Formation of Drop-Shaped Inclusions Based on Pt, Pd, Au, Ag, Bi, Sb, Te, and As under Crystallization of an Intermediate Solid Solution in the Cu–Fe–Ni–S System

Abstract

The phase and chemical composition of drop-shaped inclusions in directionally crystallized intermediate solid solution was studied. The initial melt contained (in mol.%): Fe 31,79; Cu 15,94; Ni 1,70; S 50,20; Sn 0,05; As 0,04; Pt, Pd, Rh, Ru, Ag, Au, Se, Te, Bi, Sb 0,03. Experimental data indicate the simultaneous crystallization of two types of liquids upon cooling of the initial sulfide melt. One of them is formed in the subsystem (Pd, Au, Ag)-(Bi, Sb, Te), and the second - in the subsystem Cu-(S, Bi, Sb, Te). When these liquids solidified, inclusions formed, which we divided into four classes. Class I has a eutectic-like structure with a matrix of Pd(Bi,Sb) x Te1 - x solid solution and Au crystallites with Ag, Cu, and Pd impurities. Class II is formed from sulfosalts with inclusions of Bi and Au. Class III includes inclusions of sperrylite Pt(As,S) 2 . Class IV forms compound inclusions from fragments of classes I-III. The experiment described in the work showed a more complex behavior of noble metals and metalloid impurities during the crystallization of complex sulfide-metalloid melts compared with the previously described data of isothermal experiments.