Formation process of sub-micrometer-sized metasomatic platinum-group element-bearing sulfides in a Tahitian harzburgite xenolith

ABSTRACT Base-metal sulfides (BMSs) are minerals that host platinum-group elements (PGE) in mantle peridotites and significantly control the bulk PGE content. They have been investigated in detail down to the sub-micrometer scale to elucidate PGE behavior in the Earth's interior. Base-metal sulfides are supposedly subjected to supergene and seawater weathering, leading to the redistribution of PGEs at low temperatures. Careful and thorough measurements of BMSs are thus required to elucidate PGE behavior in the Earth's interior. In the present study, a sub-micrometer-sized PGE-bearing sulfide inclusion in a clinopyroxene crystal in a harzburgite xenolith from Tahiti (Society Islands, French Polynesia) was investigated in detail (down to the sub-micrometer scale) using transmission electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (TEM-EDS). The sulfide inclusion is of carbonatitic metasomatic origin, as it is enveloped by carbonaceous glass, and forms a planar inclusion array with other PGE-bearing sulfide inclusions. The following sulfide phases were identified using TEM-EDS: Fe- and Ni-rich monosulfide solid solutions (MSSs), Fe- and Ni-rich pentlandite, sugakiite, heazlewoodite, chalcopyrite, and Cu-Ir-Pt-Rh-thiospinel (cuproiridsite–malanite–cuprorhodsite). We established the formation process of the metasomatic PGE-bearing sulfide inclusion by considering morphological and mineral characteristics in addition to the chemical composition. A primary MSS first crystallized from metasomatic sulfide melt at ca. 1000 °C, followed by the crystallization of an intermediate solid solution (ISS) below 900 °C. A high-form (high-temperature origin) Fe-rich pentlandite simultaneously crystallized with the primary MSS below ca. 850 °C and recrystallized into a low-form (low-temperature origin) Fe-rich pentlandite below ca. 600 °C. The primary MSS decomposed to Fe- and Ni-rich MSSs, low-form Ni-rich pentlandite, sugakiite, and heazlewoodite. The ISS decomposed to chalcopyrite below ca. 600 °C. Meanwhile, a Cu-Ir-Pt-Rh-thiospinel crystallized directly from the evolved Cu-rich sulfide melt below ca. 760 °C. Thus, Ir, Pt, and Rh preferentially partitioned into the melt phase during the crystallization process of the metasomatic sulfide melt. Metasomatic sulfide melts could be a significant medium for the transport and condensation of Pt together with Ir and Rh during the fractionation process in the Earth's interior. We hypothesize that the compositional variability of PGEs in carbonatites is due to the separation of sulfide melt leading to the loss of PGEs in the carbonatitic melts.

The Fracture Failure Analysis of Shaft for Light Hydrocarbon Pump

The failure shaft for light hydrocarbon pump was analyzed through metallographica test. The fracture appearance was examined through 3-D stereoscopic digital camera and the scanning electron microscope (SEM). The results showed that the chemical composition of the shaft was fit to the requirement of structural steel. There was sulfide inclusion distributed among the white stripe phases. The figure of phases was striation, and the direction of striation was along the direction of the axis that was the machining direction when the shaft was fabricated. The fatigue fracture was the facture characteristic because there was fatigue striation on the fracture surface. The sulfide inclusion and segregation was the main reason of the fracture.

Effects of Rare Earth on the Impact Toughness of High-Carbon Steel

The effects and mechanism of cerium, lanthanum and cerium-lanthanum alloys on microstructure and the impact toughness of high-carbon steel were studied in the present work. For high-carbon steel, the state and the content of RE were measured, and the effects and the mechanism of RE on sulfide inclusions, microstructure and the impact toughness of steel were determined. With increasing the RE addition, the sulfide inclusion can be changed from strip-like, spindle, ellipsoidal and spheric in shape. Strip-like sulfide disappears in high-carbon steel with the RE addition being 0.05%. A small quantity of RE can fine the austenitic grain, decrease the height of the SKK peak of the internal friction curve, and improve the impact toughness of high-carbon steel evidently. And the effects of lanthanum on fining the austenitic grain and improving the impact toughness is the largest, next to that of cerium-lanthanum alloys, and that of cerium is the least, which can be verified by the internal friction experiments.