The
non-ideal solid solutions between calcite and smithsonite,
[(Ca1–x
Zn
x
)CO3], were synthesized, and their interaction with
different aqueous solutions at 25 °C was experimentally investigated.
The X-ray diffraction spectra indicated that all synthesized minerals
exhibited the calcite structure exclusively. After 180–240
days of dissolution in N2-degassed water (NDW) and air-saturated
water (ASW), the aqueous Zn concentrations reached a constant value
ranging from 0.002565 to 0.006133 and 0.002710 to 0.006374 mmol/L
for the solid solutions with low Zn/(Zn + Ca) mole ratios (XZn < 0.075) or from 0.005416 to 0.076400 and 0.005128 to 0.067222
mmol/L for the solid solutions with high XZn (>0.864),
respectively. After 180–240 days of dissolution in CO2-saturated water (CSW), the aqueous Zn concentrations reached a constant
value ranging from 0.005938 to 0.081753 mmol/L for all solid solutions.
The aqueous Zn/(Ca + Zn) mole ratios were considerably lower than
the solid XZn. The aqueous Zn and Ca concentrations generally
increased with increasing XZn for solid solutions with
XZn < 0.075, while they decreased with increasing XZn for solid solutions with XZn > 0.864. The
average
solubility products (K
sp) (≈ ion
activity products at the constant state) were determined to be 10–8.36±0.10, 10–8.33±0.03, and 10–8.28±0.06 for calcite [CaCO3] in NDW, ASW, and CSW, respectively. Similarly, the average solubility
products were determined to be 10–10.65±0.12, 10–10.60±0.08, and 10–10.47±0.06 for smithsonite [ZnCO3] in NDW, ASW, and CSW, respectively.
The logarithm of K
sp showed a slight increase
with increasing XZn for solid solutions with XZn < 0.075, whereas it decreased with increasing XZn for
the solids with XZn > 0.864. In the Lippmann diagram
constructed
with the Guggenheim coefficients a
0 =
2.72 and a
1 = −0.266 for the [(Ca1–x
Zn
x
)CO3] solid solutions, it was observed that the solid solutions
dissolved non-stoichiometrically and moved progressively up to the
minimum stoichiometric saturation curve for pure smithsonite and the solutus curve and then along them from right to left, finally
reaching the saturation curve for calcite. The coexistence of Zn-poor
aqueous solutions with ZnCO3-rich solids highlights the
findings of the [(Ca1–x
Zn
x
)CO3] mineral–water reaction and
its significance in the zinc geochemical cycle in Earth’s surface
environments, contributing to a comprehensive understanding of these
processes.
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