Oxidation/alteration of pentlandite and pyrrhotite surfaces at pH 9.3: Part 1. Assignment of XPS spectra and chemical trends
-
D.L. Legrand
and
H.W. Nesbitt
Abstract
Using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, the oxidation/alteration of massive coexisting pentlandite [(Fe,Ni)9S] and pyrrhotite (Fe1-xS) from Voiseys Bay has been studied in aqueous solution at pH 9.3. The Fe 2p, Ni 2p, S 2p, and O1s spectra were obtained for each mineral from polished surfaces, and from surfaces reacted with the solutions for up to 180 minutes. Both minerals oxidize rapidly to give mostly a relatively thin layer (tens of angstroms) of Fe(III) oxyhydroxide (probably FeOOH). In addition, violarite (FeNi2S4), Ni(OH)2, and NiSO4 are found in the pentlandite oxidized overlayer, and Fe(III)-S and polysulfide species are found in the overlayers of both minerals. A protocol was developed to fit quantitatively all spectra in a consistent fashion. Fe 2p3/2 spectra were fitted with two Fe(II)-S peaks depending upon Fe coordination (four and six) in pentlandite, pyrrhotite, and violarite. An Fe(III)-S multiplet, an Fe(III) oxyhydroxide multiplet, as well as Ni Auger peaks, were also required to fit the Fe 2p spectra. The Ni 2p3/2 spectra for pentlandite were fit with two Ni(II)-S peaks from the original pentlandite or violarite (four and six coordination), as well as Ni(OH)2 and NiSO4 peaks. The S 2p spectra for both minerals were fit with four and five coordinate S peaks from the original minerals and violarite, as well as polysulfides and sulfate. Finally, the O 1s spectra of both minerals were fit with peaks from oxide, hydroxide, and adsorbed water.
The pyrrhotite surface oxidizes more rapidly than the pentlandite surface. For example, after five minutes of reaction the extent of oxidation of pyrrhotite to give an FeOOH overlayer is similar to that of pentlandite after thirty minutes of reaction. In both minerals, iron diffuses from the bulk to the surface and is oxidized. Pentlandite shows small amounts of Ni(OH)2 and NiSO4 in the Fe(lII) oxyhydroxide- dominated overlayer even after 180 minutes of reaction. These observations of the oxidation and alteration of the pentlandite surface are entirely consistent with thermodynamic calculations of the relative stabilities of pentlandite, violarite, Ni(OH)2, NiSO4, and FeOOH. The first stage of reaction is characterized by formation of violarite and FeOOH on pentlandite. With continued oxidation, this assemblage yields NiSO4 plus FeOOH plus violarite, which is eventually converted to Ni(OH)2 plus violarite plus FeOOH. Finally, after the violarite is consumed, the NiSO4 plus FeOOH combination occurs as the thermodynamically stable assemblage.
© 2015 by Walter de Gruyter Berlin/Boston
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- Oxidation/alteration of pentlandite and pyrrhotite surfaces at pH 9.3: Part 1. Assignment of XPS spectra and chemical trends
- Oxidation of pentlandite and pyrrhotite surfaces at pH 9.3: Part 2. Effect of xanthates and dissolved oxygen
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Articles in the same Issue
- A synthesis of systematic mineralogy
- Oxidation/alteration of pentlandite and pyrrhotite surfaces at pH 9.3: Part 1. Assignment of XPS spectra and chemical trends
- Oxidation of pentlandite and pyrrhotite surfaces at pH 9.3: Part 2. Effect of xanthates and dissolved oxygen
- X-ray Rietveld refinement and FTIR spectra of synthetic (Si,Ge)-richterites
- Influence of crystal chemistry on ideal plastic shear anisotropy in forsterite: First principle calculations
- High-temperature Mössbauer study of Fe-substituted mullite
- Pressure and temperature-dependence of water solubility in Fe-free wadsleyite
- Quartz exsolution in clinopyroxene is not proof of ultrahigh pressures: Evidence from eclogites from the Eastern Blue Ridge, Southern Appalachians, U.S.A.
- The visible and infrared spectral properties of jarosite and alunite
- Wakabayashilite, [(As,Sb)6S9][As4S5]: Crystal structure, pseudosymmetry, twinning, and revised chemical formula
- Compression of albite, NaAlSi3O8
- Effect of polymorphic transition on oxygen isotope fractionation between aragonite, calcite, and water: A low-temperature experimental study
- Effect of current density on the electron microprobe analysis of alkali aluminosilicate glasses
- A high-pressure polytypic transformation in type-I chlorite
- Experimental determination of crystal growth rates in highly supercooled aluminosilicate liquids: Implications for rate-controlling processes
- P-V equation of State, thermal expansion, and P-T stability of synthetic zincochromite (ZnCr2O4 spinel)
- Niksergievite, [Ba1.33Ca0.67Al(CO3)(OH)4][Al2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2]·nH2O, a new phyllosilicate related to the surite-ferrisurite series
- The crystal-chemistry of holmquistites: Ferroholmquistite from Greenbushes (Western Australia) and hints for compositional constraints in BLi amphiboles
- Dissakisite-(La) from the Ulten zone peridotite (Italian Eastern Alps): A new end-member of the epidote group
- Mazzite-Na, a new zeolite from Boron, California: Its description and crystal structure
- Low-temperature illitization of smectite in the late eocene and early oligocene of the Isle of Wight (Hampshire basin), U.K.
- First reported sedimentary occurrence of berlinite (AlPO4) in phosphate-bearing sediments from Cioclovina Cave, RomaniaComment
- Optical and near infrared spectra of ringwoodite to 21.5 GPa: Implications for radiative heat transport in the mantle
- Letter. Observation of nano-clustered calcite growth via a transient phase mediated by organic polyanions: A close match for biomineralization
- Letter. Aluminum coordination and the densification of high-pressure aluminosilicate glasses
- Letter. Crystal chemistry of a high-pressure C2/c clinopyroxene with six-coordinated silicon
