It's a pleasure to welcome Aron Dimas Jóhannsson, who has recently started his MSc project on real-time visualization of interface-coupled mineral dissolution-precipitation reactions! Aron will be studying these types of mineral recrystallization processes under confinement, using cleaved selenite gypsum crystals.
Our surface force apparatus setup has been recently tuned to observe these reactions in real time under confinement and and to measure the forces that arise when new minerals grow on the surfaces of dissolving crystals. We’re especially curious to explore the repulsive and adhesive forces involved in recrystallization, and we hope to gain new insights into the force of crystallization phenomenon. Our study has broad relevance, from fluid-induced mineral alteration in the subsurface, to CO2 mineralization in reactive basaltic rocks, and to weathering processes in building materials such as concrete.
Right now, Aron is investigating mineral replacement reactions on isolated gypsum surfaces using an Atomic Force Microscope, and the first results are already very exciting!
