R2: Crystal structure, crystal chemistry, physical properties of minerals, crystal growth and applied mineralogy

[R2-06] Cation distribution in Fe,Co,Ni-bearing Pentlandite

[Presentation award entry]

*Takumi Ichimura¹, Makoto Tokuda², Kazumasa Sugiyama², Akira Yoshiasa³, Takashi Mikouchi⁴ (1. Tohoku Univ. Eng., 2. IMR, Tohoku Univ., 3. Kumamoto Univ. Sci., 4. Mus. Tokyo Univ.)

Keywords:Pentlandite, Anomalous X-ray Scattering, Cation distribution

Pentlandite is a sulfide mineral containing elements with adjacent atomic numbers such as Fe, Co and Ni. The cation distributions in the tetrahedral (MT) and octahedral (MO) sites of natural pentlandite Fe_4.1Co_0.2Ni_4.7S₈ have been determined by Anomalous X-ray Scattering (AXS). The elemental distribution maps calculated by Fourier transform of the differential structure factors readily indicate the preferred distribution of Ni at the MT site.