SOLID STATE PROPERTIES AND LEACHING OF MECHANICALLY ACTIVATED TETRAHEDRITE

The mechanical activation of tetrahedrite Cu_(12)Sb_(4)S_(13) was carried out in a planetary mill. The changes in the surface and bulk properties produced in mineral by mechanical activation were detected by infrared, photoelectron and Mossbauer spectroscopy. The rate and selectivity of tetrahedrite acid leaching depends on conditions of mechanical activation.

Synthesis-temperature-dependent phase composition manipulation toward high thermoelectric performance in tetrahedrites

Tetrahedrite,an Earth-abundant natural mineral,has attracted extensive research interest because of its excellent thermoelectric performance.Herein,tetrahedrite samples comprising Cu-poor Cu_(12)Sb_(4)S_(13)and Cu-rich Cu_(14)Sb_(4)S_(13)phases have been synthesized using a colloidal method,in which the ratio of two phases is manipulated by controlling the synthesis temperature to improve the thermoelectric perfor-mance.It is found that an ultralow total thermal conductivity of∼0.3 W m^(−1)K^(−1)at 723 K is realized in the sample with a Cu-rich phase fraction of∼50%,which can be attributed to maximized phonon scattering by phase boundaries.As a result,combined with a decent power factor,this sample obtains an optimal zT of 1.15,which is about 85%higher than that of the sample with a Cu-rich phase fraction of∼64%and comparable to zT values of other eco-friendly,abundant Cu-based thermoelectric materials.This work demonstrates an effective synthesis-temperature-dependent phase composition manipulation strategy toward enhanced thermoelectric performance in tetrahedrites.

Distribution Patterns of Ag in Hydrothermal Precipitates from the Okinawa Trough

The Okinawa Trough is characterized by enrichment of Ag in hydrothermal precipitates;however, the distribution of this enrichment remains poorly constrained. This study presents the results of a field-emission scanning electron microscopy and electron-microprobe analysis based mineralogical and geochemical investigation of the spatial distribution of Ag within Ag-rich sulfide samples from the Okinawa Trough. The tetrahedrite, covellite, and galena in these samples contain high concentrations of Ag(average values of 1.60, 0.78, and 0.23 wt%, respectively) and also various Ag sulfosalts. Examination of the Ag budget of these samples indicates that most of the Ag is hosted by tetrahedrite followed by galena. The Ag within tetrahedrite is incorporated by substitution into the Cu site, whereas galena becomes Ag-enriched by the coupled incorporation of monovalent Ag, Tl, and Cu, and trivalent Sb and Bi into Pb lattice sites. Tetrahedrite and galena containing higher concentrations of Sb favor increased Ag substitution. Four sets of Ag host minerals are identified with distinct ore formation temperatures. Tetrahedrite and galena concentrate the majority of Ag at medium temperatures(150–300°C). Other Ag host minerals concentrate only minor or trace amounts of Ag, including massive sphalerite, chalcopyrite, and pyrite at high temperatures(>300°C), colloform pyrite and sphalerite at low temperatures(<150°C), and Ag-sulfosalts at even lower temperatures(<100°C).