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Adrianite (IMA 2014-028), Ca_(12)(Al_4Mg_3Si_7)O_(32)Cl_6, is a new Cl-rich silicate mineral and the Si,Mg analog of wadalite. It occurs with monticellite, grossular, wadalite, and hutcheonite in altered areas along some veins between primary melilite, spinel, and Ti,Al-diopside in a Type B1 FUN (Fractionation and Unidentified Nuclear effects) Ca-Al-rich inclusion (CAI), Egg-3, from the Allende CV3 carbonaceous chondrite. The mean chemical composition of type adrianite by electron probe microanalysis is (wt%) CaO 41.5, SiO_2 27.5, Al_2O_3 12.4, MgO 7.3, Na_2O 0.41, Cl 13.0, O=Cl –2.94, total 99.2, giving rise to an empirical formula of (Ca_(11.69)Na_(0.21))(Al_(3.85)Mg_(2.88)Si_(7.23))O_(32)Cl_(5.80). The end-member formula is Ca_(12)(Mg_5Si_9)O_(32)Cl_6. Adrianite has the I43d wadalite structure with a = 11.981 A, V = 1719.8 A^3, and Z = 2, as revealed by electron backscatter diffraction. The calculated density using the measured composition is 3.03 g/cm^3. Adrianite is a new secondary mineral in Allende, apparently formed by alkali-halogen metasomatic alteration of primary CAI minerals such as melilite, anorthite, perovskite, and Ti,Al-diopside on the CV chondrite parent asteroid. Formation of secondary Cl-rich minerals sodalite, adrianite, and wadalite during metasomatic alteration of the Allende CAIs suggests that the metasomatic fluids had Cl-rich compositions. The mineral name is in honor of Adrian J. Brearley, mineralogist at the University of New Mexico, U.S.A., in recognition of his many contributions to the understanding of secondary mineralization in chondritic meteorites.

In this study, nanostructured monticellite (CaMgSiO4) bioceramics were prepared via sintering the sol–gel-derived monticellite powder compacts at 1200 °C. The mean of particles size distribution of the synthesized monticellite powders was approximately 90 nm. After evaluating physicochemical characteristics of the synthesized bioceramics, apatite-forming ability of the samples were examined in simulated body fluid (SBF) for different time periods. The soaking effect of various time periods on the X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns, followed by the calculations from scherrer's equation, showed that the crystallite size of the immersed monticellite ceramics in SBF for 3 and 7 days was around 88 nm. Williamson-Hall analysis was also used to calculate the lattice strain of the samples. Based on the results, by changing the soaking time, crystallite size and lattice strain have meaningfully changed. The release of Ca, Mg and Si ions from the nanostructured monticellite significantly promoted cell proliferation and growth at a certain concentration range more than that of positive and negative controls. This study could provide an in-depth understanding of the microstructural and physicochemical characteristics of this class of biomaterials. The follow-up studies should correlate the microstructural and physicochemical properties to the molecular and biological characteristics for applications in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.

The petrologically unique Udachnaya-East kimberlite (Siberia, Russia) is characterised by unserpentinised and H2O-poor volcaniclastic and coherent units that contain fresh olivine, along with abundant alkali-rich carbonates, chlorides, sulphides and sulphates in the groundmass. These mineralogical and geochemical characteristics have led to two divergent models that advocate different origins. It has been suggested that the unserpentinised units from Udachnaya-East are representative of pristine unaltered kimberlite. Conversely, the alkali-chlorine-sulphur enrichment has been attributed to interactions with crustal materials and, or, post-emplacement contamination by brines. The mineralogical and geochemical features and the compositions of melt inclusions in unserpentinised and serpentinised Udachnaya-East kimberlite varieties are compared in this study. Both varieties of kimberlite have similar major, compatible and incompatible trace element concentrations and primitive mantle normalised trace element patterns, groundmass textures and silicate, oxide and sulphide mineral compositions. However, these two kimberlite varieties are distinguished by: (i) the presence of unaltered olivine, abundant Na-K-Cl-S-rich minerals (i.e. chlorides, Sbearing alkali-carbonates, sodalite) and the absence of H2O-rich phases (i.e. serpentine, iowaite (Mg4Fe3+(OH)8OCl•3(H2O)) in unserpentinised samples, and (ii) the absence of alkali- and chlorine-enriched phases in the groundmass and characteristic olivine alteration (i.e. replacement by serpentine and, or, iowaite) in serpentinised samples. In addition, melt inclusions hosted in olivine, monticellite, spinel and perovskite from unserpentinised and serpentinised kimberlite contain identical daughter phase assemblages that are dominated by alkali-carbonates, chlorides and sulphates/sulphides. This enrichment in alkalis, chlorine and sulphur in melt inclusions demonstrates that these elements were an intrinsic part of the parental magma. The paucity of alkali-carbonates and chlorides in the groundmass of serpentinised Udachnaya-East kimberlite is attributed to their instability and removal during post-emplacement alteration. All evidence previously used in support of crustal and brine contamination of the Udachnaya-East kimberlite is thoroughly evaluated. We demonstrate that "contamination models" are inconsistent with petrographic, geochemical and melt inclusion data. Our combined data suggest that the Udachnaya-East kimberlite crystallised from an essentially H2O-poor, Si-Na-K-Cl-S-bearing carbonate-rich melt.

We present petrographic and mineral chemical data for a suite of samples derived from the De Beers dyke, a contemporaneous, composite intrusion bordering the De Beers pipe (Kimberley, South Africa). Petrographic features and mineral compositions indicate the following stages in the evolution of this dyke: (1) production of antecrystic material by kimberlite-related metasomatism in the mantle (i.e., high Cr-Ti phlogopite); (2) entrainment of wall-rock material during ascent through the lithospheric mantle, including antecrysts; (3) early magmatic crystallisation of olivine (internal zones and subsequently rims), Cr-rich spinel, rutile, and magnesian ilmenite, probably on ascent to the surface; and (4) crystallisation of groundmass phases (i.e., olivine rinds, Fe-Ti-rich spinels, perovskite, apatite, monticellite, calcite micro-phenocrysts, kinoshitalite-phlogopite, barite, and baddeleyite) and the mesostasis (calcite, dolomite, and serpentine) on emplacement in the upper crust. Groundmass and mesostasis crystallisation likely forms a continuous sequence with deuteric/hydrothermal modification. The petrographic features, mineralogy, and mineral compositions of different units within the De Beers dyke are indistinguishable from one another, indicating a common petrogenesis. The compositions of antecrysts (i.e., high Cr-Ti phlogopite) and magmatic phases (e.g., olivine rims, magnesian ilmenite, and spinel) overlap those from the root zone intrusions of the main Kimberley pipes (i.e., Wesselton, De Beers, Bultfontein). However, the composition of these magmatic phases is distinct from those in ‘evolved’ intrusions of the Kimberley cluster (e.g., Benfontein, Wesselton water tunnel sills). Although the effects of syn-emplacement flow processes are evident (e.g., alignment of phases parallel to contacts), there is no evidence that the De Beers dyke has undergone significant pre-emplacement crystal fractionation (e.g., olivine, spinel, ilmenite). This study demonstrates the requirement for detailed petrographic and mineral chemical studies to assess whether individual intrusions are in fact ‘evolved’; and that dykes are not necessarily produced by differentiated magmas.

Distinctly different groundmass mineralogy characterise the hypabyssal facies, Mesoproterozoic diamondiferous P3 and P4 intrusions from the Wajrakarur Kimberlite Field, southern India. P3 is an archetypal kimberlite with macrocrysts of olivine and phlogopite set in a groundmass dominated by phlogopite and monticellite with subordinate amounts of serpentine, spinel, perovskite, apatite, calcite and rare baddeleyite. P4 contains mega- and macrocrysts of olivine set in a groundmass dominated by clinopyroxene and phlogopite with subordinate amounts of serpentine, spinel, perovskite, apatite, and occasional gittinsite, and is mineralogically interpreted as an olivine lamproite. Three distinct populations of olivine, phlogopite and clinopyroxene are recognized based on their microtextural and compositional characteristics. The first population includes glimmerite and phlogopite–clinopyroxene nodules, and Mg-rich olivine macrocrysts (Fo 90–93) which are interpreted to be derived from disaggregated mantle xenoliths. The second population comprises macrocrysts of phlogopite and Fe-rich olivine (Fo 81–89) from P3, megacrysts and macrocrysts of Fe-rich olivine (Fo 85–87) from P4 and a rare olivine–clinopyroxene nodule from P4 which are suggested to have a genetic link with the precursor melt of the respective intrusions. The third population represents clearly magmatic minerals such as euhedral phenocrysts of Fe-rich olivine (Fo 85–90) crystallised at mantle depths, and olivine overgrowth rims formed contemporaneously with groundmass minerals at crustal levels. Close spatial association and contemporaneous emplacement of P3 kimberlite and P4 lamproite is explained by a unifying petrogenetic model which involves the interaction of a silica-poor carbonatite melt with differently metasomatised wall rocks in the lithospheric mantle. It is proposed that the metasomatised wall rock for lamproite contained abundant MARID-type and phlogopite-rich metasomatic veins, while that for kimberlite was relatively refractory in nature.

Monticellite is a magmatic and/or deuteric mineral that is often present, but widely varying in concentrations in Group-I (or archetypal) kimberlites. To provide new constraints on the petrogenesis of monticellite and its potential significance to kimberlite melt evolution, we examine the petrography and geochemistry of the minimally altered hypabyssal monticellite-rich Leslie (Canada) and Pipe 1 (Finland) kimberlites. In these kimberlites, monticellite (Mtc) is abundant (25–45 vol%) and can be classified into two distinct morphological types: discrete and intergrown groundmass grains (Mtc-I), and replacement of olivine (Mtc-II). Primary multiphase melt inclusions in monticellite, perovskite and Mg-magnetite contain assemblages dominated by alkali (Na, K, Ba, Sr)-enriched Ca-Mg-carbonates, chlorides, phosphates, spinel, silicates (e.g. olivine, phlogopite) and sulphides. These melt inclusions probably represent snapshots of a variably differentiated kimberlite melt that evolved in-situ towards carbonatitic and silica-poor compositions. Although unconstrained in their concentration, the presence of alkali-carbonates and chlorides in melt inclusions suggests they are a more significant component of the kimberlite melt than commonly recorded by whole-rock analyses. We present petrographic and textural evidence showing that pseudomorphic Mtc-II resulted from an in-situ reaction between olivine and the carbonate component of the kimberlite melt in the decarbonation reaction: Forsterite + Carbonate melt ⇌ Monticellite + Periclase + CO 2 . This reaction is supported by the preservation of abundant primary inclusions of periclase and to a lesser extent Fe-Mg-oxides in monticellite, perovskite and Mg-magnetite. Based on the preservation of primary periclase inclusions, we infer that periclase also existed in the groundmass, but was subsequently altered to brucite. We suggest that CO2 degassing in the latter stages of kimberlite emplacement into the crust is largely driven by the observed reaction between olivine and the carbonate melt. For this reaction to proceed, CO2 should be removed (i.e. degassed), which will cause further reaction and additional degassing in response to this chemical system change (Le Chatelier's principle). Our study demonstrates that these proposed decarbonation reactions may be a commonly overlooked process in the crystallisation of monticellite and exsolution of CO2, which may in turn contribute to the explosive eruption and brecciation processes that occur during kimberlite magma emplacement and pipe formation.

Several types of calcium silicates have been significantly investigated for hard tissue engineering and replacement owing to their great potential for repair and regeneration. Here, a novel calcium silicate bioceramic (monticellite) was synthesized by sol-gel method and heat-treated at low temperature (1350°C). After physico-chemical characterization of the prepared bioceramic, bioactivity assessment was conducted via immersing in simulated body fluid (SBF) for investigating the apatite forming ability. The results exhibited that an apatite-like layer has formed on the surface of SBF-soaked sample after 14 days. In vitro evaluations showed that monticellite is biocompatible over mouse osteoblast-like cells (G292). In fact, the results shown that the monticellite bioceramics with good bioactivity had the ability G292 cell growth at a certain concentration range and exhibited good cytocompatibility.

The high hydration potential of CaO and MgO phases restricted the application of Mag-Dol refractory composites. In this study, the impact of nano-silica (SiO 2 ) addition on the physical, mechanical, thermo-mechanical as well as microstructure of Mag-Dol refractory composites is investigated. Mag-Dol compositions were prepared by using calcined dolomite and magnesite particles (micron, 0–1, 1–3, 3–5, and 5–8 mm), liquid resin, and 0, 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, and 2.5 wt% nano SiO 2 as additives. Specimens were heated up to 1650 °C for the 3 h soaking period. Fired specimens were characterized by physical (apparent porosity, bulk density, and hydration resistance), mechanical (cold crushing strength), and thermo-mechanical (flexural strength at 1200 °C) measurements. XRD and SEM/EDS analysis were done to study phases and microstructure analysis of the fired samples, respectively. Results showed that by adding up to 2.5 wt% nano-SiO 2 , due to the formation of CaO·MgO·2SiO 2 (Diopside), 2CaO·MgO·2SiO 2 (Akermanite), and CaO·MgO·SiO 2 (Monticellite) phases, physical and mechanical properties were enhanced. But the highest flexural strength value is achieved for 1 wt% nano-SiO 2 containing sample.

Samples from three petrographically distinct, intrusive kimberlite bodies and associated kimberlite dykes from the eastern lobe of the Du Toitspan kimberlite pipe, Kimberley, South Africa, have been analysed for their bulk rock major and trace element compositions and their olivine and phlogopite compositions. The two dominant intrusive bodies (D13, D14) are distinguished by the one (D13) being phlogopite-rich and best classified as a macrocrystic hypabyssal phlogopite kimberlite, and the other (D14) being phlogopite-poor and best classified as a macrocrystic hypabyssal monticellite kimberlite. The minor D17 intrusive body is classified as a macrocrystic transitional hypabyssal serpentinized phlogopite kimberlite. The associated kimberlite dykes range texturally from aphanitic to macrocrystic and are classified as calcite kimberlites. The major kimberlite intrusions and their associated dykes show no evidence of crustal contamination and are characterised by broadly overlapping geochemistry except for distinctly higher K2O (> 2 wt%) and Al2O3 (>3 wt%) and flattening HREE patterns (Gd/YbN = 6.5–7.0) in the D13 – phlogopite kimberlite compared to the D14 – monticellite kimberlite and the calcite kimberlite dykes (Gd/YbN = 9.6–12.1). These distinguishing geochemical features of the D13 – phlogopite kimberlite are comparable to typical Group II kimberlites in southern Africa. However, their diagnostic incompatible trace element ratios (for example, Th/Nb, La/Nb, Ce/Pb, and Ba/Nb) are instead comparable to other kimberlite intrusions analysed in this study and to southern African Group I kimberlites in general. Semi-quantitative modelling suggests that these kimberlite intrusions could have derived by low (

Dolomite base refractories have advantages such as high refractoriness, potential to produce pure steel molten, high alkaline corrosion resistance, and economical for consumers. However, application of these refractories has been limited due to their high potential to hydration with atmosphere humidity. In this research work, the impact of ZrSiO 4 nanoparticles addition on the physical, thermo-mechanical, mechanical, and microstructure of the dolomite base refractories is investigated. Also, XRD and SEM/EDX analyses were used for determining generated ceramic phases and microstructure evaluation, respectively. Up to 3 wt% ZrSiO 4 nanoparticles were added to the compositions. Compositions fired at 1650 °C for 4 h in an electrical furnace. The results showed that the bulk density (from 2.95 to 3.33 g/cm 3 ), cold crushing strength (from 352 to 393 kg/cm 2 ), and hydration resistance (from1.95 to1.16%) of the compositions were increased while apparent porosity was decreased (from 9.33% to 4.84%) by the addition of ZrSiO 4 nanoparticles. As well as, for compositions containing 2.5 and 3 wt% ZrSiO 4 nanoparticles flexural strength at 1200 °C is decreased due to the generation of high content low melting phases such as Belite (2CaO.SiO 2 ), Diopside (CaO.MgO.2SiO 2 ),Akermanite (2CaO.MgO.2SiO 2 ), and Monticellite (CaO.MgO.SiO 2 ) at the firing process temperature. Finally, based on the obtained results and its relationship with the microstructure and properties the amount of2 wt% ZrSiO 4 nanoparticle was determined as the optimum content.

To aid development of cost-effective sintered spinel as a refractory raw material, this paper presents an extensive analysis of microstructure and complex phase evolution of Al-rich, Mg-rich, and stoichiometric spinel aggregates derived from Indian magnesite and calcined alumina. Pore morphology in Al-rich spinel was transformed upon sintering at 1650°C and corundum laths embedded in porous Al-rich spinel matrix was formed. Stoichiometric spinel sintered at 1600°C consisted of mostly direct bonded angular equiaxed spinel grains which incorporated the impurities in solid solution. Mg-rich spinel was composed of spinel grains with reduced angularity along with intergranular amorphous phase, small round monticellite grains, and periclase. EDS line scan revealed impurity-free joins existed between direct bonded spinel grains. Mg-rich spinel containing 0.65 wt% ZrO2 formed cubic ZrO2-CaO-MgO solid solution located along spinel boundaries, which reduced both intergranular amorphous phase and monticellite. This increased SiO2 and MgO content in spinel solid solution triggering exsolution of metastable cubic forsterite manifested as split spinel peaks in XRD pattern. A 14.7% reduction in slag penetration was exhibited upon doping Mg-rich spinel with 0.21% ZrO2. Stoichiometric and Mg-rich spinels attained 0.35% and 0.54% apparent porosity at 1600°C, which is better than most commercial sintered refractory spinels.

In this research, high-pure monticellite ceramic (CaMgSiO4) nanoparticles were synthesized via a novel sol–gel method using ethanol and chloride ions for the acceleration of polycondensation process. The gel obtained from metal alkoxide and metal salts precursors dried at 100°C; then, the dried-gel calcined at different temperatures to monitor the structural development of the final samples. The effect of various heat-treatment temperatures on the x-ray diffraction patterns, followed by the calculations from scherrer’s equation, showed that the grain size of the synthesized samples at 1200°C was around 28 nm. Based on dynamic light scattering spectroscopy, the size of most of the particles was ~85 nm. Williamson–Hall formula was also used to calculate the lattice strain of the samples. According to the results, by changing the heat-treatment temperature, lattice strain/stress, lattice parameters and grain size have meaningfully changed. The proposed synthesis method showed superior advantages in comparison with the other conventional techniques presented in the literature, which is relatively faster at lower temperatures. The synthesized high-pure monticellite nanoparticles could be applied in different biomedical engineering applications in which the purity and structural properties are of importance, such as dental, bone tissue engineering, coatings on biomedical implants, surgery hemostasis and inducing osteogenesis in vivo applications.

Small amount of Y2O3 (0-3 wt%) was added into off-grade natural magnesite and its effects on the phase assemblage, microstructural evolution in correlation with mechanical and thermomechanical properties were investigated. Presence of Y2O3 facilitated the formation of calcium yttrium silicate and yttrialite phases, which prohibited the formation of detrimental-phase monticellite, which was gradually reduced with the increase in Y2O3 content. Y2O3 promoted periclase grain growth and segregated the secondary phases at triple-point junction of periclase grains. Also, high-temperature (at 1200°C) flexural strength of the samples increased from 77.2 MPa (without Y2O3) to 137.45 MPa with the addition of 2 wt% Y2O3. Greater degree of direct bonding among periclase grains, compact microstructure, and uniform grain size distribution in addition to reduced amount of monticellite were responsible for the improvement in mechanical and thermomechanical properties.

Mechanical activation (MA) is an efficient method to synthesize nano-structured materials. This is the first report of successful synthesis of monticellite-akermanite nanocomposite from talc, calcium carbonate and magnesium carbonate powders. The raw materials were milled for 10 min, 2, 5, 10, and 20 h and then annealed in order to obtain monticellite-akermanite nanocomposite powder. The obtained powder was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results indicated preparation of monticellite-akermanite nanocomposite powder with crystallite sizes about 30.76 ± 0.47 nm after 20 h mechanical alloying and sintering at 1200 °C for 1 h. Absence of enstatite, a phase that causes a reduction in mechanical and bioactivity properties, is an important feature of the prepared powder. The compacted samples of fabricated nanocomposite powder, sintered at 1300 °C for 3 h, exhibit significant improvements in compressive strength (60 ± 1.8 MPa) than single phase monticellite (43 ± 1.1 MPa) and hydroxyapatite (34 ± 1.4 MPa) which make it an appropriate candidate for bone tissue engineering applications.

The new mineral patynite was discovered at the massif of Patyn Mt. (Patynskiy massif), Tashtagolskiy District, Kemerovo (Kemerovskaya) Oblast&rsquo, Southern Siberia, Russia. Patynite forms lamellae up to 1 0.5 cm and is closely intergrown with charoite, tokkoite, diopside, and graphite. Other associated minerals include monticellite, wollastonite, pectolite, calcite, and orthoclase. Patynite is colorless in individual lamellae to white and white-brownish in aggregates. It has vitreous to silky luster, white streaks, brittle tenacity, and stepped fractures. Its density measured by flotation in Clerici solution is 2.70(2) g/cm3, density calculated from the empirical formula is 2.793 g/cm3. The Mohs&rsquo, hardness is 6. Optically, patynite is biaxial (&ndash, ) with &alpha, = 1.568(2), &beta, = 1.580(2), and &gamma, = 1.582(2) (589 nm). The 2V (measured) = 40(10) and 2V (calculated) = 44.1. The Raman and IR spectra shows the absence in the mineral of H2O, OH&ndash, and CO32&ndash, groups and B&ndash, O bonds. The chemical composition is (electron microprobe, wt.%): Na2O 3.68, K2O 5.62, CaO 26.82, SiO2 64.27, total 100.39. The empirical formula based on 23 O apfu is Na1.00K1.00Ca4.02Si8.99O23. Patynite is triclinic, space group P&ndash, 1. The unit-cell parameters are: a = 7.27430(10), b = 10.5516(2), c = 13.9851(3) &Aring, &alpha, = 104.203(2)&deg, &beta, = 104.302(2)&deg, &gamma, = 92.0280(10)&deg, V = 1003.07(3) &Aring, 3, Z = 2. The crystal structure was solved by direct methods and refined to R1 = 0.032. Patynite is an inosilicate with a new type of sextuple branched tubular chain [(Si9O23)10&ndash, ] with an internal channel and [(Si18O46)20&ndash, ] as the repeat unit. The strongest lines of the powder X-ray diffraction pattern [dobs, &Aring, (I, %) (hkl)] are: 3.454 (100) (2-1-1), 3.262 (66) (2-1-2), 3.103 (64) (02-4), 2.801 (21), 1.820 (28) (40-2). Type material is deposited in the collections of the Fersman Mineralogical Museum of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia with the registration number 5369/1.

The abundance and distribution of halogens (F, Cl) are rarely recorded in kimberlites and therefore their petrogenetic significance is poorly constrained. Halogens are usually present in kimberlite rocks in the structure of phlogopite and apatite, but their original concentrations are never fully retained due to the effects of alteration. To provide new constraints on the origin and evolution of halogens in kimberlites and their melts, we present a detailed study of the petrography and geochemistry of the late-Cretaceous Group-I (or archetypal) Roger kimberlite (Ekati cluster, Canada). The studied samples contain abundant anhedral-to-euhedral olivine which is set in a crystalline groundmass of monticellite, phlogopite, apatite, spinel (i.e. magnesian ulvospinel-magnetite (MUM), Mg-magnetite, pleonaste, Cr-spinel), and perovskite along with abundant secondary alteration phases (i.e. serpentine, garnet (andradite-schlorlomite), amakinite ((Fe2 +, Mg, Mn)(OH)2), calcite). The Roger kimberlite is characterised by the highest recorded F-content (up to 2688 ppm) of the Ekati cluster kimberlites, which is reflected by the preservation of F-rich phases, where bultfonteinite (Ca4(Si2O7)(F, OH)2) and fluorite commonly replace olivine. In order to examine the composition and evolution of the kimberlite melt prior to post-magmatic processes, we studied melt inclusions in olivine, Cr-spinel, monticellite and apatite. Primary multiphase melt inclusions in Cr-spinel, monticellite and apatite and secondary inclusions in olivine are shown to contain a diversity of daughter phases and compositions that are dominated by alkali/alkali-earth (Na, K, Ba, Sr)-enriched Ca-Mg-carbonates ± F, Na-K-chlorides and sulphates, phosphates ± REE, spinel, silicates (e.g. olivine, phlogopite, (clino)humite), and sulphides. Although alkali/alkali-earth- and halogen-bearing phases are abundant in melt inclusions, they are generally absent from the kimberlite groundmass, most likely due to ubiquitous effects of syn- and/or post-magmatic alteration (i.e. serpentinisation). Comparisons between halogens and other trace elements of similar compatibility (i.e. F/Nd and Cl/U) in the Roger kimberlite and their respective estimated primitive mantle abundances show that halogens should be a more significant component in kimberlites than typically measured. We propose that fluorine in the Roger kimberlite was magmatic and was redistributed during hydrothermal alteration by Ca-bearing serpentinising fluids to produce the observed bultfonteinite/fluorite assemblages. Based the compositions and daughter mineral assemblages in primary melt inclusions and reconstructed halogen abundances, we suggest that Cr-spinel, monticellite and apatite crystallised from a variably differentiated Si-P-Cl-F-bearing carbonate melt that was enriched in alkalis/alkali-earths and highly incompatible trace elements.

The small upper Pleistocene diatreme of Polino (central Italy) is known in literature as one of the few monticellite alvikites (volcanic Ca-carbonatite) worldwide. This outcrop belongs to the Umbria-Latium Ultra-alkaline District (ULUD), an area characterized by scattered and small-volume strongly SiO2-undersaturated ultrabasic igneous rocks located in the axial sector of the Apennine Mts. in central Italy. Petrographic and mineralogical evidences indicate that Polino olivine and phlogopite are liquidus phases rather than mantle xenocrysts as instead reported in literature. The presence of monticellite as rim of olivine phenocrysts and as groundmass phase indicates its late appearance in magma chambers at shallow depths, as demonstrated by experimental studies too. The absence of plagioclase and clinopyroxene along with the extremely MgO-rich composition of olivine (Fo92–94) and phlogopite (average Mg# ~93) suggest for Polino magmas an origin from a carbonated H2O-bearing mantle source at depths at least of 90–100 km, in the magnesite stability field. In contrast with what reported in literature, the ultimate strongly ultrabasic Ca-rich whole-rock composition (~15–25 wt% SiO2, ~31–40 wt% CaO) and the abundant modal groundmass calcite are not pristine features of Polino magma. We propose that the observed mineral assemblage and whole-rock compositions result mostly from the assimilation of limestones by an ultrabasic melt at a depth of ~5 km. A reaction involving liquidus olivine + limestone producing monticellite + CO2 vapour + calcite is at the base of the origin of the Polino pseudocarbonatitic igneous rocks.

A study on sintering of chromite fines was conducted through sintering pot test. The effect of sintering parameters including mix moisture content, coke breeze rate, bentonite dosage and sintering suction was investigated. It was found that conventional sintering process can be applied to the agglomeration of chromite fines as well. Appropriate parameters for chromite fines sintering were 8.0% moisture, 7.0% coke breeze, 2.0% bentonite and 14 kPa sintering suction. Furthermore, the consolidation characteristic of chromite sinter was observed by using a microscope, scanning electron microscope (SEM) and energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS). It can be found that the sinter mainly consisted of chromohercynite, forsterite and monticellite. Besides, the element distribution of Fe and Cr in chromohercynite was quite different. Fe mainly distributed on the outer layer while Cr distributed in the inner layer. The chromohercynite formed from liquid phase has higher Fe and Mg content.

Peridotite xenoliths from the Cretaceous Chidliak kimberlite province (SE Baffin Island, Canada) were recently studied by Kopylova et al. (2019) . Here, we focus on rare textures, with orthopyroxene grains invariably rimmed by 3–20 μm coronas of clinopyroxene, while all clinopyroxenes are rimmed by equally thin monticellite coronas. Thicker, 0.1–0.5 mm texturally equilibrated clinopyroxene also mantles garnet, and there is a gradual transition from micron- to millimeter-thick clinopyroxene mantles. We investigated the origin of these rarely preserved textures using major and trace element zoning in minerals, and measured and reconstructed bulk compositions of xenoliths. Fluxes of major elements were identified based on the conserved element ratios while accounting for the closure effect due to normalization of bulk compositions to 100%. Ca dominates the absolute elemental gain, expressed in moles per 1000 mol of Fe. The observed mineralogical and compositional changes are associated with the significant metasomatic removal of Na (70% of its budget) Al, and Cr (35% loss), minor removal of Si, Mn, Mg and Ni and the gain of Ca (~ 20%), Ti, K and incompatible trace elements. The metasomatic fluid addition beneath Chidliak was likely below 10%. The fluid was very enriched and fractionated resembling volatile-rich low-degree melts like carbonatites or kimberlites. The Chidliak peridotites were affected by “carbonation freezing”, i.e. immobilization of a carbonate-rich metasomatic agent via reactions with pyroxenes. Clinopyroxene and monticellite coronas formed in decarbonation reactions, whereby ephemeral carbonatitic fluid readily gave away Ca to silicate minerals and exsolved CO2. Chidliak peridotites highlight that it would be deceptive to imagine “carbonated peridotites” storing carbon in a normal assemblage of peridotite plus carbonate. “Carbonated peridotites” are coarse peridotites with elevated modes of clinopyroxene, garnet and olivine, and with thin rims of calcic silicate minerals storing incompatible elements. The CO2-rich magmatism on cratons and the match between the temporal Ca addition to the cratonic mantle and the observed fluxes from the carbonate-rich metasomatism underscores the importance of the latter process in shaping up the lithospheric mantle and its melts.

The olivine melilitites from the southern part of the 6.8 Ma-old Takarindiona volcanic field (Eastern Madagascar) are olivine ± chromite -phyric lavas, with zoned titanaugite, perovskite, melilite, nepheline, monticellite, Ba–Ti-mica and Fe–Ti oxides as microphenocrysts and groundmass phases. The rocks are very primitive, rich in incompatible trace elements (e.g., Ba = 1049 ± 153 ppm, Sr = 1050 ± 167 ppm, Nb = 98 ± 13 ppm; La/Ybn = 41 ± 5; La/Nb = 0.88 ± 0.05), and have restricted ranges of initial 87Sr/86Sr (0.70391–0.70410) and 143Nd/144Nd (0.51272–0.51282). The rocks follow a differentiation trend controlled by ab. 20% removal/addition of phenocryst olivine ± chromite. The olivine melilititic magmas are the product of small degrees of partial melting (1–3%) of a peridotitic source, enriched in highly incompatible trace elements by CO2-, F-, and H2O-rich melts, located within the garnet stability field (3–3.5 GPa and ~100 km depth) of sub-continental lithospheric mantle, where carbonates (dolomite) and possibly phlogopite were stable phases. Mantle xenoliths within the volcanics are mostly spinel harzburgites having mineral modes and chemical compositions suggesting variable degrees of “basalt” melt extraction. Based on textural and chemical evidence, and quantitative thermobarometric estimates, the xenoliths were incorporated at a pressure of ~1.1 GPa (~35–40 km depth), far shallower than the source of the melilititic magmas, and along a predictably cool geotherm beneath Archean continental lithosphere. Highly resorbed orthopyroxene xenocrysts mantled by augite indicate that the melilitites may have also entrained lower crustal materials or underplated subalkaline rocks. The mantle sources of the lavas and mantle xenoliths of the Takarindiona district indicate stratification of the lithospheric mantle, and help constraining the lithospheric features and the magmatic history of the Eastern Madagascar craton.

The Rosario-6 alnoite is an alkaline occurrence that belongs to the Rosario do Sul kimberlitic field, situated in the south-eastern edge of the Parana Basin, in the South of Brazil, and erupted concomitant or just after the volcanism of the Parana-Etendeka Large Igneous Province (LIP). Following recent published nomenclature, Rosario-6 was classified as a kimberlite from a deep mantle source with a distinctive inequigranular texture resulting from the presence of olivine macrocrysts set in a finer-grained matrix. Trace element compositions of olivine, monticellite, spinel, phlogopite, perovskite and apatite show an enrichment of Nb, Ce, Ta and U, which implies that the Rosario-6 mantle source was enriched by recycled oceanic crust. The positive anomalies of Rb, Ba and Sr, the enrichment in LREE, and the negative anomalies of HREE in the Rosario-6 minerals, are indicative of a metasomatic process in the mantle source that could be caused by fluids from recycled oceanic crust. Temperature, pressure and redox conditions (fO2) of Rosario-6 crystallization are estimated from olivine, spinel, perovskite and monticellite compositions: Rosario-6 crystallization temperatures using olivine-spinel geothermobarometry were around 1390(±56)°C at a pressure of 2 GPa, and 1405(±56)°C at 3 GPa with ΔNNO = 2.8, at pressures constrained by the silica activity limited by the crystallization of monticellite. Using a perovskite oxybarometer, we obtained a larger range of ΔNNO (from −2.8 to 3.4), whereas the monticellite oxybarometer results in fO2 of −2.6 to −0.8 ΔNNO units. The fO2 indicate that the mantle source of Rosario-6 at the time of crystallization was possibly oxidized by materials from ancient subduction, which may be the cause for Rosario-6's low potential to carry and preserve diamonds. Horizontal tomographic images derived from P-wave velocity data constrain the thickness of the lithosphere in this region and the overall information indicates that mantle cooling at depths below 200 km may have resulted of an accumulation of oceanic plate slabs from old subduction. The geochemical data in conjunction with the geophysical characterizes the conditions of Rosario-6 mineral crystallization and also the mantle of this part of South America during Gondwana breakup.

Indian magnesites from Salem and Almora regions were selected for the present study. Chemical analysis of these magnesites confirmed that Salem region magnesite (SM) contains CaO and SiO2, whereas Almora origin magnesite (AM) shows higher amount of Fe2O3 and CaO as major impurities. Crystalline phases developed in sintered Salem magnesite are periclase, forsterite and monticellite, while magnesioferrite and monticellite are found in sintered Almora magnesite apart from periclase as major phase. Microstructural analyses reveal that sintered SM has lower grain size than sintered AM . Although, no significant difference was noticed at room temperature flexural strengths of both the sintered samples, but sintered AM samples exhibit better flexural strength at elevated temperature (1200°C).

Kimberlites are the surface manifestation of deeply-derived (>150 km) and rapidly ascended magmas. Fresh kimberlite rocks are exceptionally rare, as most of them are invariably modified by pervasive deuteric and/or post-magmatic fluids that overprint the original mineralogy. In this study, we examined fresh archetypal kimberlite from the Mark pipe (Lac de Gras, Canada), which is characterised by well-preserved olivine and groundmass minerals. The sequence of crystallisation of the parental melt and its major compositional features, including oxygen fugacity, were reconstructed using textural relationships between magmatic minerals, their zoning patterns and crystal/melt/fluid inclusions. Crystal and multiphase primary, pseudosecondary and secondary melt/fluid inclusions in olivine, Cr-diopside, spinel, perovskite, phlogopite/kinoshitalite, apatite and calcite preserve a record of different stages of kimberlite melt evolution. Melt/fluid inclusions are generally more depleted in silica and more enriched in alkalis (K, Na), alkali-earth (Ba, Sr) and halogens (Cl, F) relative to the whole-rock composition of the Mark kimberlite. These melt/fluid inclusion compositions, in combination with presence of elevated CaO (up to 1.73 wt%), in Mg-rich olivine rinds, crystallisation of groundmass kinoshitalite, carbonates (calcite, Sr-Ba-bearing) and alkali-enriched rims around apatite suggest that there was progressive enrichment in CO2, alkalis and halogens in the evolving parental melt. The Mark kimberlite groundmass is characterised by the following stages of in-situ crystallisation: (1) olivine rims around xenocrystic cores + Cr-spinel/TIMAC. (2) Mg-rich olivine rinds around olivine rims/cores + MUM-spinel (followed by pleonaste and Mg-magnetite) + monticellite (+ partial resorption of olivine, along with the formation of ferropericlase and CO2 as a result of decarbonation reactions) + perovskite + apatite. (3) Olivine outmost rinds, which are coeval with phlogopite/kinoshitalite + apatite + sulphides + carbonate (calcite, Ba-Sr-Na-bearing varieties). In addition, oxygen fugacity of the Mark kimberlite was constrained by olivine-chromite, perovskite and monticellite oxygen barometry and showed that the parental melt became progressively more oxidised in response to fractional crystallisation. (4) Deuteric (i.e. late-stage magmatic) and/or post-magmatic (i.e. external fluids) alteration of magmatic minerals (e.g., olivine, monticellite, ferropericlase) and crystallisation of mesostasis serpentine, K-bearing chlorite and brucite (i.e. replacement of ferropericlase). The absence of any alkali (Na, K) and halogen (F, Cl) rich groundmass minerals in the Mark kimberlite may be attributed to these elements becoming concentrated in the late-stage melt where they potentially formed unstable, water-soluble carbonates (such as those observed in melt inclusions). Consequently, these minerals were most likely removed from the groundmass by deuteric and/or post-magmatic alteration.

A shallow-level monzodioritic to quartz-monzodioritic pluton of the Upper Cretaceous age caused contact metamorphism of Tithonic&ndash, Kimmeridgian reef limestones at Măgureaua Vaţei (Metaliferi Massif, Apuseni Mountains, Romania). The preserved peak metamorphic assemblage includes gehlenite (Ak 33.64&ndash, 38.13), monticellite, wollastonite-2M, Ti-poor calcic garnet, and Ca-Tschermak diopside (with up to 11.15 mol.% Ca-Tschermak molecule). From the monzodioritic body to the calcitic marble, the periplutonic zoning can be described as: monzodiorite/agpaitic syenite-like inner endoskarn/wollastonite + perovskite + Ti-poor grossular + Al-rich diopside/wollastonite + Ti-poor grossular + diopside + vesuvianite/gehlenite + wollastonite + Ti poor grossular + Ti-rich grossular (outer endoskarn)/wollastonite + vesuvianite + garnet (inner exoskarn) / wollastonite + Ti-rich garnet + vesuvianite + diopside (outer exoskarn)/calcitic marble. Three generations of Ca garnets could be identified, as follows: (1) Ti-poor grossular (Grs 53.51&ndash, 81.03 mol.%) in equilibrium with gehlenite, (2) Ti-rich grossular (Grs 51.13&ndash, 53.47 mol.%, with up to 19.97 mol.% morimotoite in solid solution), and (3) titanian andradite (Grs 32.70&ndash, 45.85 mol.%), with up to 29.15 mol.% morimotoite in solid solution. An early hydrothermal stage produced retrogression of the peak paragenesis toward vesuvianite, hydroxylellestadite (or Si-substituted apatite), clinochlore, &ldquo, hibschite&rdquo, (H4O4-substituted grossular). A late hydrothermal event induced the formation of lizardite, chrysotile, dickite, thaumasite, okenite and tobermorite. A weathering paragenesis includes allophane, C-S-H gels and probably portlandite, unpreserved because of its transformation in aragonite then calcite. Overprints of these late events on the primary zoning are quite limited.

Sol-gel combustion method was employed for the synthesis of monticellite (CaMgSiO4) ceramic powders using various fuels. Citric acid, succinic acid, tartaric acid, sucrose, urea, glycine, and L-alanine were used as fuels. Influence of calcination temperature on the phase evolution was investigated. Prepared monticellite powders were characterized using powder-XRD, FT-IR, and DLS techniques. XRD pattern reveals that the L-alanine is a suitable fuel among all the fuels studied and confirms the formation of pure monticellite. FT-IR spectra confirm the presence of characteristic functional groups associated with monticellite. DLS measurements show the particle size of the monticellite powders. Finally, Apatite formation ability studies were carried out by immersing the monticellite and monticellite-polymer (chitosan/chitin) composites in the SBF solution. Pure monticellite shows higher bioactivity than the composites and its surface analysis (SEM and EDS) reveals the deposition of spherical hydroxyapatite particles.

Elucidating the composition of primary kimberlite melts is essential to understanding the nature of their source, petrogenesis, rheology, transport and ultimately the origin of diamonds. Kimberlite rocks are typically comprised of abundant olivine (~25–60 vol%), which occurs as individual grains of variable size and morphology, and includes xenocrysts and zoned phenocrysts. Zoning patterns and inclusions in olivine can be used to decipher the petrogenetic history of kimberlites, starting from their generation in the mantle through to emplacement in the crust. This study examines well-preserved, euhedral, zoned olivine crystals from the Mark kimberlite (Lac de Gras, Canada). Olivine typically consists of xenocrystic cores, which are homogeneous in composition but vary widely between grains (Fo88.1–93.6). These cores are in turn surrounded by (in order of crystallisation) magmatic rims and Mg-rich rinds (Fo95.3–98.1). In addition, we document a new type of olivine zone (‘outmost rind’) that overgrows Mg-rich rinds. Crystal and melt/fluid inclusions are abundant in olivine and preserve a record of kimberlite melt evolution. For the first time in the studies of kimberlite olivine, we report primary melt inclusions hosted in Mg-rich olivine rinds. In addition, we observe that pseudosecondary melt/fluid inclusions are restricted to interior olivine zones (cores, rims) and are considered to have formed prior to rind formation. Pseudosecondary melt/fluid inclusions are inferred to have been entrapped at depth, as evidenced by measured densities in thermometric experiments of CO2 and decrepitation haloes, indicating a minimum entrapment pressure of ~200–450 MPa (or ~6–15 km). Both primary and pseudosecondary melt inclusions in olivine have daughter minerals dominated by Ca Mg and K-Na-Ba-Sr-bearing carbonates, K-Na-chlorides along with subordinate silicates (e.g., phlogopite, monticellite), Fe-Mg-Al-Ti-spinel, perovskite, phosphates and sulphates/sulphides and periclase. In addition to phases reported in primary melt inclusions, pseudosecondary melt inclusions contain more diverse and exotic daughter mineral assemblages, where they contain phases such as tetraferriphlogopite Ba- or K-sulphates, kalsilite and Na-phosphates. The daughter mineral assemblages are consistent with a silica-poor, alkali dolomitic carbonatite melt. We demonstrate that the different types of inclusions in olivine can assist in constraining the timing of multi-stage olivine growth and the composition of the crystallising melt. The large variance in olivine zoning patterns, morphologies and Ni distribution (i.e. both coupling with and decoupling from Fo) indicates that olivine in the studied Mark kimberlite samples represent an accumulation of olivine, where olivine was derived from successive stages of the ascending magma and/or from multiple, but related pulses of magma. Primary and pseudosecondary melt/fluid inclusions in olivine indicate that a variably differentiated silica-poor, halogen-bearing, alkali-dolomitic melt crystallised and transported olivine in the Mark kimberlite.

In this study, a simple and facile strategy was developed for the synthesis of novel hydroxyapatite (HA)/nanostructured monticellite ceramic composites by mechanical method. X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDS) were used to peruse the phase structure, and morphology of soaked ceramic composites in simulated body fluid (SBF). The in vitro bioactivity of HA-based ceramic composites with nanostructured monticellite ranging from 0 to 50 wt% was evaluated via investigating the formation ability of bone-like calcium phosphates in SBF and the effect of obtained extracts from composites dissolution on osteoblast-like G-292 cell line. Moreover, In vitro cytocompatibility of the HA/monticellite ceramic composites was investigated by MTT, cell growth & adhesion and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity assays, and quantitative real-time PCR analysis. The results showed that HA/nanostructured monticellite ceramic composites could induce apatite formation in SBF. The cell proliferation and growth exposed to ceramic composites extracts were significantly stimulated and promoted at a certain concentration range compared to control for various time periods of cell culture. The optimized composite extract enhanced considerably gene expression of G-292 type X collagen (COLX) at different days. Also, G-292 cells were spread and adhered well on the ceramic composite disc. Furthermore, ALP activity of G-292 cells exposed to ceramic composites extracts was dramatically enhanced in comparison with pure HA extract (as control) at different concentrations for various time periods of cell culture. The results suggest that the optimized HA/nanostructured monticellite composite is promising biomaterial for clinical applications such as orthopedic and dentistry.

The Letseng-la-Terae kimberlite (Lesotho), famous for its large high-value diamonds, has five distinct phases that are mined in a Main and a Satellite pipe. These diatreme phases are heavily altered but parts of a directly adjacent kimberlite blow are exceptionally fresh. The blow groundmass consists of preserved primary olivine with Fo86−88, chromite, magnesio-ulvospinel and magnetite, perovskite, monticellite, occasional Sr-rich carbonate, phlogopite, apatite, calcite and serpentine. The bulk composition of the groundmass, extracted by micro-drilling, yields 24–26 wt% SiO2, 20–21 wt% MgO, 16–19 wt% CaO and 1.9–2.1 wt% K2O, the latter being retained in phlogopite. Without a proper mineral host, groundmass Na2O is only 0.09–0.16 wt%. However, Na-rich K-richterite observed in orthopyroxene coronae allows to reconstruct a parent melt Na2O content of 3.5–5 wt%, an amount similar to that of highly undersaturated primitive ocean island basanites. The groundmass contains 10–12 wt% CO2, H2O is estimated to 4–5 wt%, but volatiles and alkalis were considerably reduced by degassing. Mg# of 77.9 and 530 ppm Ni are in equilibrium with olivine phenocrysts, characterize the parent melt and are not due to olivine fractionation. 87Sr/86Sr(i) = 0.703602–0.703656, 143Nd/144Nd(i) = 0.512660 and 176Hf/177Hf(i) = 0.282677–0.282679 indicate that the Letseng kimberlite originates from the convective upper mantle. U–Pb dating of groundmass perovskite reveals an emplacement age of 85.5 ± 0.3 (2σ) Ma, which is significantly younger than previously proposed for the Letseng kimberlite.

In this research, novel monticellite/hydroxyapatite (HA) ceramic composites were successfully prepared by mechanical method. The ability of nanostructured monticellite-based ceramic composites to form a suitable bond to living hard tissues, and stimulate osteoblast-like cells proliferation may be different for various ratios of the reinforcement to monticellite matrix. The differences in physico-chemical characteristics, bone-like apatite formation, cytocompatibility, cell viability and in vitro osteogenic activity of nanostructured monticellite/HA ceramic composites were explored. The surface reactivity and bioactivity of the composite samples were evaluated in vitro in simulated body fluid (SBF). A comparative time- and dose-dependent MTT test showed that the ions release from nanostructured monticellite/HA composites dissolution significantly stimulated cell proliferation and growth than control at a certain concentration range. The cells viability exposed to the composite extract was higher than control and mineral material of bone (HA), illustrating that cytocompatibility was improved due to the presence of magnesium (Mg) and silicon (Si) elements in the composite structure. The comparative results of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) bioactivity assay showed that the osteogenic proliferation of osteoblast-like G292 cell was increased more by the ceramic composites extract than control. These comparative results demonstrated that nanostructured monticellite-based ceramic composites possessed good in vitro bioactivity, cytocompatibility and osteogenic properties, and may be utilized as the promising bioactive materials for bone tissue regeneration and replacement.

Corrosion mechanisms between high melting synthetic ferronickel slags and refractory were investigated. The used slags were prepared by mixing and melting of specific oxides. Substrates of the applied refractory material and specimens of FeNi slags were heated in a hot stage microscope up to 1650 °C. The experiments were performed under a defined gas atmosphere of 60% CO and 40% CO2. A further examination of the formed phases between slag and refractory occurred by scanning electron microscope. The investigations indicate that the slag penetrates between magnesia grains and partly dissolves magnesia. Spot analyses show that iron diffuses into the magnesia grains, which transform to magnesiawustite, meanwhile SiO2 forms different types of olivine like forsterite and monticellite. Thermodynamic calculations confirm the formation of these phases. The combination of practical lab scale experiments and thermodynamic calculations should finally contribute to an improvement of the refractory lifetime and performance.

Homogeneous single crystals of synthetic monticellite with the composition $${\text{Ca}}_{0.88}{\text{Mg}}_{1.12}{\text{SiO}}_4$$ (Mtc I) were annealed in a piston-cylinder apparatus at temperatures between 1000 and $$1200\,^{\circ }\hbox {C}$$ , pressures of 1.0–1.4 GPa, for run durations from 10 min to 24 h and applying bulk water contents ranging from 0.0 to 0.5 wt% of the total charge. At these conditions, Mtc I breaks down to a fine-grained, symplectic intergrowth. Thereby, two types of symplectites are produced: a first symplectite type (Sy I) is represented by an aggregate of rod-shaped forsterite immersed in a matrix of monticellite with end-member composition (Mtc II), and a second symplectite type (Sy II) takes the form of a lamellar merwinite–forsterite intergrowth. Both symplectites may form simultaneously, where the formation of Sy I is favoured by the presence of water. Sy I is metastable with respect to Sy II and is successively replaced by the latter. For both symplectite types, the characteristic spacing of the symplectite phases is independent of run duration and is only weeakly influenced by the water content, but it is strongly temperature dependent. It varies from about 400 nm at $$1000\,^{\circ }\hbox {C}$$ to 1200 nm at $$1100\,^{\circ }\hbox {C}$$ in Sy I, and from 300 nm at $$1000\,^{\circ }\hbox {C}$$ to 700 nm at $$1200\,^{\circ }\hbox {C}$$ in Sy II. A thermodynamic analysis reveals that the temperature dependence of the characteristic spacing of the symplectite phases is due to a relatively high activation energy for chemical segregation by diffusion within the reaction front as compared to the activation energy for interface reactions at the reaction front. The temperature dependence of the characteristic lamellar spacing and the temperature-time dependence of overall reaction progress have potential for applications in geo-thermometry and geo-speedometry.

Indian magnesite mineral has substantial amount of impurities like CaO, SiO2 & Fe2O3. During sintering at elevated temperature these impurities react to form low melting phases like monticellite (CMS), which can degrade the high temperature properties of magnesite. In the present study, ZrO2 was added to reduce the formation of low melting phase in order to improve the hot strength. Amount of additive was varied between 2 and 6 wt.% with respect to raw magnesite. It was observed that addition of ZrO2 reduces the formation of low melting CMS at higher temperature and improves the flexural strength at 1200 °C. Periclase grain shape also changed from rounded to subrounded in the presence of zirconia.

The use of metallurgical slags in cement production depends on the phases present in such slags, which are affected by changes in slag composition as well as the cooling rates adopted during solidification. In this work, slags with distinct chemical compositions were melted and subjected to different cooling conditions. Slag samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction to identify and quantify mineralogical phases and by X-ray fluorescence to determine chemical composition. The microstructure of the samples was characterized by scanning electron microscopy coupled to energy dispersive spectroscopy for phase identification. The solidification of the slags was simulated using FactSage™ for solidification path evaluation, enabling a comparison of the phases determined by thermodynamic equilibrium with those analysed in slag samples. Slags with low basicity (CaO/SiO2

Leaching of slag must be limited when slag is used in other areas than landfill. As slag is composed of different minerals, the properties of slag, inter alia the dissolution, depend on these minerals. If the leaching properties of each mineral are known, counter measurements can be taken to prevent the leaching of unwanted elements. In this study, the dissolution of three common slag minerals will be examined. The three minerals; boron-stabilised β-dicalcium silicate, pseudowollastonite and monticellite were synthesised. The dissolution was measured by setting pH to 4, 7 or 10 and adding 0.05 g mineral in the size range 20-38 mm and the HNO3 consumption required to maintain the pH level was recorded during 40 h. As expected, the dissolution increases for all minerals when pH decreases. The boron-stabilised β-dicalcium silicate was the only mineral fully dissolved at all pH levels, while pseudowollastonite and monticellite only dissolved completely at pH 4.On doit limiter le lessivage de la scorie lorsqu'...

A Ghassoul clay from Morocco was studied regarding the effect of (1) grinding and (2) selection of the particle size distribution (classification) on the thermal transformations during sintering. Ghassoul clay contains stevensite, dolomite and quartz as major minerals. Prior to the classification, the starting coarse aggregates of the raw clay were first dry-ground below 500 μm and the obtained particles of powder were then granulated in order to produce adequate pellets for shaping by uniaxial pressing. Classification was performed to obtain three grain size distributions, namely greater than 500 μm, between 500 and 315 μm and lower than 315 μm. As the grain size distribution became finer, the proportion of carbonate phases was increased. DTA–TG analyses were in agreement with this trend, and in addition, dilatometry analyses showed that the densification was shifted to lower temperatures when decreasing the size of granules. The major phases occurring after sintering at 1200 °C were diopside, enstatite and forsterite as expected from the equilibrium phase diagram. Moreover, the smaller clay fraction (typically lower than 40 μm) enhanced the formation of melilite and monticellite. Nevertheless, a swelling occurred during sintering that balanced the densification shrinkage. According to these results, the sintering of Ghassoul clay proceeds through several stages regardless of the particle size selection. With a mean size of granules lower than 315 μm, the densification can be achieved at 1100 °C, while for greater sizes, a similar densification state of the raw material requires a significantly higher temperature of sintering of 1200 °C. In addition, some dedensification drawbacks may occur when using granules whose size is greater than 315 μm and therefore could induce unexpectedly a significant damage to materials. The observed trends may be useful for further applications of such Ghassoul clay in the silicate ceramics field.

Natural Indian magnesite contains large amount of impurities like CaO, SiO2 and Fe2O3. On heat treatment, these impurities chemically react and form low melting phases like monticellite (CMS), merwinite (C3MS2) and vitreous phases, which degrade the refractory properties of magnesite like hot modulus of rupture, corrosion resistance etc. In the present investigation, TiO2 was used to reduce the formation of low melting phases. Compacted green pellets and bars of magnesite containing 0−5 wt% TiO2 were sintered in the temperature range of 1500−1600 °C with 2 h soaking at peak temperature. It was observed that TiO2 slightly increased the apparent porosity and decreased the bulk density by reducing the formation of low melting phases. High temperature flexural strength increases with TiO2 content upto 3 wt% followed by slight decrease in strength after further increase in the amount of additive.

Kerimasite {Ca3}[Zr2](SiFe23+)O12, a rare member of the garnet supergroup, has been identified in association with andradite–grossular and their hydrated analogues, monticellite, perovskite, clintonite, anhydrite, hydroxylellestadite–fluorellestadite, spinel, magnetite, brucite, valeriite and other minerals from a Ca-Mg skarn in the exocontact of a granodiorite porphyry intrusion in Vysoká-Zlatno Cu-Au skarn-porphyry deposit, the Štiavnica stratovolcano, Central Slovakia. Kerimasite forms euhedral-to-anhedral crystals, 2 to 100 μm across with 0.73–1.62 atoms per formula unit (a.p.f.u.) Zr (16.2–33.6 wt.% ZrO2), 0.34–0.66 a.p.f.u. Ti (4.6–9.3 wt.% TiO2), 0.01 to 0.05 a.p.f.u. Hf (0.4–1.7 wt.% HfO2: the largest Hf content reported in kerimasite), and small amounts of Sn, Sc and Nb (≤0.02 a.p.f.u.). Tetrahedral Si (0.99–1.67 a.p.f.u.; 9.8–18.1 wt.% SiO2) is balanced by 0.85–1.26 a.p.f.u. Fe3+and by 0.46–0.76 a.p.f.u. Al. The crystals commonly show regular, oscillatory concentric zoning or irregular patchy internal textures due to Zr, Ti, Fe, Al and Si variations during growth or partial alteration and dissolution-reprecipitation. The main substitutions in kerimasite areY(Fe,Sc)3++ZSi4+=Y(Zr,Ti,Hf,Sn)4++Z(Fe,Al)3+and Ti4+= Zr4+. Associated andradite locally contains irregular Ti- and Zr-rich zones with ≤11 wt.% TiO2and ≤4.4 wt.% ZrO2. In comparison with common Ca-rich garnets, the micro-Raman spectrum of kerimasite shows that many bands shift towards much lower wavenumbers, either due to Fe3+substitution on theZsite or to the strong influence of neighbouring octahedrally-coordinated Zr4+on internal vibrations of tetrahedra that share oxygens. The formation of kerimasite, monticellite, perovskite and other phases indicate a relatively Ca-rich and Si, Al-poor environment, analogous to other known occurrences of Ca-Zr garnets (Ca-rich skarns and xenoliths, carbonatites). Kerimasite and associated skarn minerals originated during contact-thermal metamorphism of Upper Triassic marl slates with limestone, dolomite, anhydrite and gypsum by Miocene granodiorite porphyry atT≈ 700°C andP≈ 50–70 MPa.

Roman slag from the archaeological site near Mosnje (NW Slovenia) was studied with respect to its mineralogical and geochemical characteristics. Samples were analysed with light microscopy, X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy with an energy dispersive spectrometer (SEM-EDS) and Raman microspectroscopy. A chemical investigation was carried out using inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-ES) to determine the major elements. The investigated slags are recognized as iron slags, grouped into two main classes according to their chemical and mineralogical compositions. The first group is characterized by high Fe2O3 and low SiO2 contents and the second by high CaO and SiO2 and low Fe2O3 contents. The phase occurrence obviously depends on the chemical composition as the first group mainly consists of fayalite, wustite and magnetite, and the second one of augite, leucite, hedenbergite, monticellite and kirschsteinite.

WOS: 000413124300081, Monticellite bioactive ceramics have a high usage potential as bone graft substitutes due to their superior mechanical properties compared to hydroxyapatite and excellent bioactivity. Turkey has almost 72% of the global boron reserves and the fairly high amount of emerged boron derivative waste causes storage problems and environmental pollutions. The aim of this study was the solid state synthesis of monticellite based ceramic powders from boron derivative waste and the evaluation of bioactivity characteristic of produced powders. The monticellite based ceramic powders were synthesized at low temperature (800 degrees C). The powders were incubated in Simulated Body Fluid and their surfaces were examined using a scanning electron microscope. The surfaces of synthesized powders were bioactive and allowed formation of bone-like apatite layer within 15 days. Results of the study confirmed that cost-effective and ecofriendly monticellite based bioactive ceramic powders can be synthesized from boron derivative waste

Selected samples of asbestos-containing material (ACM) with different Ca/Si ratios have been treated thermally at 1200°C for 15 min to obtain an ‘end of waste geo-inspired material’. Before and after treatment, micro-Raman spectroscopy allowed the investigation of both powdered and massive samples by directing the laser beam onto crystals with elongated morphology, thin fibres and the matrix. In the raw samples, chrysotile and/or crocidolite were detected. After the thermal treatment, no asbestos phases were identified in the Raman spectra collected on fibrous or fibre-like morphologies. The scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive spectroscopy investigations confirmed the onset of a pseudomorphic process during annealing, leading to the complete transformation of asbestos minerals into non-hazardous magnesium or calcium magnesium silicates such as forsterite, monticellite, a˚kermanite and merwinite.The identification of such mineral assemblages was inspired by the close inspection of a natural counterpart, the high-temperature contact metamorphic imprint due to the intrusion of a sill into carbonate rocks. The process turned out to occur largely at the solid state and involved substantial mobilization of Ca and Mg to form a spinel phase (namely MgFe2O4) which was recognized in the matrix and within, or close to elongated morphologies.

This work aims at studying rate of densification, resistance to hydration and slag attack of 0.0–2.0 wt.% ilmenite-doped MgO-dolomite refractories fired at 1400–1700 °C, in relation to their thermal equilibrium and microfabric. XRF, XRD, SEM, EDAX and mercury intrusion were used to characterize the fired samples. The modular system MgO-MF(MA)-C2S-M2S was applied in determining their thermal equilibrium data. The rate of hydration and attack by steel-slag were also measured using CLM. It is concluded that doping the dolomitic-magnesite with 0.5 wt.% ilmenite leads to maximize rate of densification after firing for 4 h at only 1500 °C. Direct-bonded MgO-MgO network is shown enclosing merwinite and monticellite with minor magnesio-ferrite spinel solid solution ex-soluted within the periclase network. Due to the dense microfabric, the hydration resistance is enhanced 8 times compared with the un-doped samples. Also, there is deeper infiltration of the slag/refractory reaction products of the un-doped MgO-dolomite sample as compared with the doped one.

Thermal transformations of talc-carbonate rocks consisting of talc, chlorite, mica/illite, quartz, feldspar and calcite were investigated in the range of 900°-1100°C by X-ray diffraction, thermal analyses, scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive spectroscopy. Microstructural changes of heated decarbonated samples were also investigated, and variations of some ceramic properties against temperature were followed. In the heated raw samples, olivine and enstatite together with merwinite were formed at T 1000°C, akermanite and monticellite were developed from talc, and shrinkage was almost unchanged. Heating of decarbonated samples yielded olivine and enstatite together with Mg-spinel on the expense of talc. In this case, a vitreous phase was also formed and shrinkage got increased. The neoformation processes in both the samples were discussed based on the SiO2-MgO-CaO and SiO2-Al2O3-MgO phase diagrams. Considering the magnitudes of the studied ceramic proper...

Hutcheonite (IMA 2013-029), Ca_3Ti_2(SiAl_2)O_(12), is a new garnet mineral that occurs with monticellite, grossular, and wadalite in secondary alteration areas along some cracks between primary melilite, spinel, and Ti,Al-diopside in a Type B1 Fractionation and Unidentified Nuclear effects (FUN) Ca-Al-rich inclusion (CAI) Egg-3 from the Allende CV (Vigarano type) carbonaceous chondrite. The mean chemical composition of type hutcheonite by electron probe microanalysis is (wt%) CaO 34.6, TiO_2 25.3, SiO_2 20.9, Al_2O_3 15.7, MgO 2.1, FeO 0.7, V_2O_3 0.5, total 99.8, giving rise to an empirical formula of Ca_(2.99)(Ti^(4+)_(1.53)Mg_(0.25)Al_(0.17)Fe^(2+)_(0.05)V^(3+)_(0.03))(Si_(1.68)Al_(1.32))O_(12). The end-member formula is Ca_3Ti_2(SiAl_2)O_(12). Hutcheonite has the Ia3d garnet structure with a = 11.843 A, V = 1661.06 A^3, and Z = 8, as revealed by electron backscatter diffraction. The calculated density using the measured composition is 3.86 g/cm^3. Hutcheonite is a new secondary phase in Allende, apparently formed by iron-alkali-halogen metasomatic alteration of the primary CAI phases like melilite, perovskite, and Ti,Al-diopside on the CV chondrite parent asteroid. Formation of the secondary Ti-rich minerals like hutcheonite during the metasomatic alteration of the Allende CAIs suggests some mobility of Ti during the alteration. The mineral name is in honor of Ian D. Hutcheon, a cosmochemist at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, California, U.S.A.