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Geoscientific Applications of Particle Detection and Imaging Techniques with Special Focus on Monitoring Clay Mineral Reactions

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Handbook of Particle Detection and Imaging

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Abstract

The combined use of focused X-ray, electron, and ion beams offers a diverse range of analytical capabilities for characterizing nanoscale mineral reactions that occur in hydrous environments. Improved imaging and microanalytical techniques (e.g., electron diffraction and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy), in combination with controlled sample environments, are currently leading to new advances in the understanding of fluid–mineral reactions in the Earth Sciences. One group of minerals relevant to the future containment of radioactive waste and the underground storage of environmentally relevant gases (CO2, CH4, or H2) are the clay minerals. These are small, often expandable, and highly adsorbent hydrous phyllosilicates that are important constituents of low-permeable geological barriers. In this chapter we summarize some of the state-of-the-art particle and imaging techniques employed to predict the behavior of both engineered and natural clay mineral seals in proposed storage sites. Particular attention is given to two types of low-permeability geomaterials: engineered bentonite backfill and natural shale in the subsurface. These materials have contrasting swelling properties and degrees of chemical stability that require detailed analytical study for developing suitable disposal or storage solutions.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank the “Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft” for their financial support in the form of large equipment grants for the X-ray diffractometer (INST 292/85-1 FUGG), transmission electron microscope (INST 292/149-1 FUGG), and the focused ion beam – scanning electron microscope (INST 292/102-1 LAGG).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Economic Geology and Mineralogy Section, Institute of Geography and Geology, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany

    Laurence N. Warr & Georg H. Grathoff

Authors
  1. Laurence N. Warr
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  2. Georg H. Grathoff
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Laurence N. Warr .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Particle Physics, University of Siegen, Siegen, Germany

    Ivor Fleck

  2. IRFU, CEA Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette, France

    Maxim Titov

  3. Department of Physics, University of Siegen, Siegen, Germany

    Claus Grupen

  4. Unité Imagerie Moléculaire In Vivo, Orsay, France

    Irène Buvat

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Warr, L.N., Grathoff, G.H. (2021). Geoscientific Applications of Particle Detection and Imaging Techniques with Special Focus on Monitoring Clay Mineral Reactions. In: Fleck, I., Titov, M., Grupen, C., Buvat, I. (eds) Handbook of Particle Detection and Imaging. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-93785-4_27

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