The metamict transformation in alpha-quartz
- 1 January 1983
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Taylor & Francis in Radiation Effects
- Vol. 74 (1) , 219-226
- https://doi.org/10.1080/00337578308218415
Abstract
The crystalline→noncrystalline (metamict) transformation in α-quartz under electron irradiation has been studied by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), ultra-high resolution structure imaging (SI) and convergent beam electron diffraction (CBD). The transformation is radiolytic and proceeds in two stages: heterogeneous nucleation of discrete disordered inclusions and slower homogeneous loss of long-range order in the surrounding matrix. Irradiations of dry lunar quartz and of heated synthetic quartz suggest that the heterogeneous component is associated with incorporated water impurity. Analysis of the homogeneous component by CBD and SI suggests a transformation model in which progressive disorder evolves from stochastic relaxations of radio-lytically-damaged [SiO4] coordination units.Keywords
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