The Origin and Preservation of Suspended Barites near the 90°E Ridge in the Northeastern Indian Ocean

Suspended particulate barite crystals were detected in the water columns at four different stations near the 90°E ridge in the Indian Ocean.Four distinct morphological types of marine barites were distinguished:euhedral-subhedral crystals,oval or round crystals,rhombic crystals,and irregular crystals.The barite crystals in the study area are typically fine,with a dominant size of 1–3μm.The vertical distribution of barites is significantly affected by the formation and sedimentation processes.Barites begin to appear at a depth of 30 m and are formed primarily from the surface to the depth of 2000m with a concentration peak at the depth of 200m,where particles are coarser than those in the other layers.The barites begin to settle and dissolve once formed in the water column,resulting in finer barite particles and lower particle concentrations.The formation of barite crystals is related to biological processes associated with the decomposition of barium-rich skeletons in the microenvironment of decaying organic matter that is affected by the primary productivity and dissolved oxygen content in the water column.The dissolving process of barite crystals showed similar variation with the concentration of dissolved barium in ocean water,and the substitution of strontium for barite in crystals promotes the selective dissolution of barite and exerts an important impact on its morphology.It is approximately 33%of barites in the amount and 22%in the concentration to settle to the bottom of the water column compared to that observed in the main barite formation zone.

Crystals of suspended marine barite in the eastern equatorial Pacific:processes of dissolution and effects on crystal morphology

Suspended particulate substances were sampled in the eastem equatorial Pacific in water column from surface to near bottom in five stations in 2005, from which 868 barite crystals were recovered. The barite crystals were examined under scanning electron microscopy. About 61% of the total barites crystals contained detectable Sr by energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry. Barite crystals could be classified into four groups based on their morphology： 1） bladed; 2） ovoid or rounded; 3） arrow-like; and 4） irregularly shaped. The arrow-like barite crystals in natural environment has never been reported before. In addition, about a half of the studied crystals showed features of dissolution as cavities or holes inside of the crystals or around their edges. We found that differential dissolution of barite crystals is consequence of heterogeneous Sr distribution in barite crystals. Our results would help in understanding the biogeochemical processes of marine barite formation and preservation in seawater and marine sediments.

Surface modification of barite nanoparticles using stearate

In this study, the barite nanoparticles were successfully modified with stearate and the influence of stearate addition on the performance of barite nanoparticles was systematically investigated. The products were characterized by activating factor analysis, contact angle test, surface energy calculation, sedimentation rate calculation, rheological measurement, and FT-IR analysis, etc. As the quantity of added stearate increased, both the activating factor and contact angle of barite nanoparticles increased first then decreased. When the stearate content was 5% of the mass of barite nanoparticles, the activating factor and water contact angle of modified particles reached maximum value, 97% and 126% respectively. At this time, the sedimentation rate reached minimum, and so did the surface energy. The rheological test reveals that the viscosity of modified barite nanoparticles/petronol system decreases greatly, indicating the surface performance of barite nanoparticles has changed from hydrophilicity to lipophilicity after modification. C=O and COO stretching vibration peaks were found in the FT-IR spectra, which proves that the stearate has combined onto the surface of barite nanoparticles. Finally, according to the zeta potential result of unmodified barite, the possible modification mechanism was provided.

Strontium Isotope Compositions of Hydrothermal Barite from the Yonaguni Ⅳ: Insight into Fluid/Sediment Interaction and Barite Crystallization Condition

Hydrothermal barite is a typical low-temperature mineral formed during the mixing of hydrothermal fluid and seawater.Because of its extremely low solubility,barite behaves as a close system after crystallization and preserves the geochemical fingerprint of hydrothermal fluid.In this study,the elemental contents and Sr isotope compositions of hydrothermal barites from the Yonaguni IV were determined using electron microprobe and LA-MC-ICP-MS respectively.On these bases,the fluid/sediment interaction during the hydrothermal circulation and physicochemical condition of barite crystallization were discussed.Results show that the 87 Sr/86 Sr values of hydrothermal barites from the Yonaguni IV are apparently higher than those of the seawater and associated volcanic rocks,indicating the sufficient interaction between the hydrothermal fluid and overlying sediment.Monomineral Sr abundance shows large variations,reflecting the changes in barite growth rate during the fluid mixing.The mineralization condition in the Yonaguni IV was unstable.During the crystallization of barite,hydrothermal fluid and seawater mixed in varying degrees,with the pro-portions of hydrothermal fluid varied from 36%to 72%.The calculated crystallization temperatures range from 109 to 220℃.Sediment plays a critical role during the mineralization process in the Yonaguni IV and incorporation of sediment component into hydrothermal system was prior to barite crystallization and sulfide mineralization.

Cost-effective integrated strategy for the fabrication of hard-magnet barium hexaferrite powders from low-grade barite ore

Ultrafine barium hexaferrite（BaFe12O19） powders were synthesized from the metallurgical extracts of low-grade Egyptian barite ore via a co-precipitation route. Hydrometallurgical treatment of barite ore was systematically studied to achieve the maximum dissolution efficiency of Fe（～99.7%） under the optimum conditions. The hexaferrite precursors were obtained by the co-precipitation of BaS produced by the reduction of barite ore with carbon at 1273 K and then dissolved in diluted HCl and FeCl3 solution at pH 10 using NaOH as a base; the product was then annealed at 1273 K in an open atmosphere. The effect of Fe^3＋/Ba^2＋ molar ratio and the addition of hydrogen peroxide（H2O2） on the phase structure, crystallite size, morphology, and magnetic properties were investigated by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and vibrating sample magnetometry. Single-phase BaFe（12）O（19） powder was obtained at an Fe^3＋/Ba^2＋ molar ratio of 8.00. The formed powders exhibited a hexagonal platelet-like structure. Good maximum magnetization（48.3 A×m^2×kg^–1） was achieved in the material prepared at an Fe^3＋/Ba^2＋ molar ratio of 8.0 in the presence of 5% H2O2 as an oxidizer and at 1273 K because of the formation of a uniform, hexagonal-shaped structure.

Investigations on the Possible Re-equilibration of Aqueous Fluid Inclusions in Barite:A Study of Barite and Calcite from the Hutti Gold Deposit,Karnataka,India

Re-equilibration of fluid inclusions in crystals takes place by loss or gain of solvents and solutes from fluid inclusions and by changes in their volumes. Volume change of fluid inclusions are primarily dictated by elastic properties and available slip planes of host crystals. In the present study, the phase-behavior of fluids entrapped in co-precipitated calcite and barite is studied. While calcite contains only biphase fluid inclusions, barite has predominantly monophase fluid inclusions. Fluid inclusion petrography, microthermometry and leachate analysis are used to establish the nature of entrapped fluids and entrapment temperature is substantiated through independent sulfur isotope geothermometry using coexisting barite and pyrite. Phase transitions in the monophase fluid inclusions in barite are explained in terms of over-pressuring of fluids in these fluid inclusions relative to fluids entrapped in calcite owing to the low bulk modulus of barite.

Assessment of Heavy Metals Concentration and Enrichment Levels in Soils around Quarries and Barite Mine Sites in Part of Akamkpa and Biase Area, Southeastern Nigeria

Geochemical investigation of the soils around quarry and barite mine sites in part of Akamkpa and Biase area of Southeastern Nigeria, was carried out to assess the concentration and enrichment levels of some heavy metals and trace elements in the soils. The investigation involved the collection of fifteen (15) soil samples between the depth of 15 - 30 cm. The samples were dried at room temperature, prepared and analyzed for heavy metals using inductively couple plasma mass spectrometer. The result shows that the concentration of Co, Cr, Nb, Pb and Sn were higher than the average shale values around the quarries while Ba, Pb and Sn were higher around the barite mines. The contamination factor indicates low to minimal contamination and low to considerable contamination around the quarries and barite mines respectively. While the Enrichment factor indicates minimal to significant enrichment around the quarries and minimal to extremely high enrichments around the barite mines. The result of the factor analysis and spatial distribution of the heavy metals suggests that the metal concentration and enrichment were controlled by the rock types, weathering and anthropogenic activities around the mine sites.

Preparation of Barite/TiO_2 Composite Particle and Interaction Mechanism between TiO_2 and Barite Particles

Barite/TiO2 composite particle (B/TCP) was prepared by coating TiO2 on the surfaces of barite particles through mechano-chemical method. The preparation parameters and pigment properties of B/TCP as well as the interaction mechanism between barite and TiO2 were studied. The results indicated that the mechanical co-grinding process and the proportion of TiO2 affected the properties of B/TCP significantly. B/TCP prepared under optimal conditions was similar to TiO2 in pigment properties. It was mainly the strong electrostatic attraction between barite and TiO2 in water that combined them firmly and then formed B/TCP.

Sulfur isotope geochemistry of the Lemachang independent Ag deposit, northeastern Yunnan——A concurrent discussion on the mechanism of sulfur isotope equilibrium between barite and freibergite below 300℃

IN the study of hydrothermal deposits sulfur isotopes bear much information about the source of sulfur,ore-forming temperature, the evolution of ore-forming fluids and the mechanism of metallogenesis. Todetermine whether sulfur isotopes reach equilibrium between fluids and sulfur-bearing minerals precipitated from the former and among the sulfur-bearing minerals is the key to the application of sulfur isotopegeochemistry to geological problems. As it has been commonly accepted that sulfur isotopic equilibrium could not be reached between sulfate and sulfide below 350℃, little attention has been paid to thepossible mechanism of sulfur isotope equilibrium between sulfate and sulfide below 300℃. However, this note presents an example to show sulfur isotope equilibrium between barite and sulfate

Thermodynamic and experimental studies on removal of calcium and sulfate ions from recycling water of complex sulfide flotation operations

A chemical method for removing calcium sulfate saturated solutions(0.016 mol/L CaSO_(4))using barium chloride(BaCl_(2)∙2H_(2)O)and sodium phosphate(Na_(3)PO_(4))was experimentally studied.The main interest is to remove these ions from the solution through the precipitation of two solid species:sulfate(SO_(4)^(2−))as barite(BaSO4),and calcium(Ca^(2+))as hydroxyapatite(Ca_(5)(PO_(4))_(3)OH).Additionally,a solid/liquid separation method(i.e.,flotation)was explored,using oleic acid and dodecylamine as collectors.The results show that,the chemical treatment of saturated solutions at 60℃,pH 11.5 and using 3.9 g/L BaCl_(2)·2H_(2)O and 1.6 g/L Na_(3)PO_(4),promotes the precipitation of barium sulfate and calcium-deficient hydroxyapatite(Ca_(10−x)(HPO_(4))_(x)(PO_(4))_(6−x)(OH)_(2−x)),with residual concentrations of calcium and sulfate below 0.10 and 5 mg/L,respectively.The residual calcium concentration increases to 28 mg/L when using the same amount of reactants,at temperature and pH values below those quoted.The highest flotation recovery of hydroxyapatite with oleic acid at pH 9.5 was about 80%,while that of barite floated with dodecylamine at pH 6.5 was about 90%.

Effective Atomic Numbers for Fe-Mn Alloy Using Transmission Experiment

The effective atomic numbers （Zeff ） and effective electron density （Ne ） for Fe-Mn alloy with different Mn contents are calculated using the mass attenuation coefficients μ/p obtained via XCOM in the photon energy range of i keV-1 GeV. The results are compared with the values measured at the photon energy of 662, 1170 and 1332keV.

Evidence for transforming mineralization of Baiguoyuan silver-vanadium deposit hosted in black shale in Hubei,China

Baiguoyuan silver-vanadium deposit is generally thought to be of sedimentary-diagenetic origin. Based on the characteristics of barites, it is suggested that hydrothermal transformation has been involved in mineralization. The barites in black shale can be grouped into irregular ones which were formed during early diagenesis and tabular ones which were formed during late diagenesis. The tabular barites are replaced by pyrite and have formed a regular girdle around them. PIXE analysis states that Ag is greatly concentrated in pyrite replacement girdle. The girdle is the product of hydrothermal transformation. The transformation is one of the main mineralization stages of Baiguoyuan deposit.