Epitaxy of Rhodochrosite (MnCO₃) on Muscovite Mica and Its Relation with Calcite (CaCO₃).

ABSTRACT: The flatness of muscovite mica makes it a convenient substrate to study epitaxy. We have analyzed the growth of rhodochrosite (MnCO₃) crystals in solution and on muscovite mica. Growth at high supersaturations occurs via the formation of amorphous MnCO₃, which over time transforms into the crystalline form. In the presence of muscovite mica, epitaxial rhodochrosite crystals with a size of approximately 1 μm form. These crystals are kinetically roughened, because of the high supersaturation. The lattice match between MnCO₃ and muscovite was found not to be the main reason for epitaxy. If the growth experiment is performed twice, the original epitaxial MnCO₃ crystals are overgrown by many small crystallites. Similarly, spherical MnCO₃ cr

SUBMITTER: Brugman SJT 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8016177 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature