A study of the processes that affect the surface of calcite both in the absence and in the presence of aqueous solution that may contain cadmium

The interface between solid and solution often holds the key to understanding the composition of both phases. In this work, processes occurring at the calcite surface have been studied using techniques sensitive to the solid near-surface (X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Low Energy Electron Diffraction (LEED) and Auger electron spectroscopy (AES)). These methods allow direct observation of surface atomic structure and bonding environments which in turn offer new insights into geochemical processes.;Fracture of calcite in ultrahigh vacuum created a reactive surface that demonstrated reconfigured bonding environments in the top monolayer. With exposure to water, even as vapour from the atmosphere, the surface hydration species S;Inconsistent equilibrium constants found in the literature for the Cd(II) ;The ;This work provides direct, molecular-level, evidence for the processes of reconfiguration and hydration and suggests that solid-state diffusion may play a role in trace metal uptake and the formation of solid-solution in other carbonate minerals. The findings may further understanding of such geological presesses as ore deposit formation, petroleum migration and dolomitization and will provide a better basis for the design of hydrogeochemical models intended to predict trace metal mobility in ground- and surface-water systems where carbonate is present. I anticipate that this work will be published as three separate articles in Geochimica Cosmochimica Acta in 1991.