Determining the water content of nominally anhydrous minerals at the nanometre scale

Patabendigedara, S., Nowak, D., Nancarrow, M.J.B., and Clark, S.M.
Review of Scientific Instruments

Abstract

The amount and distribution of water in nominally anhydrous minerals (NAMs) are usually determined by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. This method is limited by the spot size of the beam to the study of samples with dimensions greater than a few micrometers. Here, we demonstrate the potential of using photoinduced force microscopy for the measurement of water in NAMs with samples sizes down to the nanometer scale with a study of water concentration across grain boundaries in forsterite. This development will enable the study of water speciation and diffusion in small-grained rock matrixes and allow a determination of the influence of nanoscale heterogeneity on the incorporation of water to NAMs.

DOI: 10.1063/5.0025570