Abstract
GREATLY improved detection limits for the presence of anhydrous carbonate minerals in mixtures with other types of minerals can be obtained by variable atmosphere differential thermal analysis (DTA) using dynamic furnace atmospheres of CO2 (flow rate 100 ml min−1)1. Details will be published elsewhere2,3 (see ref. 1 for details of the Du Pont unit and conditions of analysis). These carbonates fall into two groups; those which decompose in CO2 with single, or multiple4 endothermic dissociation reactions liberating CO2. The first group contains, calcite CaCO3, magnesite MgCO3, smithsonite ZnCO3, and siderite FeCO3 (ref. 5); while the second includes dolomite CaMg(CO3)2, ankerite Ca(MgFe)(CO3)2 and cerussite PbCO3 (ref. 4). Here calcite and dolomite are taken as typical examples and their behaviour described.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
