Structural characterization of thallium (Tl) hosts in environmental samples

  • Đorđević, T. (Contributor)
  • Michael Stöger-Pollach (Contributor)
  • Sabine W. Schwarz (Contributor)

Activity: Talks and presentationsPoster presentationScience to Science

Description

The discovery of new Tl-bearing occurrences in the last decade suggests
that secondary Tl-minerals are more common than previously thought
and can play an important role in attenuating the dispersion of Tl from
contamination sources. As a result, it is critical to characterize poten-
tial secondary Tl-minerals that could form in various environments.
Our current project aims to investigate weathering processes and their
nano- and microcrystalline products that result from sulfidic Tl-rich
ores, as well as synthetic, mineral-like Tl-bearing oxides and oxy salts.
To achieve this goal, we investigate both selected naturally Tl-bearing
ore deposits and adjacent mining wastes and technosols for their miner-
alogical and geochemical properties, as well as synthesised mineral-like
Tl-compounds.
We have shown that in Tl-rich environmental samples we encounter
minerals that (i) are known but have not previously been reported at
the locality of interest, (ii) have not previously been observed and ex-
hibit a wide range of crystallinity, or (iii) are amorphous and have never
been described. We were able to structurally characterise several novel
or poorly described Tl-phases by combining X-ray diffraction methods
with electron microscopy techniques (SEM-EDX, TEM-EBSD, TEM-
EELS, TEM-EDX).
T. Dordevic gratefully acknowledges the financial support of the Aus-
trian Science Fund (FWF) [P 36828-N].
Period25 Feb 202326 Feb 2023
Event title1st Austrian Crystallographer Days (ACD'24)
Event typeSummer/Winter school
LocationBad Aussee, AustriaShow on map
Degree of RecognitionInternational