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Project Progress

Year two accomplishments centered on inorganic free-drift experiments to synthesize carbonate minerals of “mixed cation” (Fe-Mg-Ca) content at 25°, 35°, and 45°C. These experiments may be broken down into two groups: 1) those using chloride salt reagents (32 exps), and 2) those using perchlorate salts (7 exps). Once mixed, the experimental solutions were stored in containers for one month, after which they were opened and the solution and solid run products were characterized by ICP-OES, titration. XRD, TGA, acid digestion, SEM and TEM.
The experiments yielded siderite, calcian siderite and ankerite, with the texture, chemistry and mineralogy of the precipitates being dependent on the initial chemistry of the solution. SEM and TEM analysis revealed that all solids displayed a rhomohedral (Fig. 1a) or spheroidal habit, with some grains also forming nano-crystalline aggregates (Fig.1b).
In the absence of aqueous Ca, pokrovskite and ferric oxide precipitated from some solutions that were relatively high in Mg (50 to 100 mM) and low in Fe (0 to 2 mM). It is unclear if these phases are the result of aqueous oxidation processes or the oxidation of reactive solids during storage prior to analysis. Thermodynamic modeling (PHREEQC-2.15.0 and PHRQPITZ ) of the solution compositions support the experimental findings.
Noteworthy results include:1) ferroan dolomite and/or ankerite may be precipitated inorganically from solution at less than 45ºC, 2) the double carbonate (Ca,Fe)(CO₃)₂ was synthesized from solution at less than 45ºC, 3) ferroan dolomite and ankerite cannot be distinguished from Ca-or Mg-siderite by XRD analysis alone due to the similar crystal structures and competitive effects of Ca and Mg on unit cell parameters for dolomite, ankerite and siderite, and 4) a pre-existing solid (e.g., Ca-siderite) may facilitate the dehydration of aqueous Mg for incorporation into ferroan dolomite at temperatures (e.g., 25ºC) that were thought to be kinetically inhibited previously.
These results suggest that some unusual carbonate chemistries may form at relatively low temperature through heterogeneous reactions. Other phases still exist such as Mg-siderite, and pure dolomite and magnesite, that have yet to be grown inorganically at relatively low temperature (e.g., 25ºC). Because microbially mediated analogues are known to exist in nature, future research will specifically target formation mechanisms for these phases.