‘Seeing’ the making and breaking of minerals with electrons and X-rays

May 16, 2025

Time

14:00 - 15:00

Speaker

Prof. Liane G. Benning (GFZ, Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences, Potsdam)

Abstract

Quantifying dynamic mineral-fluid reactions at high spatial and temporal resolution using in situ and time resolved X-ray and electron approaches allows us to derive fundamental knowledge of many fluid-rock interaction processes. I will discuss how we can follow the ‘assembly’ of dissolved ions into various solids through multi-step reactions that govern the nucleation, growth and crystallisation of phases. Based on the iron oxide and phosphate systems I will show how we elucidated the molecular-level mechanisms of their formation, stability and transformations and how such processes shape our Earth surfaces.