Crystal Structure Studies of Vanadium Minerals

钒被许多人认为是地球化学上最难表征的元素，因为它的地壳丰度很低，并且在地质条件下以三种价态存在。钒矿物是典型的结晶性差的矿物，其适合晶体结构研究的样品的分离历来被证明是困难的；因此，我们对钒的晶体化学行为的认识还没有跟上其他矿物群的步伐。提出的研究将产生几种钒矿物和相关矿物的晶体结构解决方案或细化。第一部分将是铅磷灰石，第二部分是bracebuschite和gamagarite，项目的最后一部分将是确定高温钒矿物ziesite的晶体结构。

Vanadium is considered by many to be the most difficult element to characterize geochemically because of its low crustal abundance and its existence in three valence states under geologic conditions. Vanadium minerals are typically poorly-crystallized, and its isolation of samples suitable for crystal structure studies has historically proved difficult; thus, our knowledge of the crystal-chemical behavior of vanadium has not kept pace with other mineral groups. The research proposed will produce crystal structure solutions or refinements of several vanadium minerals and related minerals. The first will be the lead apatites, the second brackebuschite and gamagarite, and the final portion of the project will be the determination of the crystal structure of ziesite, a high-temperature vanadium mineral.