Synthetic norsethite, BaMg(CO<sub>3</sub>)<sub>2</sub>

Author(s)
Herta Silvia Effenberger, Thomas Pippinger, Eugen Libowitzky, Christian Lengauer, Ronald Miletich-Pawliczek
Abstract

The crystal structure of synthetic BaMg(CO

3)

2 whose mineral name is norsethite was re-investigated by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Complementary in situ high-and lowerature studies by means of vibrational spectroscopy (Raman, IR), powder X-ray diffraction techniques and thermal analyses were performed. Diffraction images (298 K) revealed weak superstructure reflections caused by the displacement of the O atoms in the earlier considered R3m structure model (a = 5.0212(9), c

new = 2c

old = 33.581(6) Å, R3c, Z = 6, R1 = 0.011, sinθ/λ < 0.99 Å

-1). Thermal analyses reveal decarbonatization in two decomposition steps above 750 K, and the heat-flow curves (difference scanning calorimetry) give clear evidence of a weak and reversible endothermal change at 343±1 K. This agrees with a discontinuity in the IR and single-crystal Raman spectra. The changing trend of the c/a ratio supports this discontinuity indicating a temperature-induced structural transition in the range between 343 and 373 K. As the change of the unit-cell volume is almost linear, the character of the transition is apparently second order and matches the mechanism of a subtle displacement of the oxygen atom position. The apparent instability of the R3c structure is also evidenced by the remarkably larger anisotropic displacement of the oxygen atom.

Organisation(s)
Department of Mineralogy and Crystallography
Journal
Mineralogical Magazine
Volume
78
Pages
1589-1611
No. of pages
23
ISSN
0026-461X
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1180/minmag.2014.078.7.05
Publication date
12-2014
Peer reviewed
Yes
Austrian Fields of Science 2012
105116 Mineralogy, 104017 Physical chemistry, 104011 Materials chemistry, 105113 Crystallography
Keywords
ASJC Scopus subject areas
Geochemistry and Petrology
Portal url
https://ucrisportal.univie.ac.at/en/publications/synthetic-norsethite-bamgco32(c3b20626-7d23-4e27-a66f-5fb021746a94).html