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A revised phase diagram for the bornite-digenite join from in situ neutron diffraction and DSC experiments

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 July 2018

B. A. Grguric ,
R. J. Harrison  and
A. Putnis
B. A. Grguric
Affiliation:
Department of Earth Sciences, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EQ, UK
R. J. Harrison
Affiliation:
Institut für Mineralogie, Universität Münster, Corrensstrasse 24, D-48149 Münster, Germany
A. Putnis*
Affiliation:
Institut für Mineralogie, Universität Münster, Corrensstrasse 24, D-48149 Münster, Germany
*
*E-mail: [email protected]
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Abstract

Phase relations along the join bornite (Cu5FeS4)-digenite (Cu8.52Fe0.12S4.88) have been redefined using a combination of in situ high-resolution neutron diffraction and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Time-of-flight neutron diffraction patterns were collected on a synthetic sample of bn90 at 16 temperatures between 35 and 350°C. This data is compared with data from a natural end-member bornite sample obtained in an earlier study under identical conditions. Phase relations along the bornite-digenite join are inferred from the temperature evolution of the lattice parameters and the intensity of subcell and supercell reflections of coexisting phases.

The DSC scans over the temperature range 50–300°C were performed on a natural digenite sample and samples synthesized at 5 mol.% intervals along the join Cu5FeS4-Cu9S5. The thermal anomalies are correlated with structural phase transitions in componen phases and the solvus temperature for each bulk composition. A phase diagram topology is defined, which was consistent with both diffraction and calorimetric data, but in marked contrast to previous diagrams, shows a consolute point at X = Cu5FeS4 and T = 265°C. This temperature corresponds to that of the tricritical intermediate-high transition in bornite. Isothermal annealing experiments carried out on synthetic starting materials for up to 7 months showed coarsening behaviour consistent with the revised phase diagram topology.

Keywords

bornitedigenitedifferential scanning calorimetryneutron diffractionexsolution
Type
Research Article
Information
Mineralogical Magazine , Volume 64 , Issue 2 , April 2000 , pp. 213 - 231
Copyright
Copyright © The Mineralogical Society of Great Britain and Ireland 2000

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Footnotes

†

Present address: Department of Geology and Resource Evaluation, WMC Mount Keith Operations, P.O. Box 238, Welshpool Delivery Centre, W.A. 6986, Australia

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