Mineral Characterization Using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM): A Review of the Fundamentals, Advancements, and Research Directions

Applied Sciences, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 13(23), P. 12600 - 12600

Published: Nov. 22, 2023

Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) is a powerful tool in the domains of materials science, mining, and geology owing to its enormous potential provide unique insight into micro nanoscale worlds. This comprehensive review discusses background development SEM, basic SEM operation, including specimen preparation image processing, fundamental theoretical calculations underlying operation. It provides foundational understanding for engineers scientists who have never had chance dig depth contributing their workings this robust analytical technique. The present covers how serves as crucial mineral characterization, with specific discussion on research fronts SEM-EDX, SEM-AM, SEM-MLA, QEMSCAN. With automation gaining pace all spheres technology, uncertainties measurements very important. constraints phase identification by EDS spectra sample are conferred. In end, future directions analyzed possible incorporation machine learning, deep artificial intelligence tools automate process identification, quantification, efficient communication researchers so that robustness objectivity can be improved analysis time involved costs reduced. also idea integrating robotics make equipment portable further characterization gained not only Earth but other terrestrial grounds.

Language: Английский

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Hydration of MgO: Reaction Kinetics and pH Control on Brucite Crystal Morphology

Crystal Growth & Design, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 24(7), P. 3085 - 3092

Published: March 14, 2024

The hydration of periclase [MgO] to yield brucite [Mg(OH)2] is high relevance in many technical and man-made surroundings, regarding its volume expansive reaction the development distinct crystal morphologies. Although studies on MgO–Mg(OH)2 conversion behavior are numerous, decisive parameters controlling kinetics as well size, shape, orientation individual crystals remain poorly constrained. Therefore, a series MgO experiments were conducted monitor assess influence surface area presence secondary phases educts (i) chemical evolution reactive solution, (ii) rate, (iii) particle morphology brucite. significantly stimulates thus rate In contrast, foreign components, such CaO or MgCl2, within predefine self-adjusting pH during progressing hydration. regulates charge distribution at reacting has key control precipitating crystals. Flaky versus columnar shapes formed preferentially below above point zero Mg(OH)2 (pHPZC ≈ 11 12), respectively, which implications for tailored product engineering.

Language: Английский

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Mineral Characterization using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM): A Review of the Fundamentals, Advancements, and Research Directions

Published: Oct. 31, 2023

Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) is a powerful tool in the domain of material science, mining, and geology, owing to its enormous potential provide unique insights into micro nanoscale worlds. This comprehensive review discusses background development SEM, basic SEM operation including specimen preparation imaging process, fundamental theoretical calculations underlying operation. It provides foundational understanding engineers scientists, who never got chance dig in-depth understand working this robust analytical technique. The present covers how has been serving as crucial mineral characterization, with specific discussions on research fronts SEM-EDX, SEM-AM, SEM-MLA, QEMSCAN. With automation gaining pace all spheres technology, uncertainties measurements very important. constraints phase identification by EDS spectra sample are conferred. In end, future directions for analyzed possible incorporation machine learning, deep artificial intelligence tools, automating process identification, quantification, efficient communication researchers, so that robustness objectivity can be improved, analysis time involved costs brought down. also idea integrating robotics make equipment portable, further characterization gained not only earth but other terrestrial grounds.

Language: Английский

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Fractal-Based Pattern Quantification of Mineral Grains: A Case Study of Yichun Rare-Metal Granite

Fractal and Fractional, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 8(1), P. 49 - 49

Published: Jan. 12, 2024

The quantification of the irregular morphology and distribution pattern mineral grains is an essential but challenging task in ore-related mineralogical research, allowing for tracing footprints pattern-forming geological processes that are crucial to understanding mineralization and/or diagenetic systems. In this study, a large model, namely, Segmenting Anything Model (SAM), was employed automatically segment annotate quartz, lepidolite albite derived from Yichun rare-metal granite (YCRMG), based on which series fractal multifractal methods, including box-counting calculation, perimeter–area analysis spectra, were implemented. results indicate YCRMG show great scaling invariance within range 1.04~52,300 μm. automatic annotation photomicrographs yields accurate dimensions with error only 0.6% thus can be utilized efficient fractal-based grain quantification. resultant display distinct diagram dimension (Db) versus (DPA), lepidolites sandwiched between greater-valued quartz lower-valued albites. Snowball-textured albites, i.e., concentrically arranged laths K-feldspar, exhibit characteristic Db values ranging 1.6 1.7, coincide indices growth model. zonal albites strictly increasing trend regarding exponents core rim, forming featured “fractal-index banding” radar diagram. This suggests snowball texture gradually evolved rim core, leading greater outer zones, represent higher complexity maturity evolving system, supports metasomatic origin texture. Our study demonstrates analyses aid model effective characterizing complex patterns grains.

Language: Английский

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Genesis of Carboniferous aluminous-bearing strata in the northern part of the North China Craton: A case study of the Xingxian bauxite deposit

Ore Geology Reviews, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 170, P. 106125 - 106125

Published: June 19, 2024

More than five billion tons of karstic bauxites were formed in the North China Craton (NCC) during Late Carboniferous period. Compared to bauxite ore, genesis entire aluminous-bearing strata has received less attention. In this study, we conducted geological, mineralogical, and geochemical analyses on core samples from located Xingxian area, situated within northern NCC, aiming elucidate genetic process these formations. The consist a layer (diaspore–anatase–kaolinite–florencite) sandwiched between upper sandy claystone horizon (kaolinite–illite–quartz) lower berthierine-bearing (berthierine–diaspore–hematite–goethite). Based continental crust-normalized patterns rare earth elements yttrium (REY), immobile trace element ratios, mineral inheritance diagrams, previous findings, it is suggested that was weathered impure limestone at bottom, whereas mainly originated intermediate-felsic igneous rocks margin granite Qinling Orogenic Belt, aluminosilicate surrounding paleo-uplifts. During early diagenetic stage, berthierine transformed under alkaline reducing conditions iron-rich clays (composed clay minerals, ferric etc.) acidic oxidizing underlying limestone. coexistence with low-temperature stability diaspore observed claystone, which precludes high-temperature origin strata. Moreover, characterized by small crystal size usually poorly crystallized, suggesting supergene precipitation-diagenesis origin. paragenetic minerals assemblages (e.g., diaspore, berthierine, goethite, hematite, suggest primarily transition zone nearer phreatic environment. Large-scale volcanism warm, humid climatic accelerated decomposition allochthonous weathering materials, resulting downward migration metal ions. These ions then precipitated weakly environment, giving rise form ore dominated anatase, REY minerals.

Language: Английский

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Extraction of gravel characteristics and spatial inversion for ecological restoration monitoring in the Northern Tibetan Plateau

Journal of Mountain Science, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Jan. 7, 2025

Language: Английский

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Quantitative Structural and Compositional Elucidation of Real-World Pharmaceutical Tablet Using Large Field-of-View, Correlative Microscopy-Tomography Techniques and AI-Enabled Image Analysis

Pharmaceutical Research, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Jan. 8, 2025

Language: Английский

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Kidney Stones as Minerals: How Methods from Geology Could Inform Urolithiasis Treatment

Journal of Clinical Medicine, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 14(3), P. 997 - 997

Published: Feb. 5, 2025

Despite the recent advances in minimally invasive surgery, kidney stones still pose a significant clinical challenge due to their high recurrence rate of 50% 5–10 years after first stone episode. Using methods geosciences and biology, GeoBioMed approach treats as biogenic minerals, offering novel perspective on formation dissolution processes. In this review, we discuss stones’ structural mechanical properties emerging biomarkers urolithiasis, emphasizing importance comprehensive analysis developing personalized treatment strategies. By focusing unexplored like crystalline architecture, porosity, permeability, cleavage, fracture, alongside conventionally used composition morphology, show how these characteristics influence efficacy disease recurrence. This review also highlights potential advanced imaging techniques uncover biomarkers, contributing deeper understanding pathogenesis. We interdisciplinary collaboration within aims enhance diagnostic accuracy, improve outcomes, reduce urolithiasis.

Language: Английский

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Distribution of ilmenite minerals in placer deposits along the middle coast of Southern Brazil using spaceborne and ground-based remote sensing

PLoS ONE, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 20(2), P. e0314238 - e0314238

Published: Feb. 12, 2025

Titanium oxide is of fundamental strategic importance in the global market as it used a raw material by several industries, such medical prostheses, paints, pigments, and, more recently, electronic chips. The main source titanium ilmenite, mineral deposited many coastal areas world, including state Rio Grande do Sul Southern Brazil its central plain, under specific morphodynamic conditions. Some geological targets, oxides, show distinct thermal spectral features. present study evaluated surface concentration ilmenite using spectroscopy (μFT-IR). emissivity signatures pure between 8 and 14 μm were determined some indicative features identified. obtained spectrum has been employed reference for Spectral Angle Mapper (SAM) Linear Unmixing (LSU) image classification algorithms. An from Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission Radiometer (ASTER) sensor (AST_05 product) was to recognize occurrence assess richness ilmenite. outcomes indicated pixels with 0 29.6%, highest occurring transgressive dune field. In contrast, lower found backshore. To obtain degree purity quantitative microanalysis samples conducted scanning electron microscope (SEM), results that 80% minerals Qualitative showed primary alteration phase, low weathering impurities. Integrated techniques analyzing multispectral hyperspectral data infrared able identify map rich (ilmenite) quickly, effectively, at cost, non-destructively.

Language: Английский

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Insights into the hydration kinetics and microstructural evolution of ultra-high performance cementitious composite at mid-to-low curing temperatures

Construction and Building Materials, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 468, P. 140403 - 140403

Published: Feb. 17, 2025

Language: Английский

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