Seeds of imperfection rule the mesocrystalline disorder in natural anhydrite single crystals.

ABSTRACT: In recent years, we have come to appreciate the astounding intricacies associated with the formation of minerals from ions in aqueous solutions. In this context, a number of studies have revealed that the nucleation of calcium sulfate systems occurs nonclassically, involving the aggregation and reorganization of nanosized prenucleation species. In recent work, we have shown that this particle-mediated nucleation pathway is actually imprinted in the resultant micrometer-sized CaSO₄ crystals. This property of CaSO₄ minerals provides us with the unique opportunity to search for evidence of nonclassical nucleation pathways in geological environments. In particular, we focused on large anhydrite crystals extracted from the Naica Mine in Mexico. We were able to shed light o

SUBMITTER: Stawski TM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8640748 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature