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The formation of corundum and aluminous hematite by the thermal dehydroxylation of aluminous goethite

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 July 2018

M. A. Wells
Affiliation:
Soil Science and Plant Nutrition, School of Agriculture, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA 6009, Australia
R. J. Gilkes
Affiliation:
Soil Science and Plant Nutrition, School of Agriculture, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA 6009, Australia
R. R. Anand
Affiliation:
Soil Science and Plant Nutrition, School of Agriculture, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA 6009, Australia

Abstract

Dehydroxylation of synthetic and natural goethites with a range of Al-substitution from 0–28 mole% was investigated with a view to predicting the behaviour of soil goethites heated by bush fires. Hematites formed at temperatures ≤ 500°C retain the initial Al-content of the precursor goethite up to a maximum of 28 mole% Al. Loss of Al from the hematite structure occurred at 700°C for synthetic hematites with levels of substitution ≥18 mole% Al, but no crystalline alumina phase was present. Crystallization of corundum occurred for synthetic Al-goethites with levels of substitution ≥18 mole% when heated at 900°C. Formation of corundum reduces the maximum level of Al-substitution in hematites to ∼ 12 mole%. The exsolved corundum occurs as aggregated, platy crystals, 40–45 nm in diameter, containing a maximum of 7 mole% Fe. Al-substituted maghemite (7 mole% Al) formed from high Al-goethites heated at 900°C. Although some corundum in soils may be produced by heating of aluminous goethite by fires, the absence of corundum in natural Al-goethites calcined at 900°C, and the very high temperature (900°C) at which corundum formed from synthetic goethite suggest that other sources of Al may be required as precursors for the corundum formed by heating of soils.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © The Mineralogical Society of Great Britain and Ireland 1989

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