Hematite nanospheres of possible colloidal origin from a precambrian banded iron formation.

Abstract

Exceptionally small spheres (nanospheres) of hematite (diameters between 120 and 200 nanometers) occur in the Marra Mamba Iron Formation of the Hamersley Basin, Australia. The nanospheres are clustered into small aggregates and may have formed by structural ordering and dehydration of colloidal iron hydroxide particles. Individual spheres consist of numerous thin, curved hematite platelets surrounding a central void that is approximately half the diamter of the sphere; this texture suggests that they formed by a volume reduction of the original colloidal particles by approximately 12.5%. The occurrence of hematite nanospheres supports the hypothesis that some ofthe iron was deposited colloidally during the development ofbanded iron formations, approximately 2.5 billion years ago.

• Authors: J H Ahn, P R Buseck
• Journal: Science (New York, N.Y.) (Science) Vol. 250 Issue 4977 Pg. 111-3 (Oct 05 1990) ISSN: 0036-8075 [Print] United States
• PMID: 17808243 (Publication Type: Journal Article)