Phase transitions induced by shock compression on a gypsum mineral: X-ray and micro-Raman analysis

摘要

As a part of systematic researches of phase transitions induced by shock compression in phosphates, silicates, germanates and sulfates, in this article we report preliminary results obtained from shock recovery experiments on powders of a gypsum mineral. The shock experiment was performed in a light gas gun until a pressure close to 14GPa reached. The experimental techniques employed to analyze the shock effects on recovered samples were: Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), X-ray Powder Diffraction (XRD) and Micro-Raman Spectroscopy (MRS). The SEM observations show a high plasticity in the impacted sample composed mainly by gypsum and bassanite quantified by Rietveld analysis of the XRD. The results indicate the partial dehydration of gypsum as a result of impact. The MRS analysis suggests the presence of micro-mixtures of gypsum, bassanite and anhydrite heterogeneously distributed throughout the recovered sample.