Quantitative X-ray diffraction phase analysis of poorly ordered nontronite clay in nickel laterites

Studies of the extraction of nickel from low-grade laterite ores require a much better quantitative understanding of the poorly ordered mineral phases present, including turbostratically disordered nontronite. Whole pattern refinements with nontronite X-ray diffraction data from a Western Australian...

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Main Authors: Wang, Xiaodong, Li, J., Hart, Robert, Van Riessen, Arie, McDonald, R.
Format: Journal Article
Published: BLACKWELL PUBLISHING 2011
Subjects:
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/9570
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author Wang, Xiaodong
Li, J.
Hart, Robert
Van Riessen, Arie
McDonald, R.
author_facet Wang, Xiaodong
Li, J.
Hart, Robert
Van Riessen, Arie
McDonald, R.
author_sort Wang, Xiaodong
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description Studies of the extraction of nickel from low-grade laterite ores require a much better quantitative understanding of the poorly ordered mineral phases present, including turbostratically disordered nontronite. Whole pattern refinements with nontronite X-ray diffraction data from a Western Australian nickel deposit (Bulong) using a nontronite lattice model (Pawley phase) with two space groups(P3 and C2/m) and a peaks phase group model were performed to improve the accuracy of quantitative X-ray diffraction of nickel laterite ore samples. Modifications were applied when building the new models to accommodate asymmetric peak shape and anisotropic peak broadening due to the turbostraticdisorder. Spherical harmonics were used as convolution factors to represent anisotropic crystal size and strain and asymmetric peak shape when using the lattice model. A peaks phase group model was also developed to fit the anisotropic peak broadening in the nontronite pattern. The quantitative resultsof the new Pawley phase and peaks phase group models were compared and verified with synthetic mixtures of nontronite, quartz and goethite simulating various West Australian laterite ore compositions. The models developed in this paper demonstrate adequate accuracy for quantification of nontronite in the synthesized reference materials and should be generally applicable toquantitative phase analysis of nontronite in nickel laterite ore samples.
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spelling curtin-20.500.11937-95702017-09-13T16:04:15Z Quantitative X-ray diffraction phase analysis of poorly ordered nontronite clay in nickel laterites Wang, Xiaodong Li, J. Hart, Robert Van Riessen, Arie McDonald, R. Bulong nickel laterite ore anisotropic crystal asymmetric peak quantitative X-ray diffraction Pawley phase model nontronite Studies of the extraction of nickel from low-grade laterite ores require a much better quantitative understanding of the poorly ordered mineral phases present, including turbostratically disordered nontronite. Whole pattern refinements with nontronite X-ray diffraction data from a Western Australian nickel deposit (Bulong) using a nontronite lattice model (Pawley phase) with two space groups(P3 and C2/m) and a peaks phase group model were performed to improve the accuracy of quantitative X-ray diffraction of nickel laterite ore samples. Modifications were applied when building the new models to accommodate asymmetric peak shape and anisotropic peak broadening due to the turbostraticdisorder. Spherical harmonics were used as convolution factors to represent anisotropic crystal size and strain and asymmetric peak shape when using the lattice model. A peaks phase group model was also developed to fit the anisotropic peak broadening in the nontronite pattern. The quantitative resultsof the new Pawley phase and peaks phase group models were compared and verified with synthetic mixtures of nontronite, quartz and goethite simulating various West Australian laterite ore compositions. The models developed in this paper demonstrate adequate accuracy for quantification of nontronite in the synthesized reference materials and should be generally applicable toquantitative phase analysis of nontronite in nickel laterite ore samples. 2011 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/9570 10.1107/S0021889811027786 BLACKWELL PUBLISHING fulltext
spellingShingle Bulong
nickel laterite ore
anisotropic crystal
asymmetric peak
quantitative X-ray diffraction
Pawley phase model
nontronite
Wang, Xiaodong
Li, J.
Hart, Robert
Van Riessen, Arie
McDonald, R.
Quantitative X-ray diffraction phase analysis of poorly ordered nontronite clay in nickel laterites
title Quantitative X-ray diffraction phase analysis of poorly ordered nontronite clay in nickel laterites
title_full Quantitative X-ray diffraction phase analysis of poorly ordered nontronite clay in nickel laterites
title_fullStr Quantitative X-ray diffraction phase analysis of poorly ordered nontronite clay in nickel laterites
title_full_unstemmed Quantitative X-ray diffraction phase analysis of poorly ordered nontronite clay in nickel laterites
title_short Quantitative X-ray diffraction phase analysis of poorly ordered nontronite clay in nickel laterites
title_sort quantitative x-ray diffraction phase analysis of poorly ordered nontronite clay in nickel laterites
topic Bulong
nickel laterite ore
anisotropic crystal
asymmetric peak
quantitative X-ray diffraction
Pawley phase model
nontronite
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/9570