Ball milling of chalcopyrite: Moessbauer spectroscopy and XRD studies

The aim of this project is to study the behavior of chalcopyrite under ball milling for extended periods in order to determine how it's decompose or transform. Tests were done with chalcopyrite mixed with iron and zinc with and without surfactant. The use of surfactants has various effects such as avoiding oxidation and clustering of the fine particles. In all case magnetic chalcopyrite is transformed into a paramagnetic component showing a disordered structure, thus revealing that Cu atoms have replaced Fe atoms. In the case of ball milling in air, chalcopyrite is decomposed with the lost of iron, while in milling under surfactants, iron enters into the chalcopyrite structure. (author)