Thermodynamics of Cr2O3, FeCr2O4, ZnCr2O4 and CoCr2O4

High temperature heat capacity measurements were obtained for Cr{sub 2}O{sub 3}, FeCr{sub 2}O{sub 4}, ZnCr{sub 2}O{sub 4} and CoCr{sub 2}O{sub 4} using a differential scanning calorimeter. These data were combined with previously-available, overlapping heat capacity data at temperatures up to 400 K and fitted to 5-parameter Maier-Kelley C{sub p}(T) equations. Expressions for molar entropy were then derived by suitable integration of the Maier-Kelley equations in combination with recent S{sup o}(298) evaluations. Finally, a database of high temperature equilibrium measurements on the formation of these oxides was constructed and critically evaluated. Gibbs energies of Cr{sub 2}O{sub 3}, FeCr{sub 2}O{sub 4} and CoCr{sub 2}O{sub 4} were referenced by averaging the most reliable results at reference temperatures of 1100, 1400 and 1373 K, respectively, while Gibbs energies for ZnCr{sub 2}O{sub 4} were referenced to the results of Jacob [Thermochim. Acta 15 (1976) 79-87] at 1100 K. Thermodynamic extrapolations from the high temperature reference points to 298.15 K by application of the heat capacity correlations gave {Delta}{sub f}G{sup o}(298) = -1049.96, -1339.40, -1428.35 and -1326.75 kJ mol{sup -1} for Cr{sub 2}O{sub 3}, FeCr{sub 2}O{sub 4}, ZnCr{sub 2}O{sub 4} and CoCr{sub 2}O{sub 4}, respectively

Pressure-temperature evolution of primordial solar system solids during impact-induced compaction

Prior to becoming chondritic meteorites, primordial solids were a poorly consolidated mix of mm-scale igneous inclusions (chondrules) and high-porosity sub-μm dust (matrix). We used high-resolution numerical simulations to track the effect of impact-induced compaction on these materials. Here we show that impact velocities as low as 1.5 km s−1 were capable of heating the matrix to >1,000 K, with pressure–temperature varying by >10 GPa and >1,000 K over ~100 μm. Chondrules were unaffected, acting as heat-sinks: matrix temperature excursions were brief. As impact-induced compaction was a primary and ubiquitous process, our new understanding of its effects requires that key aspects of the chondrite record be re-evaluated: palaeomagnetism, petrography and variability in shock level across meteorite groups. Our data suggest a lithification mechanism for meteorites, and provide a ‘speed limit’ constraint on major compressive impacts that is inconsistent with recent models of solar system orbital architecture that require an early, rapid phase of main-belt collisional evolution

Experimental evidence for the preservation of U-Pb isotope ratios in mantle-recycled crustal zircon grains

Zircon of crustal origin found in mantle-derived rocks is of great interest because of the information it may provide about crust recycling and mantle dynamics. Consideration of this requires understanding of how mantle temperatures, notably higher than zircon crystallization temperatures, affected the recycled zircon grains, particularly their isotopic clocks. Since Pb2+ diffuses faster than U4+ and Th+4, it is generally believed that recycled zircon grains lose all radiogenic Pb after a few million years, thus limiting the time range over which they can be detected. Nonetheless, this might not be the case for zircon included in mantle minerals with low Pb2+ diffusivity and partitioning such as olivine and orthopyroxene because these may act as zircon sealants. Annealing experiments with natural zircon embedded in cristobalite (an effective zircon sealant) show that zircon grains do not lose Pb to their surroundings, although they may lose some Pb to molten inclusions. Diffusion tends to homogenize the Pb concentration in each grain changing the U-Pb and Th-Pb isotope ratios proportionally to the initial 206Pb, 207Pb and 208Pb concentration gradients (no gradient-no change) but in most cases the original age is still recognizable. It seems, therefore, that recycled crustal zircon grains can be detected, and even accurately dated, no matter how long they have dwelled in the mantle.This paper has been financed by the Spanish Grants CGL2013-40785-P and CGL2017-84469-P

Inelastic and deep inelastic neutron spectroscopy of water molecules under ultra-confinement

Water confined within sub-nanometer channels of silicate minerals presents an extreme case of confinement, where the restricted molecules are situated in channels whose diameter is not much larger than the water molecule itself. Recently, we discovered a new quantum tunneling state of the water molecule confined in 5 A channels in the mineral beryl, characterized by extended proton and electron delocalization. Several peaks were observed in the inelastic neutron scattering (INS) spectra which were uniquely assigned to water quantum tunnelling. In addition, the water proton momentum distribution measured with deep inelastic neutron scattering (DINS) at 4.3 K directly showed coherent delocalization of the water protons in the ground state. The obtained average kinetic energy (EK) of the water protons was found to be 30% less than it is in bulk liquid water and ice phases. In the current work we present INS and DINS study of water in single crystal beryl in wider temperature range, T=5-260 K, where we observed significant increase of EK of the confined water protons with temperature increase. The obtained INS data also indicate that with increasing temperature water molecules are progressively involved in hydrogen bonding (HB) with the beryl cage, while HB is almost absent at low temperatures

Oxidation of uranium oxide aerosol particles in the near-surface environment [abstract]

Between 1958 and 1984, microscopic particles of depleted uranium (DU) oxide were emitted as an aerosol from a manufacturing plant located in a populated area of Colonie, NY, and deposited in sediments, soils, and interior dusts. During this period, plant workers and nearby residents were exposed to significant amounts of DU through inhalation. This study focuses on a interior dusts and a dated sediment core from a nearby reservoir that contains a detailed historical record of particle deposition. We have identified more than 50 discrete, DU-bearing particles with diameters <1 to 30 μm (mean = 5 μm). Particle morphologies include spheres, irregular shards, and agglomerates of micron- to submicron-size particles. Particle compositions determined by electron microprobe range from 45-100 wt % UO2, with minor Si, Ca, Pb, and Fe. U LIII-edge μ-XANES spectra were compared between DU particles collected from interior dusts (dry) and from sediments (wet). Absorption edge profiles and energies of the dust sample spectra are similar to the U(IV)O2 model compound, indicating a preponderance of U(IV). In contrast, the edge positions of sediment sample particles are shifted to higher energies, suggesting a higher proportion of U(VI) relative to the dust samples. In one case, the absorption edge position of a sediment particle was nearly identical to the U(VI) model compound metaschoepite. These results suggest that U oxidation state and phase relations of these particles are functions of environment (wet vs. dry) and exposure age

Quantum Tunneling of Water in Beryl: A New State of the Water Molecule

Using neutron scattering and ab initio simulations, we document the discovery of a new “quantum tunneling state” of the water molecule confined in 5 Å channels in the mineral beryl, characterized by extended proton and electron delocalization. We observed a number of peaks in the inelastic neutron scattering spectra that were uniquely assigned to water quantum tunneling. In addition, the water proton momentum distribution was measured with deep inelastic neutron scattering, which directly revealed coherent delocalization of the protons in the ground state

Evaluation of accessible mineral surface areas for improved prediction of mineral reaction rates in porous media

The rates of mineral dissolution reactions in porous media are difficult to predict, in part because of a lack of understanding of mineral reactive surface area in natural porous media. Common estimates of mineral reactive surface area used in reactive transport models for porous media are typically ad hoc and often based on average grain size, increased to account for surface roughness or decreased by several orders of magnitude to account for reduced surface reactivity of field as opposed to laboratory samples. In this study, accessible mineral surface areas are determined for a sample from the reservoir formation at the Nagaoka pilot CO2 injection site (Japan) using a multi-scale image analysis based on synchrotron X-ray microCT, SEM QEMSCAN, XRD, SANS, and FIB-SEM. This analysis not only accounts for accessibility of mineral surfaces to macro-pores, but also accessibility through connected micro-pores in smectite, the most abundant clay mineral in this sample. While the imaging analysis reveals that most of the micro- and macro-pores are well connected, some pore regions are unconnected and thus inaccessible to fluid flow and diffusion. To evaluate whether mineral accessible surface area accurately reflects reactive surface area a flow-through core experiment is performed and modeled at the continuum scale. The core experiment is performed under conditions replicating the pilot site and the evolution of effluent solutes in the aqueous phase is tracked. Various reactive surface area models are evaluated for their ability to capture the observed effluent chemistry, beginning with parameter values determined as a best fit to a disaggregated sediment experiment (Beckingham et al., 2016) described previously. Simulations that assume that all mineral surfaces are accessible (as in the disaggregated sediment experiment) over-predict the observed mineral reaction rates, suggesting that a reduction of RSA by a factor of 10–20 is required to match the core flood experimental data. While the fit of the effluent chemistry (and inferred mineral dissolution rates) greatly improve when the pore-accessible mineral surface areas are used, it was also necessary to include highly reactive glass phases to match the experimental observations, in agreement with conclusions from the disaggregated sediment experiment. It is hypothesized here that the 10–20 reduction in reactive surface areas based on the limited pore accessibility of reactive phases in core flood experiment may be reasonable for poorly sorted and cemented sediments like those at the Nagaoka site, although this reflects pore rather than larger scale heterogeneity