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Recrystallization mechanisms of fergusonite from metamict mineral precursors

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Abstract

The metamict state and recrystallization of fergusonite in metamict natural samples were studied by thermal methods (TGA-DTA), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy (RS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), selected area electron diffraction (SAED), and electron microprobe (EPMA). Two metamict mineral samples of fergusonite were investigated in order to identify the original premetamict crystal structure and to identify recrystallization mechanisms. The TEM data and RS provided evidence on the partial preservation of the original structure in the investigated minerals, which are X-ray amorphous. It was shown that fergusonite could recrystallize from a metamict mineral with original fergusonite structure or from metamictized pyrochlore, which was altered before or after metamictization. Two recrystallization mechanisms were recognized: (a) epitaxial growth occurring at the boundary between preserved premetamict structure fragments and completely metamictized areas, and (b) nucleation-crystal growth mechanism occurring in completely amorphous areas of the minerals, and resulting in recrystallization of the original mineral as well as in the crystallization of a new mineral with a modified chemical composition as compared to the initial matrix.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to Gunnar Raade from Geological and Mineralogical Museum in Oslo, and Vladimir Zebec from Croatian Natural History Museum for providing the mineral samples. We thank dr. Ozren Gamulin from School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, for FT Raman measurements. The constructive comments and helpful suggestions of S. Rios and S. V. Yudintsev are gratefully acknowledged. The investigation was supported by the Ministry of Science, Education and Sport of Republic of Croatia through the grants No. 0119420 and 0098022. EMPA analyses were supported by Austrian–Croatian bilateral project. The work at TEM facility in Berlin was financially supported by the Max Planck Society.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Science, Institute of Mineralogy and Petrography, University of Zagreb, Horvatovac bb, 10000, Zagreb, Croatia

    N. Tomašić & V. Bermanec

  2. Rudjer Bošković Institute, POB 180, 1002, Zagreb, Croatia

    A. Gajović

  3. Fritz Haber Institut der Max-Planck-Geselschaft, 14159, Berlin, Germany

    D. S. Su & R. Schlögl

  4. Brodarski Institut, 10000, Zagreb, Croatia

    M. Rajić Linarić

  5. Department of Geological Sciences, University of Vienna, Althastr. 14, 1090, Vienna, Austria

    T. Ntaflos

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  1. N. Tomašić
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  2. A. Gajović
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  3. V. Bermanec
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Tomašić, N., Gajović, A., Bermanec, V. et al. Recrystallization mechanisms of fergusonite from metamict mineral precursors. Phys Chem Minerals 33, 145–159 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00269-006-0061-6

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