic contributions using the Quantum Theory of Atoms in Molecules has allowed the analysis of the bulk modulus in atomic contributions. The bulk, axes, interatomic distances, and atomic compressibilities are calculated. The largest compression is on the c crystallographic axis, and the c linear modulus has a linear function with the mineral bulk modulus ((K_0)). Many of the interatomic distances moduli of the alkaline earth (AE) carbonates show linear functions with the bulk modulus; however, the whole series (including cerussite) only gives linear functions when (K_0) is related either with the CC distances modulus or the modulus of the distances of the C to the faces of the octahedron perpendicular to c. These last distances are the projections of the Metal–Oxygen (MO) distances to the center of the octahedron. (K_{0AE}) carbonates also show linear functions with the atomic moduli of their cations. However, the whole series show a linear relation with the atomic modulus of C atoms. Therefore, the whole series highlight the importance of the C atoms and their interactions in the mechanism of compression of the orthorhombic carbonate series.

Implantation of ions in minerals by high energy radiation is an important process in planetary and materials sciences. For example, the solar wind is a multi-ion flux that progressively modifies the composition and structure of near-surface domains in solar objects, like asteroids. A bombardment of a target by different elements like hydrogen (H) at various energies causes, among other things, the implantation of these particles in crystalline and amorphous materials. It is important to understand the mechanisms and features of this process (e.g., how much is implanted and retained), to constrain its contribution to the chemical budget of solar objects or for planning various material-science applications. Yet, there has been no detailed study on H implantation into olivine (e.g., the quantification of maximum retainable H), a major mineral in this context. We performed experiments on H implantation in San Carlos olivine at 10 and 20 keV with increasing fluences (up to 3×10¹⁸ at/cm²). Nanoscale H profiles that result from implantation were analyzed using Nuclear Resonance Reaction Analysis after each implantation to observe the evolution of the H distribution as a function of fluence. We observed that after a systematic growth of the characteristic, approximately Gaussian shaped, H profiles with increasing fluences, a maximum concentration at H ~ 20 at% is attained. The maximum concentration is approximately independent of ion energy, but the maximum penetration depth is a function of beam energy and is greater at higher energies. The shapes of the profiles as well as the maximum concentrations deviate from those predicted by currently available models and point to the need for direct experimental measurements. We compared the depth profiles with predictions by SRIM. Based on observations from this study, we were able to constrain the maximum retainable H in olivine as a function of ion energy.

Polythermic single-crystal X-ray studies of chalcocyanite CuSO₄, dolerophanite Cu₂OSO₄, and kamchatkite KCu₃O(SO₄)₂Cl have established their melting points as well as peculiarities of their thermal expansion. Association of oxocentered and sulfate tetrahedra in dolerophanite and kamchatkite leads to the formation of rigid tetrahedral “backbones” only slightly sensitive to thermal variations. Rigid complexes can also be distinguished in the structure of chalcocyanite, if we consider only the system of the shortest and strongest Cu–O and S–O bonds. The anisotropy of the thermal expansion can be explained by either rigid complexes drifting parallel to each other (as in dolerophanite and chalcocyanite), or radial and angular distortions in the polyhedra of alkali cations. The presence of a tetrahedrally coordinated additional oxygen atom in the structure of dolerophanite and kamchatkite leads to an increase in the principal eigenvalues. The demonstrated rigidity of the sulfate tetrahedra in studied anhydrous copper sulfate minerals explains the absence of phase transitions up to the melting temperatures. The variation of chemical composition leads to changes in their thermal decomposition points. Chlorine-containing kamchatkite decomposes at the lowest temperature of 590(5) K, next are chalcocyanite 675(10) K, and dolerophanite 925(10) K.

Understanding the dynamics of the lithosphere relies heavily on the scale-dependent rheology of minerals. While quartz, feldspar, and phyllosilicates are the key phases to govern the rheology of the crust and tectonic margins, olivine and other mafic phases control the same in the upper mantle. Phase transition, solid-state substitution, polymorphism, etc. also affect mineral phase rheology. High pressure–temperature deformation tests with natural, synthetic and analog materials have improved our interpretation of the geodynamic state of the lithosphere. However, deforming and studying a single crystal is not easy, because of the scarcity of specimens and laborious sample preparations. Experimental micro- to nanoindentation at room and/or elevated temperatures has proven to be a convenient method over mesoscale compressive testing. Micro- to nanoindentation technique enables higher precision, faster data acquisition and ultra-high resolution (nanoscale) load and displacement. Hardness, elastic moduli, yield stress, fracture toughness, fracture surface energy and rate-dependent creep of mono- or polycrystalline minerals are evaluated using this technique. Here, we present a comprehensive assessment of micro- to nano-mechanics of minerals. We first cover the fundamental theories of instrumented indentation, experimental procedures, pre- and post-indentation interpretations using various existing models followed by a detailed discussion on the application of nanoindentation in understanding the rheology and deformation mechanisms of various minerals commonly occur in the crust and upper mantle. We also address some of the major limitations of indentation tests (e.g., indentation size effect). Finally, we suggest potential future research areas in mineral rheology using instrumented indentation.

Tsavorite is the trade name for the green vanadium–chromium variety of grossular occurring in the Precambrian terrains in the areas of Merelani Hills (Tanzania) and Tsavo Park (Kenya) which are by far the most important source of gem grade specimens of tsavorite used for high jewellery. The tsavorite crystals from Merelani Hills exhibit a pink-red and yellow fluorescence when irradiated by common portable UV lamp, an unusual phenomenon among members of the garnet group. The electron density map calculated from the diffraction data and plotted against a grossular standard shows that an excess of negative charge is clearly pinpointed in the crystallographic site occupied by Al³⁺. The bulk elemental analysis shows that the most represented end-member, besides grossular, is the vanadium-bearing goldmanite garnet (3.82–4.08 mol %). The fluorometry with an excitation beam at 408 nm indicates a complex emission pattern with the most intense emissions at 701 and 716 nm and subordinately at 592 nm. The colour perception is dominated by the emission yellow band at 592 nm while the contribution of the red band modulates the colour ranging from bright orange to pink-red. The attribution of the emission at 592 nm is related to Mn²⁺ while the emissions at 701 and 716 nm could be related to the chromium content and/or to a possible fraction of vanadium as V²⁺. Because of the characteristic colour perceived under UV light, the use of a common led lamp can be useful as a diagnostic tool to easily identify tsavorite.

Modeling of eight mechanisms for the incorporation of Ti⁴⁺ and Cr³⁺ impurity components into phlogopite was carried out by a semi-empirical method using the GULP (General Utility Lattice Program) software. The calculation of thermodynamic mixing properties in the range of 1–7 GPa and 373–1573 K and the analysis of the structure geometry for the simulated solid solutions provided the following energy-preferred schemes of isomorphic substitution: ^VI(Mg²⁺) + 2^IV(Si⁴⁺) = ^VI(Ti⁴⁺) + 2^IV(Al³⁺) and ^VI(Mg²⁺) + 2^IV(Al³⁺) = ^VI(□) + 2^IV(Ti⁴⁺), ^VI(Mg²⁺) + ^IV(Si⁴⁺) = ^VI(Cr³⁺) + ^IV(Al³⁺), and 3^VI(Mg²⁺) = ^VI(Al³⁺) + ^VI(Cr³⁺) + ^VI(□). It is shown the scheme 2^VI(Mg²⁺) = ^VI(Ti⁴⁺) + ^VI(□) illustrating entrance of Ti with the formation of a vacancy is realized in the case of microconcentrations of Ti only. Accumulation of high-Ti contents associates with the formation of a vacancy in the octahedral site. This provides incorporation of Ti via the schemes ^VI(Mg²⁺) + 2^IV(Al³⁺) = ^VI(□) + 2^IV(Ti⁴⁺) and (Mg, Fe²⁺) + 2OH⁻ = Ti⁴⁺  + 2O²⁻ only. It is shown that incorporation of high-Cr concentrations (> 5.5 wt % Cr₂O₃) is accompanied by an increase in the number of vacancies in the octahedral site with an increase in the proportion of the dioctahedral component K(Al, Cr, □)₂AlSi₃O₁₀(OH)₂.