ISSN:
1432-2021
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Chemistry and Pharmacology
,
Geosciences
,
Physics
Notes:
Abstract Using an interatomic potential function specific surface energies, attachment energies and slice energies have been calculated for 7 F faces and 18 S faces of orthorhombic sulphur. These energies are compared with statistical parameters (P values) for the frequency of occurrence of these faces on natural sulphur. It is found that P values are not correlated with the specific surface energies, except for the most important F faces. There is a positive correlation (r=0.881) with the surface energy per mol although this quantity has no physical meaning. It is supposed that an S face is due to alternating periods of dissolution (or evaporation) and growth, so that it occurs as a narrow face on the site of a previous edge. An excellent correlation (r=0.951) is found between the P value of an S face and a quantity P 1 P 2ξh, where P 1 and P 2 are the P values of neighbouring faces that constitute the S face, ξ is proportional to the slice energy and h a distance determined by the interfacial angles of the three faces. This process should hold for the morphological development of any mineral, provided that no face-specific adsorption of cosolutes occurs.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00387844
Permalink
