Low temperature synthesis of monodisperse nanoscaled ZrO2with a large specific surface area

Thermal decomposition of Zr(C(2)O(4))(2)·4H(2)O within an autoclave or in a conventional tube furnace at temperatures below 380 °C resulted in nano- and micron-sized ZrO(2), respectively. Reactions under autogenic pressure yielded monodisperse monoclinic (m) and tetragonal (t) ZrO(2) nanoparticles with an average diameter of ~8 nm and interconnected t-ZrO(2) nanoparticles with diameters of ~4 nm, depending on the synthesis temperature. Samples were characterised by X-ray diffraction (XRD), small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) associated with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), Raman microspectroscopy and phot…

Anhydrous Amorphous Calcium Oxalate Nanoparticles from Ionic Liquids: Stable Crystallization Intermediates in the Formation of Whewellite

The mechanisms by which amorphous intermediates transform into crystalline materials are not well understood. To test the viability and the limits of the classical crystallization, new model systems for crystallization are needed. With a view to elucidating the formation of an amorphous precursor and its subsequent crystallization, the crystallization of calcium oxalate, a biomineral widely occurring in plants, is investigated. Amorphous calcium oxalate (ACO) precipitated from an aqueous solution is described as a hydrated metastable phase, as often observed during low-temperature inorganic synthesis and biomineralization. In the presence of water, ACO rapidly transforms into hydrated whewe…

Zircon M257 - a homogeneous natural reference material for the ion microprobe U-Pb analysis of zircon

We introduce and propose zircon M257 as a future reference material for the determination of zircon U-Pb ages by means of secondary ion mass spectrometry. This light brownish, flawless, cut gemstone specimen from Sri Lanka weighed 5.14 g (25.7 carats). Zircon M257 has TIMS-determined, mean isotopic ratios (2s uncertainties) of 0.09100 ± 0.00003 for 206pb/238U and 0.7392 ± 0.0003 for 207pb/235U. Its 206pb/238U age is 561.3 ± 0.3 Ma (unweighted mean, uncertainty quoted at the 95% confidence level); the U-Pb system is concordant within uncertainty of decay constants. Zircon M257 contains ∼ 840 μg g−1 U (Th/U ∼ 0.27). The material exhibits remarkably low heterogeneity, with a virtual absence of…

Zircon M127 - A Homogeneous Reference Material for SIMS U-Pb Geochronology Combined with Hafnium, Oxygen and, Potentially, Lithium Isotope Analysis

Faculty of Geosciences, Geography and Astronomy, University of Vienna; Beijing SHRIMP Centre, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences; European Commission [MEXC-CT-2005-024878]; FWF Austrian Science Fund [P20028-N10, P24448-N19]; U.S. National Science Foundation [EAR 1524336]

Micro-Raman spectroscopy of pigments contained in different calcium carbonate polymorphs from freshwater cultured pearls

The metastable calcium carbonate polymorph vaterite has recently been found to occur commonly in freshwater cultured pearls from Japan and China. Organic pigment molecules in these vaterite regions of freshwater cultured pearls were analysed by resonance and near-resonance micro-Raman spectroscopy, in single spectra and in mapping modes and are compared with their aragonitic counterparts. Four different excitation wavelengths (487.9, 514.5, 532.2 and 632.8 nm) were used, resulting in differential increase of resolution for the pigments. Although vaterite areas were always lightly coloured (light yellow, light brown or white), ten different pigments were identified and a single colour is for…

Structural Investigation of K-Feldspar KAlSi3O8Crystals by XRD and Raman Spectroscopy: An Application to Petrological Study of Luc Yen Pegmatites, Yen Bai Province, Vietnam

K-feldspars in pegmatites from Luc Yen gem mining area, Yen Bai province, Vietnam were studied by X-ray fluorescence, X-ray powder diffraction and the Raman spectroscopy. Chemical analysis determined the K-feldspars in the form of (K0:8909Na0:0388Ca0:002Pb0:0042Cs0:0024Rb0:0338)(Al0:9975Fe0:0053Ti0:0004)Si2:988O8. Both X-ray powder diffraction and Raman spectroscopy indicated Luc Yen K-feldspars as orthoclase phase. Together with the values of Al content of the T1 tetrahedral sites in orthoclase, it is understood that Luc Yen pegmatites are of young ages (Cenozoic) and shallow intrusive types.

Imitationen, Synthesen und Syntheseverfahren

Seit der Mensch die verschiedensten Materialien gebraucht, um Werkzeuge herzustellen, Gebaude zu erstellen, sich zu schmucken, werden Steine verwendet. Schon seit der Steinzeit werden Minerale zu Schmuck verarbeitet.

Deformation and fluid flow in the Huab Basin and Etendeka Plateau, NW Namibia

Abstract The Lower Cretaceous Twyfelfontein sandstone formation in the Huab Basin in NW Namibia shows the effects of volcanic activity on a potential reservoir rock. The formation was covered by the Parana-Etendeka Large Igneous Province shortly before or during the onset of South-Atlantic rifting. Deformation bands found in the sandstone trend mostly parallel to the continental passive margin and must have formed during the extrusion of the overlying volcanic rocks, indicating that their formation is related to South-Atlantic rifting. 2D-image porosity analysis of deformation bands reveals significant porosity reduction from host rock to band of up to 70%. Cementation of the sandstone, lin…

Raman spectroscopy of synthetic, geological and biological vaterite: a Raman spectroscopic study

Raman spectroscopy was used to study vaterite samples of biological, geological and synthetic origin. The Raman band positions and the full width at half-maximum (FWHM) of the lattice modes and the internal modes of the carbonate ion of all specimens show no significant differences between vaterites of different origin. With increasing Mg concentrations, synthetic vaterite samples show increasing FWHM in the region of the lattice modes and the three ν1 bands, whereas no change in luminescence was detected. In contrast, in situ measurements of vaterite areas in freshwater cultured pearls (FWCPs) by laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) together with the Rama…

Rubies and Sapphires from Snezhnoe, Tajikistan

Farbe und Lichteffekte

Abgesehen vom Diamanten, an dem vollige Farblosigkeit am meisten geschatzt wird, stellt die Farbe der Edelsteine den wichtigsten Schonheitsfaktor dar. Das begehrte Taubenblutrot eines wertvollen Rubins, das Kornblumenblau eines Saphirs, Smaragdgrun oder das zarte Blau eines Aquamarins haben trotz der Unterschiedlichkeit der Farbe eines gemeinsam: Es werden bestimmte Anteile aus dem weisen Licht geschwacht und/oder verstarkt, dabei entsteht farbiges Licht.

High Temperature Study of Metamict Steenstrupine

Metamict minerals contain radioactive elements that degrade their crystal structure. Unlike other metamict minerals, annealing process under ambient pressure do not lead to direct recrystallization of steenstrupine.

Amorphous, nanocrystalline and crystalline calcium carbonates in biological materials

Raman spectroscopy is a powerful tool in identifying different calcium carbonate polymorphs. Here, the method is applied to cultured pearls from freshwater (genus Hyriopsis) and marine bivalve species (Pinctada maxima) as well as to shells of Diplodon chilensis patagonicus bivalves. Raman spectra for vaterite, detected for the first time in an adult shell, and amorphous calcium carbonate (ACC) are discussed. Results for ACC are compared with those of synthetically produced ACC and with the Raman spectroscopic features of stable biogenic ACC from the crustacean Porcellio scaber. Decomposition of the most intense signal of all calcium carbonate polymorphs—the ν1 symmetric stretching mode of t…

Akoya Cultured Pearl Farming in Eastern Australia

Sapphire-bearing magmatic rocks trace the boundary between paleo-continents: A case study of Ilmenogorsky alkaline complex, Uralian collision zone of Russia

Abstract Metamorphic gem corundum (mainly ruby) deposits are robust indicators of continent-continent collision processes. However, a systematic link of primary magmatic blue sapphire occurrences to orogenic belts is less understood. An example is the Ilmenogorsky alkaline complex, within the Ilmen Mountains region and part of the Uralian orogenic belt. The mobile belt is a product of the collision among Kazakhstania, Laurussia, and Siberia continents prior to the closure of the Paleo-Uralian ocean and formation of the Laurasia supercontinent (330–250 Ma). It is believed that the alkaline complex became inсluded into the separate Sysertsk-Ilmenogorsk microcontinent with unconstrained border…

A New Find of Danburite in the Luc Yen Mining Area, Vietnam

Determination of aragonite trace element distribution coefficients from speleothem calcite–aragonite transitions.

The processes that govern the incorporation of (trace) elements into speleothems can often be linked to environmental changes. Although element incorporation into speleothem calcite is now reasonably well understood, current knowledge regarding trace element variability in speleothem aragonite is very limited. Of particular interest is whether trace element distribution coefficients are above or below one in order to assess the extent to which prior aragonite precipitation has affected speleothem aragonite trace element records. This study uses nine calcite-to-aragonite transitions in seven speleothems from diverse environmental settings to derive the first quantitative estimates of the dis…

Die optischen Eigenschaften der Edelsteine

Die wichtigsten Eigenschaften der Edelsteine wie z. B. Farbe, Glanz, Brillanz, Lichtbrechung und Dispersion („Feuer“) sind optische Eigenschaften und beruhen auf den Wechselwirkungen zwischen Licht und Edelstein bzw. allgemein Materie. Will man diese Besonderheiten richtig erfassen, so sind zunachst einige physikalische Grundbegriffe naher zu betrachten und die Frage nach dem „Wesen“ des Lichts und seines Verhaltens beim Durchgang durch die Kristalle zu beantworten.

High Temperature Study of Metamict Rinkite

Metamict minerals contain radioactive elements that degrade their crystal structure. During the annealing process under ambient pressure in argon atmosphere the sample of metamict rinkite recrystallizes to the primary crystalline form at 700°C. Further heating leads to the formation of a new crystalline phase.

Morphological and chemical evolution of corundum (ruby and sapphire): Crystal ontogeny reconstructed by EMPA, LA-ICP-MS, and Cr3+Raman mapping

The term “ ontogeny ,” which is commonly used in biology, was introduced into the Earth sciences in 1961 to include the genesis and evolution of single crystals and crystal aggregates. The term encompasses nucleation , growth , alteration , and destruction . We present results of studies concerning the ontogeny of natural corundum (rubies and sapphires), and the chemical and morphological evolution of corundum crystals from deposits in Africa (Kenya, Tanzania, Madagascar) and Southeast Asia (Vietnam). Trace-element compositions indicative for different corundum habits were determined by rim-to-rim LA-ICP-MS and electron microprobe analyses. Raman spectroscopy was applied for Cr 3+ photolumi…