Three-dimensional mineral dendrites reveal a nonclassical crystallization pathway

Author(s)
Zhaoliang Hou, Dawid Woś, Cornelius Tschegg, Anna Rogowitz, A. Hugh N. Rice, Lutz Nasdala, Florian Fusseis, Piotr Szymczak, Bernhard Grasemann
Abstract

Manganese (Mn) dendrites are a common type of mineral dendrite that typically forms two-dimensional structures on rock surfaces. Three-dimensional (3-D) Mn dendrites in rocks have rarely been reported, and so their growth implications have largely escaped attention. Here, we combined high-resolution X-ray and electron-based data with numerical modeling to give the first detailed description of natural 3-D Mn dendrites (in clinoptilolite tuffs) and elucidate their growth dynamics. Our data show that 3-D dendrite growth occurred by accretion of Mn-oxide nanoparticles formed when Mn-bearing fluids mixed with oxygenated pore water. The geometry of the resulting structures is sensitive to ion concentrations, the volume of infiltrating fluid, and the number of fluid pulses; thus, 3-D dendrites record the hydrogeochemical rock history.

Organisation(s)
Department of Geology, Department of Mineralogy and Crystallography
External organisation(s)
University of Warsaw, Glock Health, Science and Research GmbH, Karl-Franzens-Universität Graz, University of Edinburgh
Journal
Geology
Volume
51
Pages
626-630
No. of pages
5
ISSN
0091-7613
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1130/G51127.1
Publication date
2023
Peer reviewed
Yes
Austrian Fields of Science 2012
104026 Spectroscopy, 105116 Mineralogy, 105101 General geology
Keywords
ASJC Scopus subject areas
Geology
Portal url
https://ucrisportal.univie.ac.at/en/publications/b40a250b-f4c4-46fd-a1eb-fe39943a81db