Chemical components and microtopography of (100) surface for orthopyroxene

Abstract

XPS and AES depth composition profile studies were carried on to understand chemical components of (100) surfaces for Chengde hypersthene from Hebei Province, China, and Bamble enstatite from Norway. Also, to understand the microtopography of them the AFM observation was carried on. There are obvious differences between chemical components of (100) surface and those of mineral inner. Compared with inner mineral Si⁴⁺ proportion in total cations has no distinguished variation, whereas Ca²⁺ and Al³⁺ proportions increase respectively, and Mg²⁺ proportion decreases. AES depth composition profile of 2000s shows that at a depth of 70 nm the atomic concentrations (%) for each element (except Si in Chengde hypersthene) slightly go up and down, but the average values have no obvious change. On the profile, the atomic concentrations (%) of Al and Si for Chengde hypersthene present a compensated relationship. Obviously, the Si and Al must have the relationship of isomorphic replacement on the (100) surface. The image of AFM shows that there is hillock growth on the (100) surface in the layered form of the polygon with 0 to several hundreds nm in thickness. The growth is a sort of secondary phyllosilicate minerals. The observation of the above-mentioned phenomenon and the recognition on the above regularities are benefit for understanding of the mechanism for weathering and water-rock reactions.