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Texture and Microstructural Analysis of Crystalline Solids

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A special issue of Minerals (ISSN 2075-163X). This special issue belongs to the section "Crystallography and Physical Chemistry of Minerals & Nanominerals".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 May 2020) | Viewed by 18130

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Special Issue Editor

Dr. Juan Gómez-Barreiro

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

Departamento de Geología, Universidad de Salamanca, 37008 Salamanca, Spain
Interests: structural geology; texture; microstructure; anysotropy; EBSD; neutron diffraction; synchrotron; TEM; deformation mechanisms; shear zones; recrystallization
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Microstructure and crystallographic preferred orientation (texture) have been revealed as key features to understand the genesis and evolution of natural and man-made crystalline solids. Non-random spatial distribution of minerals and their orientations in an aggregate commonly result in anisotropy of physical and chemical properties. The research on natural and experimentally deformed rock-forming and ore minerals during the last twenty years has revealed prime information about deformation mechanisms and their operative conditions, which improved our knowledge on geodynamics and the development of natural resources. On other hand, a strong connection exists between texture/microstructure and properties of mineralized tissues in living and fossil organisms. This has been used to explore life evolution and design new materials. The application of advanced quantitative techniques like neutron, X-ray diffraction, and particularly EBSD has become very popular. All these techniques have merged as an extraordinary opportunity to puzzle out microevolution of crystalline aggregates. Real 3D microstructural information can be obtained with microtomography, which, for instance, improves the understanding of ore genesis and constrains parameters required for mineral or metallurgical processing. Texture and microstructure modeling (e.g. VPSC, FF-VPSC, ELLE, etc.) are quickly evolving to face paramount challenges on polycrystal plasticity. This Special Issue aims to publish review papers on seminal topics (methods and applications), as well as appropriate examples of texture and microstructure analysis of rocks, ore-minerals and biominerals. Papers providing experimental data and modeling to explore texture/microstructure and growth/deformation/recrystallization mechanisms are also welcome.

Prof. Dr. Juan Gómez-Barreiro
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Minerals is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

Texture
Microstructure
Anysotropy
Ore minerals
EBSD
Neutron diffraction
Synchrotron
SEM-TEM
Deformation Mechanisms
CPO
Shear zones
Gold
Recrystallization
VPSC
Biominerals

Related Special Issue

Texture and Microstructural Analysis of Crystalline Solids, Volume II in Minerals

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

11 pages, 409 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Incorporating Far-Infrared Data into Carbonate Mineral Analyses

by Stephen Campbell and Kristin M. Poduska

Minerals 2020, 10(7), 628; https://doi.org/10.3390/min10070628 - 16 Jul 2020

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 3187

Abstract

Polycrystalline carbonate minerals (including calcite, Mg-calcite, and aragonite) can show distinctive variations in their far-infrared (FIR) spectra. We describe how to identify mixed-phase samples by correlating FIR spectral changes with mid-infrared spectra, X-ray diffraction data, and simple peak overlap simulations. Furthermore, we show [...] Read more.

_{2}

) mixtures that are common in heated calcium carbonate samples. Ultimately, these results could be used for tracking how minerals are formed and how they change during environmental exposure or processing after extraction. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Texture and Microstructural Analysis of Crystalline Solids)

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Graphical abstract

24 pages, 15434 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Crystallographic and Seismic Anisotropies of Calcite at Different Depths: A Study Using Quantitative Texture Analysis by Neutron Diffraction

by Michele Zucali, Daniel Chateigner and and Bachir Ouladdiaf

Minerals 2020, 10(1), 26; https://doi.org/10.3390/min10010026 - 27 Dec 2019

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3094

Abstract

Eight samples of limestones and marbles were studied by neutron diffraction to collect quantitative texture (i.e., crystallographic preferred orientations or CPO) of calcite deforming at different depths in the crust. We studied the different Texture patterns developed in shear zones at different depth and their influence on seismic anisotropies. Samples were collected in the French and Italian Alps, Apennines, and Paleozoic Sardinian basement. They are characterized by isotropic to highly anisotropic (e.g., mylonite shear zone) fabrics. Mylonite limestones occur as shear zone horizons within the Cenozoic Southern Domain in Alpine thrust-and-fold belts (Italy), the Briançonnais domain of the Western Alps (Italy-France border), the Sardinian Paleozoic back-thrusts, or in the Austroalpine intermediate units. The analyzed marbles were collected in the Carrara Marble, in the Austroalpine Units in the Central (Mortirolo) and Western Alps (Valpelline). The temperature and depth of development of fabrics vary from <100

^{\circ}

C, to 800

^{\circ}

C and depth from <10 km to about 30 km, corresponding from upper to lower crust conditions. Quantitative Texture Analysis shows different types of patterns for calcite: random to strongly textured. Textured types may be further separated in orthorhombic and monoclinic (Types A and B), based on the angle defined with the mesoscopic fabrics. Seismic anisotropies were calculated by homogenizing the single-crystal elastic tensor, using the Orientation Distribution Function calculated by Quantitative Texture Analysis. The resulting P- and S-wave anisotropies show a wide variability due to the textural types, temperature and pressure conditions, and dip of the shear planes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Texture and Microstructural Analysis of Crystalline Solids)

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Graphical abstract

23 pages, 6040 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Texture Development and Stress–Strain Partitioning in Periclase + Halite Aggregates

by Feng Lin, Max Giannetta, Mike Jugle, Samantha Couper, Becky Dunleavy and Lowell Miyagi

Minerals 2019, 9(11), 679; https://doi.org/10.3390/min9110679 - 03 Nov 2019

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2360

Abstract

Multiphase materials are widely applied in engineering due to desirable mechanical properties and are of interest to geoscience as rocks are multiphase. High-pressure mechanical behavior is important for understanding the deep Earth where rocks deform at extreme pressure and temperature. In order to systematically study the underlying physics of multiphase deformation at high pressure, we perform diamond anvil cell deformation experiments on MgO + NaCl aggregates with varying phase proportions. Lattice strain and texture evolution are recorded using in-situ synchrotron x-ray diffraction and are modeled using two-phase elasto-viscoplastic self-consistent (EVPSC) simulations to deduce stress, strain, and deformation mechanisms in individual phases and the aggregate. Texture development of MgO and NaCl are affected by phase proportions. In NaCl, a (100) compression texture is observed when small amounts of MgO are present. In contrast, when deformed as a single phase or when large amounts of MgO are present, NaCl develops a (110) texture. Stress and strain evolution in MgO and NaCl also show different trends with varying phase proportions. Based on the results from this study, we construct a general scheme of stress evolution as a function of phase proportion for individual phases and the aggregate. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Texture and Microstructural Analysis of Crystalline Solids)

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Figure 1

10 pages, 3529 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Competing Deformation Mechanisms in Periclase: Implications for Lower Mantle Anisotropy

by Feng Lin, Samantha Couper, Mike Jugle and Lowell Miyagi

Minerals 2019, 9(11), 650; https://doi.org/10.3390/min9110650 - 23 Oct 2019

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 2367

Abstract

Seismic anisotropy is observed above the core-mantle boundary in regions of slab subduction and near the margins of Large Low Shear Velocity Provinces (LLSVPs). Ferropericlase is believed to be the second most abundant phase in the lower mantle. As it is rheologically weak, it may be a dominant source for anisotropy in the lowermost mantle. Understanding deformation mechanisms in ferropericlase over a range of pressure and temperature conditions is crucial to interpret seismic anisotropy. The effect of temperature on deformation mechanisms of ferropericlase has been established, but the effects of pressure are still controversial. With the aim to clarify and quantify the effect of pressure on deformation mechanisms, we perform room temperature compression experiments on polycrystalline periclase to 50 GPa. Lattice strains and texture development are modeled using the Elasto-ViscoPlastic Self Consistent method (EVPSC). Based on modeling results, we find that

{110} ⟨ 1 \bar{1} 0 ⟩

slip is increasingly activated with higher pressure and is fully activated at ~50 GPa. Pressure and temperature have a competing effect on activities of dominant slip systems. An increasing

{100} ⟨ 011 ⟩

{110} ⟨ 1 \bar{1} 0 ⟩

ratio of slip activity is expected as material moves from cold subduction regions towards hot upwelling region adjacent to LLSVPs. This could explain observed seismic anisotropy in the circum-Pacific region that appears to weaken near margins of LLVSPs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Texture and Microstructural Analysis of Crystalline Solids)

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Figure 1

35 pages, 34295 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Preferred Orientation of Quartz in Metamorphic Rocks from the Bergell Alps

by Hans-Rudolf Wenk, Rong Yu, Sven Vogel and Roman Vasin

Minerals 2019, 9(5), 277; https://doi.org/10.3390/min9050277 - 05 May 2019

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 6606

Abstract

Crystal preferred orientation of 47 samples of quartzite and eight samples of associated marbles from the Bergell Alps have been analyzed with time-of-flight neutron diffraction and EBSD. The results show a clear distinction of texture types for quartzites transformed from Triassic sandstones and quartz layers in gneiss. Textures of Triassic quartzites are overall weak and display a maximum of c-axes perpendicular to the foliation or a crossed girdle perpendicular to the lineation. Pole figures for positive rhombs {10

\bar{1}

1} show a maximum perpendicular to the foliation and negative rhombs {01

\bar{1}

1} generally display a minimum. Based on polycrystal plasticity models this texture type can be attributed to a combination of basal and rhombohedral slip. Asymmetry of the distributions is attributed to simple shear and local strain heterogeneities. The relatively weak texture is partially caused by muscovite limiting dislocation motion and grain growth, as well as adjacent layers of marble that accommodate significant strain. Most quartz layers in gneiss, including mylonites, display a texture with a-axes parallel to the lineation and a c-axis maximum in the intermediate fabric direction. This texture type can be attributed to dominant prismatic slip. Many samples are recrystallized and recrystallization appears to strengthen the deformation texture. The study shows good agreement of neutron diffraction and EBSD. Neutron diffraction data average over larger volumes and maximum pole densities are generally lower and more representative for the bulk material. With EBSD the microstructure and mechanical twinning can be quantified. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Texture and Microstructural Analysis of Crystalline Solids)

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