Application of neutron scattering techniques to mineral characterization

Full text: Neutron scattering techniques have made many valuable contributions to the study of structure and dynamics in minerals. The value of these techniques is often linked to the unique sensitivity of neutrons to hydrogen and to atomic and molecular motions in solids and liquids. Neutron diffraction, which has been used to determine the atomic structure of many crystalline minerals, can be performed under extremes of temperature and/or pressure and is capable of delivering kinetic information. The amorphous component of the scattering can provide spatial correlations of liquids such as water molecules in clays. Small angle neutron scattering (SANS) is applied to study the clustering of aggregates and pore size distributions. Inelastic neutron scattering (INS) yields information about the periodic motions that characterize the vibrations and rotations of hydrogenous species in a crystalline matrix or that lead to phase changes in minerals. Quasielastic neutron scattering (QENS) is commonly used to probe the atomic and molecular diffusion processes that are seen in mineral systems. These neutron scattering techniques will be briefly outlined in the discussion. Examples of the application of these methods to the characterization of minerals will also be given