In:
Mineralogical Magazine, Mineralogical Society, Vol. 84, No. 4 ( 2020-08), p. 524-532
Abstract:
Witherite originates from the biochemical sedimentation of barium in sea water. Due to the complexity of the metallogenic environment, witherite appears in many morphologies. However, the relationship between its diverse morphologies and its mineralisation environment is not well understood. In this paper, Ca 2+ , a common substitute for Ba 2+ , and mixed protein (egg white) were used to simulate the inorganic and organic environments of witherite mineralisation, respectively. Comparison of samples prepared under different conditions showed that Ca 2+ and egg white have relatively independent regulatory effects on the mineralisation of witherite particles. Egg white primarily limits the growth of the nanocrystals, while Ca 2+ directs their non-isodiametric growth. Results shows that Ca 2+ is distributed along a gradient in nanocrystalline witherite particles, with the Ca 2+ content being proportional to the diameter of the nanocrystals. The results of this study shed light on the different roles of organic matter and inorganic ions in the formation of witherite and offer insight into the genesis of its various morphologies.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
0026-461X
,
1471-8022
Language:
English
Publisher:
Mineralogical Society
Publication Date:
2020
detail.hit.zdb_id:
2034522-7
SSG:
13
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