Transformation of pentlandite to violarite under mild hydrothermal conditions
Date
2006
Authors
Tenailleau, C.
Pring, A.
Etschmann, B.
Brugger, J.
Grguric, B.
Putnis, A.
Editors
Advisors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Type:
Journal article
Citation
American Mineralogist, 2006; 91(4):706-709
Statement of Responsibility
Christophe Tenailleau, Allan Pring, Barbara Etschmann, Joël Brugger, Ben Grguric, and Andrew Putnis
Conference Name
Abstract
The transformation of pentlandite, (Ni,Fe)9S8, to violarite, (Ni,Fe)3S4, has been investigated under mild hydrothermal conditions, at constant values of pH (range 3 to 5) controlled by the acetic acid/sodium acetate buffer. At 80 °C, 20(4) wt% of the pentlandite transforms to violarite in 33 days; with the addition of small amounts of Fe3+(CH3COO)2(OH) and H2S the reaction reaches 40(4) wt% completion in this time. At 120 °C and a pressure of 3.5 bars the reaction is complete in 3 days at pH 3.9. Electron backscatter diffraction and backscattered electron imaging reveal that the reaction textures are typical of a coupled dissolution-reprecipitation reaction, rather than a solid state electrolytic process as has been previously reported. The gap between the dissolution front and the precipitation front of violarite is less than 400 nm. The violarite produced by these hydrothermal transformations is texturally similar to supergene violarite, being fine grained, porous and finely cracked.
School/Discipline
Dissertation Note
Provenance
Description
Copyright © 2006 Mineralogical Society of America